History

Pekka Nevalainen establishes Outokummun Metalli Oy. The company focuses on project deliveries and maintenance of machines for the mining and process industry.

Product development and manufacture of harvester heads starts. Sales co-operation begins with the Rauma-Repola forestry machine group (today John Deere Forestry).

Manufacture of steel LPG cylinders begins in Outokumpu. Manufacture discontinued in the 1990s as production moves abroad.

Development of harvester heads proceeds at breakneck speed in the late 1980s. The one hundredth harvester head, a model H750, is manufactured in December 1989.

Coming into the 1990s, Outokummun Metalli’s standing as an expert supplier of conveyor systems and storage tanks is established. Demanding projects are carried out for Finnminerals Oy, Outokumpu Oy and Enocell Oy, among others.

Outokummun Metalli acquires New Firo piece positioning equipment for its product range. Manufacturing starts in Outokumpu.

The one thousandth harvester head is completed – a model H758. The so-called third-generation harvester heads are launched half-way through the 1990s. Innovations include four driving wheels, four delimbing knives and multi-tree handling.

Possibly the most demanding industrial project of the company’s history: the design, manufacture and installation of ore processing equipment in Outokumpu Oy’s Pyhäsalmi mine. The majority of the equipment was installed at a depth of 1,400 metres.

A company specialising in harvester head product development, Waratah OM Oy, is established together with John Deere Forestry.

New production and office premises are built in the Sysmäjärvi industrial area in Outokumpu and the old engineering workshop is renovated. Major machine investments are made in connection with the launch.

The company’s founder and Managing Director Pekka Nevalainen becomes Chairman of the Board of Directors. Jarmo Paakkunainen is appointed as the new Managing Director.

The premises are expanded again, making the total surface area of the Sysmäjärvi plant 7,200 m².

The industrial project and the New Firo piece positioning equipment business operations are transferred to a new company called Firotec. The piece positioning equipment operations will later continue at New Firo.

Outokummun Metalli invests in energy wood harvesting by buying a share in Pentin Paja Oy. The company is known for its felling heads and stroke harvesters using the Naarva trademark.

Koneosapalvelu Oy becomes Outokummun Metalli’s subsidiary through an acquisition, creating the Outokummun Metalli Group.

The manufacturing of Koneosapalvelu’s Vahva grapples begins at Outokummun Metalli’s factory. The first grapple manufactured at Outokumpu is the Vahva B27.

The first of the C-series of Vahva grapples are launched. The completely updated C-series is manufactured entirely at Outokumpu.

The company celebrates its 35-year journey at the roundhouse located adjacent to the plant. Sysmäjärvi’s old roundhouse was renovated with the support of Outokummun Metalli.

Outokummun Metalli’s ten thousandth harvester head frame is completed in July. The model of the harvester head is a John Deere H414.

The extensive development project ROBSI (robotised crosslinking) materialises when the new automatic multi-robot cell is introduced. The welding cell is used to manufacture harvester head frames, with the H415 as the first model in production.

Production management is extensively digitised in collaboration with our partner Collapick Oy.

The factory’s internal logistics improve when the welding facility’s material warehouse and operations are moved to new premises.

Outokummun Metalli’s 12,000th harvester head is finished. The harvester head is a Waratah H215E. This model is an efficient, next-generation debarking harvester head for processing eucalyptus trees.

The year 2018 is a record year for our company. We achieve the largest turnover and annual production volume of harvester heads in our company history to date.

The strong development approach in production now continues in machining, when the new OKUMA machining centre is commissioned alongside four existing machining centres.

The company’s organisation structure is updated: welcome to Finance and HR Manager Sari Karhu and Production Engineer Mikko Parviainen. Jussi Makkonen, the grand old man of the forestry industry, retires.

The Group expands by two new companies in September, when Outokummun Metalli’s subsidiary Koneosapalvelu acquires Kithydro Oy (based in Kitee) and Hyprox Oy (based in Lahti).

Outokummun Metalli Oy turns 40 on May 9, 2020. The time to celebrate will come later, as the coronavirus pandemic prevents gatherings.