New Center Meets Customer Requirements
Tightened emission requirements and the green transition have brought significant changes to industrial process requirements. Evolving customer demands and new markets require industrial companies to innovate technologically.
"There have been significant changes in the market and customer process requirements, leading to the expansion of the product portfolio. Products are expected to perform well in terms of efficiency and value, as well as safety and reliability. The new technology and logistics center will enable us to develop technologically to a new level, distinguishing us from competitors and helping us achieve significant competitive advantage in the future", says Pasi Lähteinen, Business Director of Koja Industrial Solutions and CEO of Koja USA Inc.
Koja's future technology and logistics center will be built on Lentokentänkatu next to the current fan factory, providing immediate operational benefits. The new center is designed to offer a modern environment suitable for research and development to meet the needs of industrial business.
"To succeed in the competition, we need world-class research and development, skilled personnel, and the latest measurement technology. Development is based on data, and this aspect will be developed in the new center along with future business concepts. Immediate employment effects on R&D activities will be an addition of 4-5 people, and from 2026 onwards, about 10 people annually in production", explains Lähteinen.
Most of the products from the industrial business are aimed at export. Sales and project offices located in different countries support marketing and operations globally, locally and according to time zones. Production and technological development will continue to be concentrated in Finland.
Carbon-Neutral Construction
The partners in the construction project are Rakennusliike Lapti Oy and construction consultant A-Insinöörit. The building and the entire property area will utilize solar power, geothermal heating, ground cooling, and energy recycling in their energy solutions. Thirty geothermal wells will be drilled in the area. At the heart of the building’s climate control system are devices developed by the group and manufactured in-house, such as the energy station and air handling units. The control and monitoring of the carbon-neutral system is enabled by the Wave solution, which integrates the building's ventilation, heating, cooling, and energy recycling.
The new 3,000 m2 facilities will provide a safe working environment for the employees. The general safety of the area and the quality of the products will improve with the future arrangements on the site. The building will also include the required civil defense shelter. Modern meeting and workspaces will also enhance comfort.
Construction will take about a year, after which the installation of production and measurement systems will be completed. The construction project itself will also have a significant employment impact in Tampere.
Significant Investments in Finland Over the Last Decade
Koja Group has strongly invested in Finnish production over the last decade. In addition to new production facilities, investments include new production equipment, modernizations, and investments in technological development. The total value of investments over the past 10 years is 70 million euros. Additionally, considering future rental liabilities for the production facilities in Tuusula and Jalasjärvi, the sum rises to 100 million euros.
"The global geopolitical situation has shown that Finland is a good and safe environment. We want to keep the production and technology of the family business in Finland. A skilled workforce plays a significant role in this equation, and the projects we have implemented also have a positive impact on employment", says Leena Aalto, CEO, Koja-Yhtiöt Oy & Koja Oy.
Major investments include the fan factory in Tampere and the product development and testing laboratory focused on air handling products, Koja R&D Center, which was commissioned in 2018. A heat exchanger factory was completed in Jalasjärvi in early 2024.
In 2019, Chiller Oy joined Koja Group through an acquisition, complementing the group's expertise in ventilation and building technology. Construction work is currently underway for Chiller's new premises in Tuusula. The new office, production, and warehouse facilities will be completed in early 2026.
In recent years, strong investments have also been made in technology and digital development, resulting in solutions such as OBV for occupancy-based ventilation and Wave for building climate control. Additionally, the group has started investments in utilizing data and artificial intelligence in business and its development.
