Machining and fabrication activities in Tähtiniemi, which have been dormant since the turn of the year, will resume this autumn when Heinolan Hitsauspalvelu Ltd begins production in the facilities it recently acquired. The company currently has more orders than its existing premises and workforce can accommodate.

“The outlook is very positive,” says Petri Liikanen, member of the company’s Board of Directors. According to Liikanen, the obstacles that have been limiting the company’s growth can now be removed. Following the closure of HögforsSahala Oy’s production operations in Heinola, skilled industrial labour has once again become available in the area.

Liikanen notes that his phone has been ringing constantly over the past few days. Heinolan Hitsauspalvelu currently employs nine people, and the company plans to recruit at least three additional employees before the end of the year.

“I entered the industry in the 1990s, and there has been a shortage of skilled labour ever since,” Liikanen says. He hopes that metal industry education will continue in Heinola.

At its current premises in Vuohkallio, Heinolan Hitsauspalvelu has access to only about 1,000 square metres of production space. As a result, the company has been unable to accept all available work.

In Tähtiniemi, space will no longer be a limiting factor. The new facility provides more than 5,000 square metres of production area.

“There are very few industrial buildings in Heinola that offer the height and overhead crane capacity required for a machine shop,” Liikanen explains.

Another significant advantage is the surface treatment hall included in the acquisition. Until now, surface treatment work has been carried out at the facilities of parent company Viitos-Metalli Ltd in Paaso.

Heinolan Hitsauspalvelu manufactures, among other things, pressure equipment as a subcontractor. Its largest individual customer is Oilon Energy Ltd of Lahti.

“Machine shop operations are highly seasonal. The past two years were relatively quiet, but the turning point came at the beginning of this year. We are now extremely busy,” Liikanen says.

He believes that within a couple of years the company will be using all of the space acquired in Tähtiniemi, including the 1,200-square-metre office building. The property in Vuohkallio will be put up for sale.

Viitos-Metalli, which manufactures boiler plants and related equipment, will continue operations in Paaso for the time being. The company currently employs 15 people.

The principal owner of Heinolan Hitsauspalvelu is Viitos-Metalli, whose majority owner and Managing Director is Petri Liikanen. Together, the companies also own Heinolan LVI-Asennus Ltd.

According to Liikanen, Heinola remains an excellent place for entrepreneurship.

“When you have a skilled workforce and responsibilities are shared, there is enough free time left for me as well.”