For more than four decades, Pekotek Oy, based in Joensuu, Finland, has grown into a trusted partner for Finnish industry while steadily expanding its presence in international markets. Today, the company is recognized for its expertise in surface treatment solutions, delivering energy-efficient, long-lasting systems tailored to each customer's specific needs.
When people think about Finnish industry, surface treatment lines are rarely the first thing that come to mind. Yet they are a critical part of the production processes of many well-known companies. For more than 40 years, Pekotek Oy from Joensuu has established itself as one of Finland's leading specialists in the field.
– We're the Fiskars of our industry, says Pasi Piirainen, CEO of Pekotek Oy.
Founded in 1983, Pekotek designs and manufactures complete surface treatment plants and customized solutions for industrial customers. Its clients include companies such as VR, ABB, Sandvik, Ponsse, and Metso. The company's solutions are recognized for their energy efficiency, long service life, and customer-specific engineering.
- Our oldest production lines are still in operation after nearly 40 years. Our goal is to build equipment that will serve our customers reliably for decades, says Petri Rautiainen, Business Developer at Pekotek Oy.
Pekotek’s journey to Joensuu began partly by coincidence. Strong business networks and suitable facilities led the company to Tempontie, where it still operates today.
Over the years, Joensuu has proven to be an excellent location for business. The region offers extensive expertise in engineering and metalworking, well-established subcontracting networks, and a collaborative business environment.
Pekotek also benefits from the region's strong technology expertise. For nearly a decade, the company has incorporated digital twins—virtual 3D models of its surface treatment systems—into its solutions. These enable customers to monitor critical operational data, including operating conditions, filter status, and utilization rates. The technology was also developed locally in Joensuu.
Pekotek is currently experiencing the strongest period of growth in its history.
Although industrial markets have experienced periods of uncertainty, demand remains strong, particularly in the railway and defence sectors. At the same time, companies are increasingly seeking more energy-efficient and sustainable production solutions, further supporting Pekotek's growth.
Today, the company’s biggest challenge is not demand but capacity.
– We could sell even more, but we simply don't have the capacity to deliver everything, says Petri.
In response, Pekotek has recently recruited new employees across several functions. The company is seeking electrical and equipment installers, designers, and automation specialists. In particular, highly customized customer projects require increasingly advanced engineering and technical design expertise.
Customer-centricity is at the heart of Pekotek's business philosophy. Every production line is designed around the customer's products, processes, and business objectives.
The company's expertise is built on decades of hands-on experience in industrial surface treatment processes and day-to-day production operations.
Often, customers know they need a new solution but are not yet certain which approach would best meet their needs. Pekotek works closely with its customers to identify the right methods, equipment, and technologies to achieve the best possible outcome.
Competition in the industry is global, but Pekotek differentiates itself through energy-efficient solutions, long service life, and comprehensive service and maintenance expertise.
For the past decade, Pekotek has been systematically expanding its international business.
The company's goal is to make exports a significant share of its revenue. Growth is being pursued step by step, one market at a time, with a particular focus on Sweden, Poland, Germany, Denmark, and the United Kingdom.
Across Europe, industrial customers are increasingly emphasizing reliable deliveries, security of supply, and partnerships with suppliers closer to home. This trend creates new opportunities for Finnish companies, particularly in the rapidly growing defence sector.
Alongside its international expansion, Pekotek is strengthening its partner network to provide customers with increasingly comprehensive solutions.
Pekotek continuously invests in new ways of working. In addition to digital twins, the company is exploring how AI can support engineering, documentation, information retrieval, and marketing.
The goal is not to replace experts but to free them from routine tasks, allowing them to focus on other priorities while improving productivity.
At the same time, the company emphasizes that technology alone is never enough.
- Digital solutions may help win business, but in the end, reliable performance, energy efficiency, and the value delivered to the customer are what matter most, says Petri.
Throughout its growth journey, Pekotek has actively leveraged Business Joensuu's services at various stages of its development.
The collaboration has supported the company in areas such as international expansion, digital transformation, identifying AI opportunities and development pathways, and preparing development and investment projects.
Working together with Business Joensuu's experts, Pekotek has explored international growth initiatives, evaluated new technology solutions, and developed collaboration with the University of Eastern Finland and Karelia University of Applied Sciences.
- Most recently, Business Joensuu's experts and coaching programmes have supported us in developing our business and production, recruitment, and employer image. Their external perspective has helped us identify new growth opportunities and develop our recruitment processes in a more systematic way, says Erna Kosonen, Marketing Manager at Pekotek Oy.
The company particularly values the accessibility of Business Joensuu's support and the long-term relationships that have been built over the years.
Strong specialist expertise, close business networks, and a continuous drive for improvement have made Pekotek one of the quiet success stories of Finnish industry. While the company is systematically expanding its international business from its home base in Joensuu, its primary focus remains the success of its customers.
When a production line operates reliably, consumes less energy, and strengthens a customer's competitiveness for decades, Pekotek has fulfilled its most important mission. These are the long-lasting, sustainable solutions the company is committed to building for decades to come.
Contact:
Pasi Piirainen, CEO, Pekotek Oy
pasi.piirainen@pekotek.fi, +358 400 609 064
Petri Rautiainen, Business Developer, Pekotek Oy
petri.rautiainen@pekotek.fi, +358 45 657 8001
Erna Kosonen, Marketing Manager, Pekotek Oy
erna.kosonen@pekotek.fi, +358 40 190 6509
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Text: Aleksi Hakulinen, Marketing Trainee, Business Joensuu
Photos: Pekotek Oy