Careers
Meet the people behind the machines
TP Silva employs over 200 firewood processing professionals. Here some of them share their stories.
Anne, Welder
A passion for the craft
Originally trained as a wood machinist, Anne Kestikievari first became acquainted with Maaselän Kone in the spring of 2006. Later that autumn, when the company acquired the former Flextronics production facility, Anne approached them to ask about opportunities in manufacturing. She was encouraged to complete a metalworking course, and by December 2006 she had begun training as a welder. That decision eventually led to a full-time position, and Anne continues to weld the highly successful Hakki Pilke firewood processors, renowned for their performance in international markets.
Mastering MIG/MAG welding
“When I was growing up, so-called men’s trades weren’t considered the norm for women,” Anne recalls. “Even so, I originally chose woodworking because I’d loved the smell and feel of planed pine ever since I was a child. My father used to bring home wood offcuts from his workplace for heating our sauna.” Years later, working with wood naturally gave way to working with steel. “I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands, and craftsmanship has to look good as well as function well. In welding, that means clean, spatter-free welds and consistently high-quality workmanship. That’s what my Kemppi pulse welding machine and I strive for every single day.”
Never settling for routine
Repetition is an essential part of a welder’s profession, and Anne has welded the same components together hundreds of times. “To me, welding is all about constantly mastering hot steel. Every time I join two pieces together, I think about how to make the welds look as good as possible. I never want my work to become just a routine or stop caring about the quality of the finished result. That’s exactly what makes my job so rewarding.”
Lauri, Sales and Marketing Director
The best part of my Job is the customers
Lauri Kälviäinen has been responsible for TP Silva’s sales and marketing operations for the past two years. In total, he has worked for TP Silva for nearly ten years, including seven years in export sales for the Japa brand. “Over the years, I became very familiar with Central European countries and trade fairs, as well as more distant markets such as Japan, Korea, and Canada. At one point, I spent more than 120 days a year travelling, until the COVID pandemic changed everything and Teams meetings became the norm,” Lauri recalls.
Expertise makes the difference
Before joining TP Silva, Lauri worked in heavy industry, serving purchasing organizations in the paper industry both in Finland and internationally. He greatly enjoys his current role. “This is a fantastic industry to work in. The people are down-to-earth, approachable, and easy to work with. It’s also rewarding to help bring Finnish expertise to customers around the world. TP Silva offers top-quality products, and the company has provided us with excellent tools to succeed. There are many different roles and responsibilities within the organization, but what I value most is the atmosphere in this business — and by that I mean both my colleagues and our customers,” Lauri says. “My sales team consists of some of the most experienced professionals in the industry. Together, we have more than 100 years of combined experience in firewood processors and the needs of firewood producers. TP Silva represents four firewood processor brands, each with its own strengths, so it is important that our people work well together and are always willing to help one another, regardless of the brand.”
Export sales close to his heart
Lauri is justifiably proud of what he and his team have achieved. One of these accomplishments was launching the company’s short-form video production initiative to support marketing efforts, growing the social media audience from zero to 50,000 followers in a remarkably short time. Most importantly, after a couple of challenging years, TP Silva’s sales have returned to a clear growth trajectory. “Central Europe and North America are currently our key focus markets, but our products are sold all around the world. To further strengthen our international presence, we have recruited more than ten new importers and distributors over the past two years.”
Mikko, Procurement and Production Planner
If anyone knows what it takes to build a firewood processor, it’s Mikko
Mikko Moilanen has worked in a variety of roles at TP Silva and has gained extensive knowledge of all the company’s firewood processors—especially the Palax range, which he knows inside and out. Mikko began his career in August 2017 at Ylistaron Terästakomo’s assembly department, where he was primarily involved in the production of the Palax C900 and C1000 models. In November 2019, he transferred to warehouse operations, and just a month later he joined the TP Silva procurement department, following the merger of three firewood processor factories under one company. In April 2022, production planning was added to his responsibilities. Today, Mikko’s main duties include procurement and production planning for components used at the company’s Ylistaro factory.
No need for social media when you’re in contact with hundreds of suppliers
Components for TP Silva’s firewood processors are sourced from around the world, including Europe and North America, while most steel materials come from Finland. In total, between 10,000 and 15,000 different components and product items pass through Mikko’s hands on their way into TP Silva’s machines — and ultimately into firewood production operations around the globe. Mikko works closely with hundreds of suppliers. He aims to meet the company’s largest suppliers several times each year, and communication with many of them takes place on an almost daily basis. Perhaps this vast network of professional contacts explains why Mikko has never felt the need to join social media — and that’s a rarity in today’s world.
Great people with a shared mindset
Mikko appreciates that his employer has provided opportunities to grow and take on new responsibilities rather than remaining in the same position year after year. As a result, he has gained broad experience of the many stages involved in designing and manufacturing firewood processors. “Each transition from one role to another happened because I was asked, not because I was forced,” Mikko says with a smile. “I’m very happy in my current position. The work is interesting and challenging in exactly the right way. And the best thing about TP Silva is the people — a skilled, supportive team with a shared mindset, where colleagues encourage one another.” That is undoubtedly one of the company’s greatest strengths.