Heikki Jylhä-Ollila to strengthen ST-Koneistus sales and production development

ST-Koneistus has strengthened its team with an experienced metal industry professional, as Heikki Jylhä-Ollila has joined the company in a role combining sales and production development.

Jylhä-Ollila has around 25 years of experience as an entrepreneur in the metal industry. In 2001, he founded Omek Automation in Nivala, which started as a one-person company. Over the years, the business grew through acquisitions, expansion, and mergers into a large industrial company employing more than 500 people.

One of the most significant phases of his career was a major corporate restructuring in which Lasercomp Oy, Celermec Oy, Ojala Yhtymä, and Estonia-based Favor OU merged to form Leden.

– It was an interesting and hectic time. Everything is a little bigger in Ostrobothnia, and even the machinery fleet is measured in hectares there, Jylhä-Ollila says with a laugh.

Over the years, Jylhä-Ollila was involved in production maintenance and development as well as major factory and machinery investments. One of the latest large-scale projects was the commissioning of Leden’s new factory in Oulainen, where approximately two hectares’ worth of machinery was relocated to the new facility.

When Leden Group was later sold to HANZA, Jylhä-Ollila stepped away from the company’s operations. At the same time, it provided a natural opportunity for a bigger life change and for the whole family to move to Tampere.

– My wife lived in Tampere when we met 20 years ago, so now was a good time for the whole family to return here. We didn’t move because of the tram, but Pirkanmaa certainly seems to have a strong pull.

Sales and practical production development

At ST-Koneistus, Jylhä-Ollila’s role combines sales and product development, with a focus on developing production, manufacturing methods, and the overall service offered to customers.

– My main goals are to accelerate sales and develop our operations so that we can make full use of our production potential. In the beginning, one natural area of focus will be aluminium machining, Jylhä-Ollila says.

ST-Koneistus has strengthened its aluminium machining capacity in recent years through new machinery investments, and the company is now looking to gain more customers in this sector.

The desire to develop brought him back to working life

After a long career as an entrepreneur, Jylhä-Ollila took a break of just under a year from working life. The break was needed, but at the same time it became clear that he still had plenty of motivation to work and develop things further. Based on his first days, ST-Koneistus has made a positive impression.

– This is a very high-level company with skilled hydraulic industry professionals both in the office and in production. In addition, the owners and management have a clear desire to develop the business and move the company forward, which is why I believe I will enjoy my new role very much.

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ST-Koneistus is Finland’s largest manufacturer of hydraulic manifolds and components specializing in demanding special series. For over 50 years, our mission has been to help hydraulic companies and the mechanical engineering industry manufacture high-quality end products. Over the decades, our hydraulic products have been delivered to dozens of different countries around the world.