Full Steam Ahead – The Story of Oy Konwell Ab
Industrial Valves Since 1982
Oy Konwell Ab began its operations in 1982 as an importer and component trader of industrial valves. Over the years, the family business has grown into an expert in energy solutions, also offering comprehensive maintenance services and versatile training. Strong expertise, high-quality products, as well as reliable and flexible service have formed the foundation of Konwell’s operations.
The Principals’ Proposal
In the early 1980s, German companies Gestra and ARI-Armaturen, manufacturers of industrial valves, made a proposal to Tom J. Heinänen, who was working at Oy Alkas Ab. If Heinänen were to establish his own company, the German principals would be ready to transfer their representation from Alkas to Heinänen.
Gestra and ARI had already made their breakthrough in Finland, but both saw growth potential in the market that Alkas had not been able to exploit. The collaboration with Heinänen had been going well since the early 1970s, and the German companies were ready to financially support the company’s initial phase.
Oy Konwell Ab Is Founded
Tom J. Heinänen founded Oy Konwell Ab together with his wife, Rauha Heinänen, in 1982. The first premises were located on Takkatie in Pitäjänmäki, Helsinki, from where the company moved in 1988 to the adjacent Konala district at Hankasuontie 11 A.
In the early years, in addition to the founders, Konwell employed four individuals who moved from Alkas’ service at Heinänen’s request to Konwell’s payroll. Among this core team, as many as three worked at Konwell until their retirement.
Long-term principal relationships have also been important for Konwell’s business. Gestra’s and ARI-Armaturen’s products formed the cornerstone of Konwell from the beginning. Over the years, the company also acquired new principals whose products complemented the product range and met strict quality criteria.
Sales Office in Kouvola
The first sales office was established in Kouvola in 1987. It served primarily clients in the forest industry, many of which were located in Eastern Finland.
Over the years, Konwell has served a wide range of companies, both large and small. Sales representatives traveled around Finland seeking customers wherever steam users could be found—from small laundries to pulp and paper mills, oil refineries, and power plants. In the 1980s, the domestic textile industry was still thriving, and Konwell sold many condensate removers to textile mills that later disappeared from Finland.
Subsidiary for the Baltic Markets
The subsidiary OÜ Konwell ES was established in Tallinn in 1992 after Estonia’s independence. There was demand in the Baltic states for an industrial valve company, and through the subsidiary, Konwell obtained representation for Gestra in the Baltic countries as well as representations for ARI-Armaturen in Estonia and Latvia.
Konwell Eesti has carried out modernization projects in Estonia for paper machines and steam boiler plants, in collaboration with the Helsinki office. The moderately grown subsidiary has established its position in the Baltic markets, and today five people work in Tallinn.
The New Pillars of Business
In the mid-1990s, Konwell began expanding its service offerings to include products required by other process media in addition to its expertise in steam and condensate. At the same time, Konwell expanded its customer base from low-pressure steam users to also include facilities utilizing high-pressure steam.
The product range was expanded based on customer needs, which enabled Konwell to serve an increasing number of demanding industrial sectors and offer even more comprehensive turnkey solutions. One significant customer group was the shipbuilding industry in Finland, which built ferry ships, and for which Konwell’s service offering included expert design services in addition to valves.
Konwell established its own maintenance department in 1997. Alongside maintenance operations, Konwell also expanded its training offerings. The demand for training in the steam and condensate sector increased from the 1990s onward as steam expertise was lost with professionals retiring or moving to other roles in client companies.
A Look Towards the Manufacturing Industry
As the millennium approached, Konwell anticipated structural changes in Finnish industry. It was believed that the importance of the forest industry would diminish, and as a result, during Konwell’s 1999 strategy meeting it was decided to shift the sales focus to manufacturing industry clients and turnkey solutions. The success of the new strategy required further expansion and diversification of the product range.
The decision was one of the biggest turning points in Konwell’s history. The company’s turnover began its significant growth in the early years of the new millennium. Konwell achieved a record result in 2008, when the financial crisis that started in the United States hit Finland. After a brief dip, Konwell’s strong growth continued, and the manufacturing industry has established itself as an important customer group for the company.
Konwell Moves to New Premises
The premises in Hankasuontie had been renovated as the company grew, but in the long run they were no longer sufficient. In the mid-2010s, new premises were found a couple of kilometers away at Ruosilantie 10, and the move took place during 2011.
At Ruosilantie, particular investments have been made in developing warehousing operations, as the number of sales items has increased with the company’s expansion. Smooth logistical operations are also important for quality customer service. Additionally, environmental considerations have been taken into account in the recycling of packaging materials.
The Generational Change Takes Place
At the turn of the 2010s, a generational change became timely at Konwell. Among Tom and Rauha Heinänen’s children, Pia and Kai continued their parents’ work as family entrepreneurs in the second generation. Pia Heinänen became the CEO of Konwell, and Kai Heinänen became the deputy CEO from the beginning of 2013.
The siblings, who had received professional education in the field, had already been working at Konwell as sales engineers for several years. The generational transition went smoothly with the support of the entire family, and as a result of the company acquisition process, Konwell transferred to the ownership of Pia Heinänen-Alasaari and Kai Heinänen in the mid-2020s.
Konwell’s New Strategy
In 2015, a new strategy was developed for the company, positioning Konwell more strongly as a provider of comprehensive turnkey solutions and an expert in energy solutions.
Known for its tradition of expertise and service, the company aimed with the new strategy to further profile itself as a pioneer in the industry, offering not only design, installation, and maintenance services to its customers but also training services. Konwell openly shares its expertise with those who need it, thereby reinforcing its own knowledge base.
Expanding Broadly into the Gas Equipment Sector
In 2021, Oy Konwell Ab acquired the business of Kaasulaite Lennart Wikström Oy, which expanded the company’s product portfolio in the area of gas systems. The company’s first business acquisition was a demonstration of Konwell’s desire to grow, and it also strengthened the company’s position as a pioneer in energy solutions. Two years later, Konwell further deepened its expertise in the gas sector by acquiring the business of Fingas Oy.
Energy gases are an important part of the industrial energy transition and the green shift towards a hydrogen economy, and the demand for related technologies continues to grow. The expansion into the gas equipment sector is thus part of the natural continuation of Konwell’s long-standing work as an expert and service provider in energy efficiency.
Konwell in 2025
Over more than forty years, Konwell has grown from a component trader into a comprehensive energy solutions expert, continuing its responsible work as a family business in the second generation.
In 2025, Oy Konwell Ab’s offices are located not only in Helsinki but also in Kouvola, Nokia, Oulu, Kuopio, and Salo. In addition, customers are served by a maintenance center in Kotka and the Tallinn subsidiary. The entire group employs over 40 people.
Texts: Niina Hägg, Oy Spiritus Historiae Ab