Celebrating 10 Years of Success of the Sastamala Mill and 20 Years of Dedication from Ilkka Heikkilä, Chairman of the Board of Riga Wood Finland
10.10.2024
This year marks a significant milestone for Latvijas Finieris Group, as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of our Sastamala mill under the ownership of Riga Wood Finland. The mill has grown into a vital part of our operations, exemplifying efficiency and excellence in plywood production. A special event was held to honour this achievement, reflecting on the mill’s development over the past decade and recognising the dedication of our employees, many of whom have been with us since day one.
“The Sastamala veneer mill has rapidly developed over the last 10 years, thanks to a positive working environment and strategic investments,”
said Pauls Ābele, Member of the Management Board of Latvijas Finieris.
“It has achieved significant production volumes for the Group and become a model of efficiency for our company. One of the keys to our success is the extremely low staff turnover, which highlights the positive working atmosphere and mutual trust within the team.”
With 30 employees, 20 of whom have been with the company from the start, Sastamala’s team embodies the commitment and expertise that drive the mill’s success. These long-standing employees were honoured during the anniversary celebrations, and special recognition was given to Ilkka Heikkilä, Chairman of the Board of Riga Wood Finland, who has been a pivotal figure in the mill’s journey.
Ilkka Heikkilä’s 20-year career with Latvijas Finieris was also celebrated at the event. As Chairman of the Board of Riga Wood Finland, Ilkka has been instrumental in the company’s success in Finland, having first worked with Latvijas Finieris products from 1999 before leading the establishment of Riga Wood Finland. His contributions go beyond sales; a decade ago, Ilkka played a key role in the acquisition of the Sastamala mill, helping to steer it toward the success it enjoys today.
“Ilkka’s dedication and deep knowledge of the market have been vital to promoting our brand in Finland,”
said Mārtiņš Lācis, Member of the Management Board of Latvijas Finieris.
“His ability to build long-term relationships with customers and his leadership during the takeover of Sastamala have been crucial to the company’s growth. Ilkka is a true leader—persistent, determined, and always ready to find a solution.”
But what does Ilkka have to say about his journey?
“It’s incredible how quickly time has flown—20 years have passed in what feels like no time. I’ve truly enjoyed my time at Latvijas Finieris and Riga Wood, and it’s been a privilege to serve our professional customers here in Finland while witnessing the company grow into Europe’s leading birch plywood producer.
The journey continues, and I want to extend a big thank you to my colleagues in Riga and Sastamala. It’s a pleasure to work alongside people who are not only talented professionals but also great friends,”
says Ilkka.
As we look forward, the Sastamala mill and Ilkka’s two decades of service in Riga Wood Finland Oy remind us of the importance of strong leadership, innovation, and a dedicated team in driving the continued success of Latvijas Finieris in the plywood industry.
This year also marked significant work anniversaries for other Riga Wood sales and product development offices.
10 years in the Company
- Kristaps Bravlanskis and Reinis Zakrevskis (Riga Wood Baltic)
- Lesley Langford (Riga Wood Ltd)
- Paolo Cavazzoni (Riga Wood Italia S.R.L.)
- Nurgül Acar (Riga Wood Orman Ürünleri Sanayi Ve ticaret limited sirketi)
20 years in the Comapny
- Jeroen Swanink (Riga Wood Holland BV)
- Kerstin Marx (Riga Wood GmbH)
- Keizo Ueno (Riga Wood Japan)
- Shosaku Yamaguchi (Riga Wood Japan)
20+ years in the Company
- Tina Haugdahl (Riga Wood Sweden AB)
- Erika Jansson (Riga Wood Sweden AB)
- Simon Butler (Riga Wood Ltd)
- Fernando Iñigo (Riga Wood Iberica SLU)
- Raquel Blasco (Riga Wood Iberica SLU)
- Stéphane Levoir (Riga Wood France SRL)