The home of quality. Here in the Jakobstad region we understand that entrepreneurship generates well-being, which, in turn, generates quality. Larsmo Luoto Home of quality. Jakobstad Pietarsaari Kronoby Kruunupyy Strong entrepreneurship and natural internationalism. High quality of life, and a safe, harmonious environment. It has been shown that people are well-off in the Jakobstad region. These elements make up the foundation for Pedersöre all that we do, which has given top results in its class on a global level. Nykarleby Uusikaarlepyy However, this in and of itself is no reason for praise. We are simply used to doing things right, with feeling and expertise.

jakobstadregion.fi Home of quality. Snellman.

The family-owned business Snellman has produced high quality meat and cold cut products since 1951. The Snellman brothers founded the company because they wanted to produce better sausages. This drive to make better products, the sort that they would want themselves, still holds true today. That’s why Snellman’s products use more meat, fewer additives and the meat is Finnish GM-free pork and beef from family farms. Do things as you would do them for yourself! So where is Mr. Snellman from? From Jakobstad, of course! www.snellman.fi

"We have always had the will to do everything a little better. In order for us to succeed, it is our responsibility to make every effort to do our best." Roland Snellman CEO Home of quality. Baltic Yachts.

This internationally known and recognized boat building yard was founded in 1973, and has specialized in high quality sailboats, up to 70 meters in length, constructed of composites. The boats are built by hand, and tailor-made in every detail to the customers’ wishes. New technology and innovations play a significant role, at both the design stage and production. Baltic Yachts has, among other things, built the world’s largest composite sailboat – a 60-meter-long ketch. The company boasts an annual revenue of 36 million euros, and employs 230 people. Operations are based in Bosund and Jakobstad. www.balticyachts.fi

"There is a long tradition of boat building here, passed on from father to son. It is a craft that demands both creativity and versatility." Niklas Björkskog Boat builder “Mirka’s investment in research and product Home of quality. development have made us a pioneer in surface Mirka. treatment technologies.” Mats Sundell Mirka Ltd is a pioneer in sanding technology and offers ground-breaking sanding R&D Director solutions for surface treatment and precision sanding. Thanks to the continuous development and global sales network, Mirka can offer a wide range of abrasive products and machines, as well as polishing materials and accessories that enable complete surface treatment solutions for different types of applications. Mirka is a rapidly growing company with subsidiaries in Europe, Asia and North and South America. More than 97 percent of products are exported and sold in more than 100 countries. www.mirka.com "Here we have competent, loyal people, a culture of continual improvement and a strong belief in the future"

Matti Laurila Home of quality. CEO Ekeri.

The European leading specialist in logistical and transport technology is an expert on customeradapted vehicles and side-opening box semi-trailers, box trailers and truck boxes. Over 75% of the production is exported. The business is showing stable growth. Customer-orientated processes, continual improvement and an absolute focus on quality are the cornerstones of Ekeri´s operations. This family owned company is located in Pedersöre, just as it has been for over 70 years. www.ekeri.fi Home of quality. Nordic Lights.

NORDIC LIGHTS® produces premium, high-tech work and driving lights for heavy-duty vehicles in the mining, construction, forestry, material handling and agricultural industries. Our work lights deliver superior durability and low main- tenance, and are created for industry leaders like Caterpillar, Liebherr, Sandvik and Komatsu. We develop, design, manufacture, and test all of our light series in our own factory in Pedersöre, Finland. (NORDIC LIGHTS® is part of Herrmans Oy Ab). www.nordiclights.com

"Whatever we do, we do it well. And when we succeed, we succeed together." Jenny Le Industrial worker Home of quality. Beamex.

BEAMEX is a leading worldwide provider of calibration solutions that meet even the most demanding of requirements for process instrumentation. Beamex offers a comprehensive range of products and services — from portable calibrators to work- stations, calibration accessories, calibration software, industry-specific solutions and professional services. Through Beamex’s subsidiaries, branch offices and an extensive network of independent distributors, their products and services are available in more than 130 countries. Beamex has more than 12,000 customers worldwide. www.beamex.com

"We strive for a culture where we encourage people to create new ideas, try, fail, and eventually succeed." Jan-Henrik Svensson CEO Home of quality. Fluid-Bag. A unique logistical solution for fluids, which is extremely durable, made from a very small amount of material, and which provides significant savings in transport costs. Fluid-Bag’s containers for the industrial transport and storage of fluids are used for everything from food and cosmetics, to mining industry lubricants, and sound damping compounds for the automotive industry. A Fluid-Bag is flexible, but endures rough handling when needed. Sustainability is a key word that is also applied to environment and economy. The product is made of recoverable, non-toxic plastics, and the container ensures minimal waste during use. Fluid-Bag exports about 95% of all production, and the largest markets are in Europe, Southeast Asia, and North America. www.fluid-bag.com

"It feels safe to work for a company with its roots firmly in Ostrobothnia, and that invests in the region long-term." Gunborg Enbär Industrial worker Home of quality. OSTP.

OSTP Finland Oy Ab is one of the world’s leading producers of welded process pipes and stainless steel tubular products, focusing on the Nordic and European markets. Safety, quality, sustainability, and low maintenance-requirements are factors that lead many, particularly within the processing, oil, gas, and construction industry, to choose OSTP as their supplier. The plant in Jakobstad was founded in 1949 under the name JARO, and as such builds on over 60 years of knowledge of stainless steel. During the last five years, the business has grown from two production lines to thirteen, and is now responsible for 75% of the group’s production capacity. At the same time, there has been investment into greater automation. www.ostp.biz

”Our slogans ‘Safety First’ and ‘Rely on Quality’ ensure that we do not take any shortcuts when it comes to safety and quality. Both we and our customers should feel safe with OSTP.” Thomas Pettersson, CEO Home of quality. Prevex.

Prevex was founded in 1955, so it is one of the oldest companies in the Finnish plastics industry. Prevex is one of Europe’s leading water trap suppliers. We are well aware of what our customers need, and this is the cornerstone of our thinking and securing our position as an innovative pioneer. We invest significant amounts in product develop- ment annually, focusing on innovative and unique solutions and more efficient manu- facturing processes. Our goal is to continuously reduce the environmental impact of our products by minimising the manufacturing process stages, delivering durable products and optimising our logistics. This will benefit us all! www.prevex.com

"We achieve our goals through joint efforts, quality thinking and inno- vation. We are constantly in motion." Thomas Nyström CFO Home of quality. Rani Plast.

Rani Plast was established in 1955, when a young man named Nils Ahlbäck wanted a job in his home village of Teerijärvi. Today, Rani Plast is Finland’s largest plastic film company and its turnover is over € 200 million. The company is family- owned and most of the production is still in Teerijärvi, where everything started. One of the reasons for Rani Plast’s success is that the company has always dared to invest. The latest investment is the new production line for agricultural films, which is the largest of its kind in the world. www.raniplast.com

"We have always been vigi- lant in keeping the spirit of a small family business, even though Rani Plast is now a worldwide group." Jan Knutar Sales Manager Home of quality. Fresh Servant.

The best salad factory in Finland. Fresh has grown from a local vegetable wholesaler to the market leader in fresh salads. Our goal is to be the customer’s first choice, and that’s why we invest in bold innovation and quality. Quality is guaranteed by Fresh’s brilliant staff and modern production technology, automation and digitalisation that enhance freshness, lead times, security of supply and capacity. We always offer something new - always something good, both for customers, consumers and for our Fresh team. www.fresh.fi | www.hetkessä.fi | www.salaattimestari.fi

"Succeeding together, helping others and continuous learning has made us the best salad factory in Finland." Sami Haapasalmi CEO Larsmo Nykarleby Pedersöre Luoto Uusikaarlepyy Pedersöre offers an interesting mix of Larsmo has a young population, exten- In Nykarleby you can see a small town entrepreneurship, youthful spirit, drive, sive municipal services, excellent at its best; 7,500 inhabitants forming a knowledge, and flexibility, all of which outdoor possibilities, and attractive small, but diverse, society, where in- contribute to a creative and expansive beachfront residential areas. Near to dustry and culture cooperate. Nykarle- economy. Many of the businesses have Jakobstad and Kokkola, there are in- by is the world’s largest producer of fox made successful ventures onto the dustrial zones which meet the needs of fur, with many business owners and global market. There is a large number Larsmo business and industry. Transportation full employment. Local companies’ of building sites for industry and busi- Luoto connections are good. In addition, expansion plans, the number of young ness. Pedersöre offers residential areas Jakobstad Larsmo offers active support to new business owners, and the demand for in different environments, providing businesses regarding questions such many choices for those making a home Pietarsaari Kronoby residential property shows that there is Kruunupyy as building sites and location. All of a strong belief in the future. Nykarleby in Pedersöre. In short: everything is this is offered in an amazingly beautiful is open to everything new – thoughts, here – with room for more! Pedersöre archipelago environment! people, and companies. » pedersore.fi Jakobstad Kronoby Nykarleby » larsmo.fi » nykarleby.fi Uusikaarlepyy Pietarsaari Kruunupyy Jakobstad is the region’s center, and is Kronoby lies at the center of regional a hub for industry and services. The activities and entrepreneurship. From geographical location, with good road, a logistical perspective, the location is railroad, and flight connections, as well excellent, being situated between as a port, offers ideal conditions for Jakobstad and Kokkola. Kronoby has business activities. There are business- good contact with international mar- es from all industries in the area. Many kets. Here, entrepreneurship is more companies focus on export, leading to than merely a profession. It is a lifestyle. an international atmosphere. Would Perhaps that is why those of us who you like to know more? Feel free to live here are so attached to the place. contact us. We always answer! » kronoby.fi » jakobstad.fi Good connections. The Jakobstad region has a logistical advantage. It is one of the few areas in Finland that has it all: good road, railroad, and airline connections, as well as its own port. We are situated a comfortable distance from larger cities such as Helsinki and Stockholm.

High quality education services. The vocational school Optima, which is responsible for basic vocational education and training in the Jakobstad region, has been selected many years in a row as the best Vocational Upper Secondary Education and Training School in Finland. Higher education in the region is provided by Novia University of Applied Sciences and Centria University of Applied Sciences at Campus Allegro in Jakobstad. The symbiosis between the educational organiza- How tions and the industry offers a well-laid foundation for both the recruitment of knowledgeable personnel, and for development activities.

Vivid language immersion. The presence of two language groups shapes a unique atmosphere in the quality Jakobstad region. There is also a rapidly-growing group of people, whose mother tongue is neither Swedish nor Finnish. This old role as a melting pot for cultures and languages has led to a creative and tolerant atmosphere. is born. A great range of services, both private and public. You receive high quality service without waiting in line. In addition, the pricing of housing and services often leaves those from larger cities surprised.

International trade since 1652. The Jakobstad region has been open for new ideas for centuries. That same openness is shown toward entrepreneurship. Finland’s first export cooperative, Viexpo, was started in Jakobstad in 1970, and is still successful today. The export cooperative gave local companies a head start, still visible in the region’s level of internationalization..

In the Jakobstad region we recognize that entrepreneurship generates well-being. The Jakobstad region has around 50,000 inhabitants, over 21,500 jobs, and 4,400 companies. The area offers good conditions for business operations, as well a network of actors providing business services. Approximately 40 of the companies employ 50 people each. Competence built through action, multifaceted networks, and a high level of The development company Concordia wants to serve as a partner to businesses, and offers top quality services for internationalization, effectively opens new doors – even for global cooperation. companies at different stages of development. Welcome to the Jakobstad region! The home of quality.

In questions concerning the Jakobstad Region we are happy to help [email protected] +358 (0)10 239 7550 jakobstadregion.fi

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