Fimpec as the Engineering Partner for Woodio’s Lahti Factory Project
Finnish company Woodio, known for its eco-friendly wood composite bathroom furnishings, is making a significant leap forward by investing in a new factory in Lahti. Fimpec is responsible for the engineering of the production processes, equipment, and overall factory layout of this modern facility, which utilizes new technology, in collaboration with Woodio and equipment suppliers. The assignment also includes construction management services.
Woodio’s wood composite innovation offers an ecological alternative to ceramics and other high-carbon-footprint materials in bathroom and interior design. Thanks to its raw materials and energy-efficient manufacturing process, the factory’s production-related carbon emissions will be significantly lower compared to traditional ceramic bathroom furnishings.
The factory, set to be completed in Lahti by spring 2025, will enable Woodio to transition from a pilot-scale environment to a production facility with a much larger capacity. The highly automated factory will incorporate new, efficient technologies focused on sustainability and circular economy principles. The factory building will also be certified under the internationally recognized BREEAM environmental standard.
“This factory project is of immense importance to Woodio. It enables us to meet growing capacity demands, enhance production efficiency, and offer more competitive products. Additionally, we will be better equipped to meet customer needs through faster delivery times,” said Woodio CEO Terja Koskenoja.
The Lahti factory will produce wood composite washbasins, toilets, bathtubs, and interior panels. The factory’s design accounts for a gradual increase in production capacity in the coming years.
Early-Stage Collaboration in Factory Engineering
Fimpec joined the Woodio factory project during the preliminary engineering phase, which began in 2022. Subsequently, Fimpec handled basic engineering and cost planning to support investment decisions, followed by implementation engineering, which started in May 2024. This phase includes procurement tenders for process equipment and procurement recommendations. Implementation engineering will continue until spring 2025, when the factory begins production.
In addition to engineering services, Fimpec has provided Woodio with technical expertise and construction management services, including schedule coordination and procurement activities. Moving forward, Fimpec’s services will extend to installation supervision, technical monitoring, and commissioning support.
Koskenoja explained that Fimpec was chosen for the project because their proposal best matched Woodio’s needs and expectations.
“From our very first meeting, it was clear we were on the same wavelength. Discussions were easy and seamless, and Fimpec’s Kyösti Meriläinen and Juha Elonen impressed us with their extensive experience and flexible approach, which is crucial for a project involving entirely new technology.”
“The collaboration has been excellent, and we couldn’t be more satisfied. Everything has progressed according to plan in terms of both schedule and budget, and on top of that, working together has been truly enjoyable. Even a large and challenging project can be inspiring and rewarding when it’s carried out in a spirit of great teamwork and camaraderie. We’ve truly found the right partners for this project!” Koskenoja added.
Fimpec project leaders Juha Elonen and Kyösti Meriläinen noted that their engineering responsibilities for the factory have been carried out in close collaboration with Woodio’s experts, equipment suppliers, construction project manager Spatium Oy, and builder Superion Oy since the early stages of the project. They emphasized that the project has been an excellent fit for Fimpec’s expertise and objectives.
“This has been an extremely interesting project for us, where we’ve been able to leverage our prior experience and Fimpec’s specialized engineering expertise, such as in machine automation. Challenging projects involving new technologies and the goal of reducing carbon emissions are right in our wheelhouse.”
Fimpec’s Virtualization Model Met Unique Client Needs
A key engineering tool for the Woodio factory project has been Fimpec’s visualization technology, which allowed for simulation of product flows, identification of bottlenecks, and clear demonstrations of how different solutions would impact operations. This technology also enabled simulations of the requirements for scaling up production.
“The technology provided an excellent means of concretizing the new factory and facilitated the review of plans with Woodio’s production staff. We could virtually walk through the factory together and evaluate the functionality of different areas. This ensured that the process would flow smoothly without problematic or inefficient sections,” Koskenoja explained.
More information:
Terja Koskenoja, CEO, Woodio Oy
terja.koskenoja@woodio.fi
Tel. +358 40 582 8106
Aki Litokorpi, Operative Director, Engineering services, Fimpec
aki.litokorpi@fimpec.com
Tel. +358 50 338 8723
About Woodio
Founded in 2016, Woodio Oy is a Finnish design and materials innovation company that manufactures and markets bathroom furnishings and wall and surface panel materials made from its patented 100% waterproof wood composite. Woodio’s composite is designed to replace traditional ceramic and stone materials in interior design solutions. Thanks to its renewable raw materials and low-energy manufacturing process, Woodio’s products have a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to similar ceramic bathroom furnishings. Durable and easy to maintain, Woodio products are suitable for both private and public spaces.
