On June 4th, 1974, 15-year-old Mauno Kulmala from Turenki began his journey at Kolmeks. By that time, the young man had already worked at Kolmeks as an intern alongside his studies, but now it was the real deal. According to Mauno, his first day was filled with nervousness, even fear, much like the first steps many of us take in our careers.
During his school internships, Mauno worked at Kolmeks doing filing tasks, which is also how he started his permanent employment. He later transitioned to machining, where he has spent the majority of his career.
How Did Mauno End Up at Kolmeks?
When Mauno started in 1974, Kolmeks’ factory in Turenki had been operational for less than ten years. On top of that, Mauno had strong personal ties to Kolmeks, as both his father and mother worked at the company.
With these good connections and recommendations, Mauno got off to a solid start on what would become a long journey. Over the years, all three of Mauno’s sons have also worked at Kolmeks, with one of them still working there today.
Changes and Developments Over Half a Century
When Mauno began, the factory was only a fraction of its current size, having been expanded multiple times over the years. For example, Mauno’s workstation in the machining department was originally in the old hall, but today it is located in a newer extension. Similarly, the coil winding, which was initially done at the Turenki factory (where the current WD station is located), was later moved entirely to Kolmeks’ factories in Viljandi, Estonia, and Chuzhou, China.
The number of employees at the Turenki factory has also significantly decreased from earlier times, when there were many more workers and tasks like winding were largely done by hand. Over the decades, the changes are also evident in the rise of digitalization and the introduction of computers into the daily workflow.
Mauno’s career has gone through many phases, with his responsibilities evolving from machining to method planning, supervision, and department management. Among these, his most memorable role was as a supervisor, where he managed a team of about 200 people. Currently, he works in purchasing and machining.
The Impact on the Work Community
It goes without saying how significant these years of work have been not only for Mauno and his family but also for his colleagues and the work community. The appreciation for such a long career is evident among his peers. In the workplace, the value of extensive experience, as well as the tacit knowledge and expertise accumulated over the decades, is highly respected.
Staying Motivated
“The fact that it’s nice to come to work and enjoy being there largely depends on meaningful work and having great colleagues and a good work community,” Mauno explains.
Kolmeks is known for its many long careers, but the company also continuously welcomes fresh faces and younger generations. Kolmeks has struck a good balance between drawing on the experience of long-standing veterans and gaining fresh perspectives and modern expertise from newer employees.
2025 Brings More Reasons to Celebrate
Mauno’s 50-year journey at Kolmeks is a remarkable milestone, and 2025 will offer even more reasons to celebrate, as the Turenki factory will turn 60, and Kolmeks as a company will mark its 80th anniversary.