Year 2005 marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of the machinery store that Heikki J. Helkama (Hellman till 1928) opened for bicycles and sewing machines in Tampere. The store was moved to Vyborg in 1915. The main store was opened in Helsinki in 1934. Operations were heavily expanded after the war to include car imports and own industries, overseen by Heikki J. Helkama’s sons Matti, Paavo, Pekka and Eero Helkama. Presently, the Helkama Companies employ about a thousand staff in seven countries.
The Helkama Companies were restructured into four groups divided between the family branches led by Matti, Pekka and Eero Helkama In 1986. The changes were implemented with the view of creating a group of functional units capable of independent decision-making. The division proved successful, and Helkama today is a conglomerate comprising four independent groups of companies still owned by the immediate and extended family in the fourth generation now
Helkama Companies operate in the following areas:
• Imports of Skoda automobiles, Avis Car Rental, and logistics services by Helkama-Auto Oy
• Manufacture of Helkama Forste Oy refrigeration machinery and home appliances, owned by Suomen Koneliike Oy
• Shipping and forwarding services, PDI for imported cars, and real estate business by the Uuttera Group
• Cable manufacture by Helkama Bica Oy, and bicycle manufacturer of its subsidiary Helkama Velox Oy.
Helkama-Auto imports Skoda automobiles, accessories and spare parts. Helkama is the longest standing Skoda automobile importer in existence, for it started importing Skoda vehicles as early as in 1947. The company has owned the Finnish license for AVIS Car Rental since 1986. Helkama-Auto employees about 80 staff and the company’s headquarters are in Espoo. Helkama Logistics Services offer warehouse hotel services and operate from the same building. The president of the company is Juha Mutanen. www.helkama-auto.fi | www.skoda.fi | www.avis.fi
Helkama Forste Oy in Forssa manufactures, imports and markets high quality home appliances and professional refrigeration machinery. Their products are exported to over 40 countries, the share of exports being nearly 60% of the company’s turnover. International breweries and beverage industries are the biggest customers. Norwegian-based cooke manufacturer Helkama Grepa A/S, refrigeration machinery manufacturers Hungarian-based Helkama Forste KFTand OOO Helkama Forste Vyborg in Russia are Helkama’s subsidiaries. The sales companies are based in Sweden and Poland. Helkama Forste was founded in 1961 and has been part of the Helkama Companies since 1975. It employs 575 staff, 220 of whom work in Finland. The company’s president is Henry Paasikivi. Helkama Forste Oy’s parent company is Suomen Koneliike Oy, whose president is Timo Laakso. www.helfo.com
Helkama Bica Oy in Hanko is specialized in ship and industrial cables and
its expertise goes back four decades to the Hanko-based Helkama Radio factory.
Nowadays, the share of exports to 43 countries amounts to 70% of Helkama Bica’s
turnover. The most notable end users are ships, large industrial plants and real
estate. Helkama Bica employs 125 staff and its president is Timo Vesala.
www.helkamabica.fi
Helkama-Auto’s subsidiary Helkama Velox Oy designs and manufactures the popular Helkama bicycles. Helkama’s bicycles for professional use and recreation are manufactured in Hanko. Helkama manufactures special bicycles for handicapped and elderly people as well as for industrial transportation needs. Apart from new bicycle models the factory continues to make the bicycles so loved by Finnish people, Aino, Oiva and Jopo. Unlike most of its European competitors, the steel frames and front forks are made by Helkama itself. All steed frame Helkama bicycles are given a 21 year warranty. Helkama bicycles are exported to 9 countries, and Sweden is the largest market area. Helkama Velox employs 88 staff and the president is Jarkko Pohjonen. www.helkamavelox.fi
Uuttera comprises three companies. Helsingin Uuttera Oy and Kiinteistö-Uuttera Oy are real estate and holding companies. The companies own office and business space mostly in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The companies have five employees and the president is Tapani Karppinen. Uuttera Oy in Hanko is a forwarding company founded in 1945. The company arranges warehousing and transportation services with international and domestic transportation and forwarding companies. It handles tens of thousands of tons of single consignments and PDI for several tens of thousands of cars. Many car factories and trading houses have founded their Russian and EE countries export warehouse and import PDI points in Hanko with Helkama. The company is also the biggest shareholder in Freeport of Finland Ltd. Uuttera Oy employs 125 staff and the president is Matti Niemi. www.uuttera.fi
