“I enjoy seeing how something once unfamiliar becomes part of my daily flow” 

August 7, 2025

Sanni-Sohvi Kujanpää joined TT Gaskets in early 2023, transitioning from the construction industry to manufacturing. The shift was significant, but for her, it was the right move. 

“I’ve been happy with the change,” she says. “There’s been a lot to learn, and that’s exactly what keeps me motivated.” 

As an Inside Sales Engineer, Sanni-Sohvi plays a vital role in supporting both customers and the sales team. Her daily tasks include quotation calculations, updating pricing, responding to customer inquiries, and assisting sales representatives, for example, by creating item codes and ensuring that everything flows smoothly behind the scenes. 

From new beginnings to confidence 

Though her job title has remained the same since day one, her expertise has grown rapidly. 

“With time and experience, tasks that once felt unfamiliar have become routine. It’s incredibly rewarding to look back and see how far I’ve come,” she reflects. 

This continuous learning and the opportunity to help both customers and colleagues is what keeps her inspired. “I like the feeling of growth, when something clicks, and you realize you’re getting better at what you do.” 

Empowered to work smart 

Sanni-Sohvi describes TT Gaskets’ work culture as people-oriented and empowering. 

“There’s a real sense of trust,” she explains. “I have the freedom to plan my workday in a way that suits me, which makes it easier to keep a good balance between work and free time. And being able to work remotely adds to that flexibility.” 

She also highlights the warmth and support of her colleagues as one of the best parts of the job. “You’re not just seen as a role, you’re seen as a person. That makes a difference.” 

Everyday moments that matter 

While she can’t pinpoint one standout moment, Sanni-Sohvi says she’s genuinely enjoyed building relationships with her coworkers, both at work and beyond it. 

“Business trips have been a completely new experience for me, and I’ve found them really enjoyable.” 

Outside of work, she’s passionate about CrossFit and golf, though she admits she’s also a bit of a homebody. “On weekends, I like to slow down and spend time with friends and family.” 

And if you ask her to share a fun fact about herself? 

“I’m not interesting,” she says with a grin. But anyone who knows her would say otherwise. 

TT Gaskets Awarded EcoVadis Gold Medal for Sustainability Excellence

August 1, 2025

We are proud to announce that Tampereen Tiivisteteollisuus Oy (TT Gaskets) has been awarded the EcoVadis Gold Medal in recognition of our performance in corporate social responsibility and sustainable business practices. This prestigious distinction is given to the top 5% of companies rated globally by EcoVadis.

EcoVadis is a globally recognized provider of sustainability ratings, evaluating over 150,000 companies across four key themes: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. With an overall score of 80 out of 100, TT Gaskets now ranks in the 97th percentile, well above the 95th percentile threshold required for the Gold Medal, placing us firmly within the top 3% of all rated companies worldwide.

Demonstrated Strength Across All Themes

This year’s assessment highlighted meaningful improvements across all four key areas of sustainability.

Our environmental performance was particularly strong, with a score of 87/100—reflecting advanced policies, measures, certifications, and transparency in our environmental practices. This result confirms TTG’s commitment to environmental responsibility and continuous improvement in managing environmental impact.

In Labor and Human Rights, TTG earned a score of 79/100, demonstrating that our systems and practices uphold high standards in workplace rights, conditions, and employee well-being.

The Ethics category showed progress as well, with a score of 65/100. While there is still room for further formalization in policy, this score reflects solid practices and efforts made over the past year to improve our ethical management systems.

In Sustainable Procurement, TTG achieved a score of 69/100, indicating consistent development in how we engage with suppliers and manage environmental and social risks throughout the supply chain.

What Drove the Improvement

Since the last assessment, TTG has introduced several key improvements that contributed to the higher score:

• Implementation of additional internal policies
• Strengthening of sustainability-related measures
• Expanded and more transparent sustainability reporting

These advancements reflect the company’s commitment to aligning operations with internationally recognized sustainability standards and continuing to improve year over year.

A Milestone and a Motivation

Receiving the EcoVadis Gold Medal is a significant achievement, and a testament to the work of our teams across the organization. It reinforces that we are moving in the right direction, guided by a clear vision for responsible business practices, environmental stewardship, and social accountability.

We thank everyone involved in this process, especially our IT and Quality team, whose dedication has played a central role in driving these improvements forward.

To learn more about the EcoVadis medal system and what the Gold recognition represents, visit this official EcoVadis resource.

TT Gaskets to Celebrate the Launch of Fully Automated Laser Cutting Line with Exclusive Oktoberfest Event

July 7, 2025

TT Gaskets is proud to announce the official launch of its new Laser Department, powered by a cutting-edge, fully automated laser cutting line, and to mark this milestone, the company is hosting a unique Oktoberfest-themed celebration on October 1st, 2025, at its Tampere headquarters.

This event will bring together industry leaders, customers, partners, and key stakeholders for an evening that fuses technology, tradition, and innovation, and highlights one of the most ambitious automation investments in TT Gaskets’ history.

Transforming Manufacturing with €3M Automation Investment

The newly opened Laser Department is the result of a €3 million investment in a fully automated laser cutting line, with an additional €2 million option reserved for future automation and capacity enhancements.

More than just a machinery upgrade, this transformation redefines TT Gaskets’ production capabilities. By integrating TruLaser 5030 Fiber L76 with an advanced STOPA automated warehouse, the company is building a smart, sustainable, and efficient production environment, reducing manual work, optimizing workflow, and delivering consistent quality at scale.

Oktoberfest-Style Celebration at TT Gaskets

To celebrate this exciting leap forward, TT Gaskets will host an exclusive Oktoberfest-style launch event on-site in Tampere. The event is by invitation only and promises to be a lively evening featuring:

Delicious food & drinks
Live music & entertainment
Traditional Oktoberfest games
Laser-cutting technology demos & facility tours

“This is a celebration of progress,” says Aleksi Arpiainen, CEO of TT Gaskets. “We’re combining tradition with innovation, and honoring the people and partnerships that made this investment possible.”

Travel & Attendance Info

A limited number of hotel rooms have been pre-booked for the event. Those interested in attending are encouraged to express their interest early. Attendees will be selected based on relevance and capacity.

📩 manal.essid@tt-gaskets.fi
📩 petri.lehtinen@tt-gaskets.fi

Powered by Longstanding Partnerships

This transformation wouldn’t be possible without the deep collaboration between TT Gaskets and its trusted technology partners: TRUMPF, TruTekniikka, and STOPA. Together, they’ve delivered an advanced automation ecosystem that supports TT Gaskets’ long-term growth, sustainability, and customer satisfaction.

“We’re not just automating – we’re revolutionizing how we serve our customers,” says Teemu Sillanpää, Purchasing and Sourcing Manager.

Looking Ahead

Once fully operational in August 2025, the new laser cutting line will significantly boost production speed, traceability, and sustainability — with less downtime, higher precision, and faster delivery times.

“This system puts us ahead of the curve,” says Teemu Piipponen, Production Manager. “It’s unlike anything else on the market, and it reflects our commitment to shaping the future of laser cutting.”

Stay Tuned

The launch event is only the beginning. Follow TT Gaskets for ongoing updates as we continue investing in automation, digitalization, and excellence — for our customers, our people, and the future of European manufacturing.

TT Gaskets and Donit Strengthen Strategic Partnership in Slovenia

July 1, 2025

Earlier this month, TT Gaskets leadership visited our long-standing partner Donit at their headquarters in Slovenia to reaffirm and elevate our collaboration, one that is critical to our strategy, values, and the future of sealing technology.

The visit marked the signing of a new partnership agreement between TT Gaskets and Donit, a significant milestone built on mutual trust, years of cooperation, and a shared vision for excellence in the gasket industry. With this renewed commitment, both companies aim to deliver even more value to customers by combining technical expertise, material innovation, and customer-centric service.

“Donit’s capabilities in advanced material development complement our focus on high-performance sealing solutions perfectly,” says Teemu Sillanpää, Purchasing and Sourcing Manager at TT Gaskets.
“Working closely together means faster development cycles, more tailored materials, and ultimately, better service for our customers.”

Together, TT Gaskets and Donit represent over 150 years of combined experience in the sealing and gasketing sector. Our continued partnership enables us to offer unique solutions, drawing on Donit’s world-class R&D and material production capabilities, such as:

• Tesnit® BA-soft – an innovative sealing material designed for low bolt load applications
• Tesnit® BA-KTW-G – specifically engineered for hot and cold drinking water and gas supply systems

Both materials are recognized across industries for their performance, durability, and regulatory compliance in demanding environments.

Beyond products and technologies, the visit also strengthened the human connection between our companies. It was an opportunity to align not only on technical goals but on shared values: long-term commitment, open communication, and delivering results that customers can trust.

“This partnership is more than a contract, it’s a strategic alliance,” adds Petri Lehtinen, Business Director at TT Gaskets.
“Donit is not just a supplier; they are a vital extension of our team and our mission to deliver high-performance, sustainable sealing solutions to the world.”

We look forward to many more years of close cooperation with Donit as we continue to develop next-generation sealing materials and solutions for customers across industries.

TT Gaskets Strengthens Leadership Skills with Change Management Training in Tampere

June 30, 2025

As part of its commitment to continuous development and adaptive leadership, TT Gaskets recently conducted a full-day Change Management training session for all supervisors, managers, and HR representatives. The training was held at the Varala Sports Institute (Varalan Urheiluopisto) and delivered by Lecklé HR Lead Oy.

The session was facilitated by Tuomas Tuokkala, Development Manager at Lecklé, who led participants through a structured exploration of how ongoing change affects individuals, teams, and workplace culture as a whole.

In preparation for the training, participants were encouraged to reflect on recent changes within the company, including how these have been experienced and what impact they’ve had. The training itself included interactive group work, focusing on identifying key strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) related to change management at TT Gaskets.

The goal was to generate practical and forward-looking ideas for how to better lead through change, with a strong emphasis on communication, transparency, and shared responsibility across the organization.

“At TT Gaskets, we don’t just adapt to change, we want to guide it with intention and purpose,” said Aleksi Arpiainen, CEO of TT Gaskets.
“This training gave our leadership team a valuable opportunity to reflect, connect, and build the tools we need to lead through transformation more effectively.”

“People are at the heart of everything we do,” added Petri Lehtinen, Business Director at TT Gaskets.
“As a family-owned company, we believe in growing together, and that means investing in our people, supporting their development, and building a culture where collaboration and care are present in every part of the organization.”

One of the clearest takeaways from the session was the importance of keeping teams informed and aligned, especially during periods of intense change. Participants noted that while the company is managing many transitions, improved internal communication can help ensure that no one is left behind.

TT Gaskets extends its thanks to Tuomas Tuokkala for the engaging facilitation and all participants for their active contribution to the discussions and outcomes.

This session is part of a broader effort to ensure that TT Gaskets remains agile, collaborative, and future-ready, even in times of transformation.

TT Gaskets joins Finland Chamber of Commerce’s Climate Community

June 26, 2025

We’re proud to share that TT Gaskets has been selected to join the Climate Community, a national initiative led by the Finland Chamber of Commerce and supported by LähiTapiola. The program brings together over 140 small and medium-sized companies from across Finland, all committed to advancing practical and impactful climate action.

For us at TT Gaskets, sustainability is not a separate strategy — it’s deeply integrated into how we work, innovate, and grow. Being part of this community is a natural continuation of our efforts to build smarter, cleaner, and more responsible industrial solutions.

What is the Climate Community?

The Climate Community offers its members:

• Training and tools to calculate emissions across the full value chain (including Scope 3)
• Expert support in planning and implementing emission reductions
• Guidance for building credible, transparent sustainability communications
• A peer network to exchange ideas, share challenges, and create joint solutions

This initiative is not just about hitting climate targets — it’s about raising the bar for how Finnish SMEs can lead with responsibility and resilience in a changing world.

Why this matters to TT Gasket

As a family-owned company with global operations, we recognize the role we play — not only in delivering technical excellence, but in contributing to a more sustainable future.

Joining the Climate Community supports our goals to:

• Deepen our emissions tracking, particularly in Scope 3 categories
• Strengthen our reduction roadmap across sourcing, manufacturing, and logistics
• Enhance internal knowledge and engagement around climate impact
• Make sustainability a part of everyday thinking, not just long-term strategy

This work also resonates with our identity as an employer. At TT Gaskets, we believe that meaningful work includes being part of something bigger: creating value not just for customers, but for our people and our planet.

What’s next

Our Climate Community journey officially begins in autumn 2025 — and we’re ready. We look forward to collaborating with other member companies, learning from experts, and sharing our own insights as we move toward climate-smart industrial practices.

Together, we can build a future where engineering and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.

TT Gaskets joins SIX Elastomeric Systems Cluster to drive sustainable innovation in advanced materials

June 20, 2025

TT Gaskets is proud to be one of the founding members of the newly launched SIX Elastomeric Systems Cluster, a national collaboration platform uniting Finland’s leading companies, universities, and research organizations in the field of elastomeric materials. 

The SIX Cluster supports the development of sustainable raw materials, the digital transformation of materials production, and new high-value applications for elastomers  helping to strengthen Finland’s global competitiveness in advanced, environmentally friendly solutions. 

“Collaboration through SIX can truly shift the entire industry forward. Our shared roadmap will help accelerate the transition toward more sustainable materials and boost international growth through innovations,” says Aleksi Arpiainen, CEO of TT Gaskets. 

As part of this ecosystem, TT Gaskets will focus on developing innovative polymer solutions that contribute to greener, smarter, and more efficient industrial applications. 

The launch event, held on June 16, 2025, in Tampere’s historic Finlayson district, brought together founding members and thought leaders to kick off this important initiative. 

Founding members of SIX Elastomeric Systems Cluster include: 
TT Gaskets, Black Donuts Inc., FinnProfiles, Ravelast Polymers, KCL, and Tampere University — alongside collaboration with Business Tampere and VTT. 

The cluster’s mission is to: 
Support the shift to renewable and recyclable raw materials 
Promote smart products and advanced materials 
Address the industry’s growing need for skilled talent 
Build international competitiveness through joint innovation 

We look forward to working with our SIX partners to create sustainable solutions that drive future growth for Finnish industry  and contribute to the global shift toward environmentally responsible materials. 

TT Gaskets Honoured with Supplier Experience Award by Jakamo

June 17, 2025

TT Gaskets’ commitment to responsible supply chain practices and sustainable collaboration has been recognised with the Supplier Experience Award 2025, presented by Jakamo at their annual Supplier X event in May.

Photo: TT Gaskets Purchasing Team proudly holding the Supplier Experience Award 2025, granted by Jakamo for outstanding commitment to sustainable supplier collaboration. From left: Teemu Sillanpää, Mirko Vuorinen, Jenni Pavela, and Joonas Jokinen.

The award is given to a company that has shown exceptional dedication to enhancing supplier collaboration and experience within the manufacturing industry. This year, TT Gaskets stood out for its proactive and systematic work in sustainability and supplier relations.

“We selected TT Gaskets because of your clear and long-term commitment to building a more responsible supply chain,” said Jakamo. “From voluntary sustainability reporting to leveraging Jakamo tools for more systematic supplier data collection, and supporting ongoing Master’s theses on sustainability, TT Gaskets demonstrates industry-leading initiative, especially among SMEs.”

At TT Gaskets, sustainability and partner responsibility are not checkboxes; they are core values. The Purchasing Team, in particular, has driven impactful improvements in collaboration, transparency, and data-driven supplier development.

“We are pleased to continue our long-standing co-operation with the Jakamo team to further develop our supply chain practices and overall sustainability,” says Teemu Sillanpää, Purchasing and Sourcing Manager at TT Gaskets.

We’re proud of this recognition and grateful to our partners, suppliers, and the entire TT Gaskets team for helping us reach this milestone. It reinforces our vision of a more sustainable and connected manufacturing ecosystem.

Learn more about Jakamo and the Supplier X event: https://supplierx.jakamo.net/

Family, Learning, and Leadership: Dr. Riitta-Liisa Arpiainen and TT Gaskets at the 2025 Women Educators Conference in the USA 

June 16, 2025

Photo: Dr. Riitta-Liisa Arpiainen proudly carrying the Finnish flag at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Women Educators International Convention in Indianapolis, USA.

This summer, TT Gaskets North America Inc. will proudly serve as the lanyard sponsor of DKG, the Women Educators International Conference in New Orleans (July 31 – August 2, 2025). But for us, this isn’t just a sponsorship, it’s a meaningful bridge between our company’s values and a long-standing family connection. 

To celebrate this partnership, we sat down with Dr. Riitta-Liisa Arpiainen, a dedicated educator and long-time member of this International Women Educators society, who also happens to be part of the TT Gaskets family. Her story is one of deep commitment to education, cross-cultural connection and leadership. 

A Journey Rooted in Curiosity and Connection 

Dr. Riitta-Liisa Arpiainen first joined this society in 2005 while teaching at Tampere University of Applied Sciences. Encouraged by a friend, she was drawn to the society’s focus on collaboration and cultural exchange. “This organization gives you as many opportunities as you want,” she said. She quickly became active in the Tampere chapter and, soon after, attended her first European conference in the UK. 

Since then, she has participated in numerous international conferences and conventions, often gathering over 1,200 women educators from across the globe. “Every time we meet, we share ideas, experiences and build a stronger global network,” she shared. “Finland may be known for its outstanding education system, but there’s always something new to learn from everyone.” 

Leading with Purposes

Throughout the years, Dr. Riitta-Liisa Arpiainen has taken on several leadership roles within this society, including serving as President of the Finnish Society, participating and chairing many international committees e.g. leadership, scholarship and marketing committees, and now being a member in the international Nominating Committee, which helps to select society’s future international leaders. 

“This is a volunteer-based society, with elections every second year. It gives women the opportunity to grow into leadership, from being a member one day to becoming an international president,” she explained. “You just need time, energy, and belief in yourself.” 

The Bridge Between TT Gaskets and Women Educators 

Although not involved in TT Gaskets’ day-to-day operations, Riitta-Liisa sees a natural alignment between the values of this society and the mission of our company. 

“Lifelong learning is the key. At TT Gaskets, we always talk about learning together with our customers. This society is the same, you support others and get support in return. And now, with TT Gaskets expanding into the North American market, it feels like the perfect time to build this bridge.” 

Her pride in seeing TT Gaskets’ name on the lanyards at this year’s New Orleans conference is deeply personal. “I’m just so proud. In business there are some risks when making decisions like this, but I truly believe it will turn out well. I’ll be walking around with the lanyard on, full of pride.” 

A Message to Women Educators 

When asked what message she’d like to share with the women attending this year’s event, her answer was simple yet powerful: 

“You can do it. You just need to believe in yourself. Stay realistic, things don’t happen overnight, but keep working hard and stay positive. You are the right person to do many different things.” 

At TT Gaskets, we believe the same. That’s why we’re honored to support this incredible event and the educators behind it, those who empower others every day, and who remind us that learning never ends.

World Environment Day 2025: Tackling Plastic Pollution with Green Delivery

June 5, 2025

At TT Gaskets, we believe every step toward sustainability matters and that includes how we deliver our products. With packaging identified as one of our biggest environmental impact areas, especially due to the use of plastic, we knew change was needed.

That’s why we launched our Green Delivery initiative a targeted effort to reduce plastic in our packaging materials and transition to smarter, more sustainable alternatives.

This year’s World Environment Day centers on the urgent issue of plastic pollution. For us, it’s a timely opportunity to highlight one of our clearest success stories and to reaffirm our long-term commitment to change.

Cutting Plastic, One Roll at a Time

At TTG, one of the biggest environmental impacts relates to the use of plastic in packaging materials, and we’ve been actively working to reduce this through our Green Delivery initiative. One clear success is our shift from plastic tapes and labels to paper-based alternatives:

In 2024, our consumption of plastic tapes and labels was 81% lower than in 2022, thanks to this transition.

As a result:

• Total material consumption from tapes and labels decreased by 35%
• Related emissions dropped by 51%

On top of that, we’ve increased our use of paper-based tapes and labels by 200%, replacing plastics with recyclable, more environmentally friendly materials.

These results are not just encouraging — they show what focused action and cross-team collaboration can achieve. And they prove that even everyday materials like packaging tapes can make a measurable difference in sustainability.

Why It Matters

Plastic pollution remains one of the most pressing global challenges. It’s persistent, difficult to recycle, and widely used across industries, including manufacturing and logistics. For us, that means we have both a responsibility and an opportunity to lead by example.

Our Green Delivery initiative is helping to reduce waste, emissions, and reliance on virgin plastic — while making our packaging easier to recycle for our customers.

And This Is Just the Beginning

Reducing plastic in tapes and stickers is just one piece of a much bigger picture. We’re now turning our attention to other packaging components, exploring low-emission logistics, and continuing to identify ways to improve our overall environmental performance.

Stay tuned for more actions as we continue to rethink, reduce, and improve, one delivery at a time.