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.

TT Gaskets is the Theme Partner for the Alihankinta Subcontracting Fair 2025

May 23, 2025

TT Gaskets is proud to be the theme partner for the Subcontracting Fair 2025, which will take place from September 30 – October 2, 2025, in Tampere, Finland. This partnership reflects our dedication to sustainability, innovation, and collaboration in the manufacturing industry.

As the theme partner, we will be showcasing our expertise in sealing solutions and demonstrating our dedication to driving sustainability across the industry. With over 80 years of experience, TT Gaskets has earned a reputation for delivering high-quality, reliable products to some of the world’s largest engine, maritime, and energy companies.

Petri Lehtinen, Business Director at TT Gaskets, comments:
“The Subcontracting Fair is an important event for us to meet with customers, exchange insights, and understand the market’s direction. It also gives us a platform to share our latest innovations and strengthen relationships with our partners.”

Driving Innovation and Sustainability

As part of our commitment to sustainable practices, TT Gaskets has invested in energy-efficient technologies, including the expansion of our production facility with solar panels and the acquisition of the TruLaser 5030 Fiber L76 laser. These investments reflect our ongoing efforts to reduce our carbon footprint while enhancing production efficiency and precision.

Matti Järvinen, Quality, Lean, and IT Director at TT Gaskets, adds:
“Our proactive approach to sustainability is central to our operations. Our VSME sustainability report not only supports our commitment to reducing emissions but also enables us to provide our customers with valuable data for their own ESG reporting.”

Looking Ahead

The theme for Subcontracting Fair 2025 is “Competitiveness through Sustainability”, which resonates with our vision. We are excited to be at the forefront of shaping a more sustainable and efficient future for the sealing solutions industry.

Our participation in this important industry event underscores our ongoing commitment to innovation, quality, and collaboration with our customers and partners.

Learn more about our role as the theme partner for Subcontracting 2025: Read the full article from Alihankinta Subcontracting Fair

We’re Exhibiting at CIMAC 2025 in Zurich, Switzerland!

May 12, 2025

We’re excited to announce that TT Gaskets will be exhibiting at the CIMAC World Congress 2025, taking place in Zurich, Switzerland, from May 19 to 23, 2025.

As the leading global platform for dialogue on combustion engine technology, CIMAC brings together experts, manufacturers, and innovators from across the marine, energy, and industrial sectors.

You’ll find our team at Booth 31, where we’ll be showcasing our latest developments in high-performance sealing solutions for demanding operating environments.

Event: CIMAC Congress 2025
Dates: May 19–23, 2025
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
TT Gaskets Booth: 31
Event website & registration:
https://www.cimaccongress.com/

We look forward to connecting with industry professionals from around the world and sharing how our gasket technology supports performance, safety, and sustainability in today’s most critical applications.

Let’s meet in Zurich—Booth 31!

TT Gaskets Publishes Its First Verified Sustainability Report Using VSME Standard 

May 7, 2025

TT Gaskets has published its very first sustainability report, officially verified by an independent third party. The report is based on both the Basic and Comprehensive Modules of the Voluntary Sustainability Reporting Standard for non-listed SMEs (VSME) making TT Gaskets one of the first companies in Europe to release a sustainability report using the newly finalized VSME framework. 

The VSME standard, published by EFRAG in December 2024, is a simplified, voluntary reporting tool designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) disclose sustainability data in a consistent and transparent way. Although not a regulatory requirement, TT Gaskets recognized the VSME as a strategic opportunity to enhance transparency, support customer needs, and take proactive steps aligned with future EU sustainability directives like CSRD. 

According to Matti Järvinen, TT Gaskets’ Director of Quality, Lean, and IT: 

“The publication of the verified TTG Sustainability Report is yet another significant and concrete step forward in our goal of being The Most Sustainable Sealing Partner. With our report, we can share the results of our sustainability work and our future targets with our stakeholders, encourage all our stakeholders to join us on the ongoing journey of sustainable development, and help our customers with the CSRD directive. 

Our process started over a year ago, when we brainstormed what The Most Sustainable Sealing Partner could mean in practice. We also considered how we could happyficate our customers as the CSRD directive is expanding to cover an ever-increasing number of them, and how we could better communicate the meaningful sustainable development work we have already done as pioneers in the industry.” 

The reporting journey began in early 2024, with preliminary exercises and rapid adaptation to a standard that was still evolving. By summer, TT Gaskets had already taken significant steps toward documenting their sustainability efforts. Despite the challenges brought by changes in the standard before its official release in December 2024, the team remained committed to transparency and accuracy. 

“We wanted to be the first in the world to publish a third-party verified VSME-compliant sustainability report. At the same time, we decided that we must handle the implementation of the report and the background work in a completely sustainable and transparent manner. All figures, texts and calculations in the report have been designed in such a way that their backgrounds can be easily verified and updated annually. 

I’m extremely proud of the achievements of TTG’s sustainability team and especially Iida’s excellent work in collecting, collating and creating the essential background materials and visually beautiful report! We have just celebrated achieving zero emissions from our own operations (scope 1 and 2) in a sustainable manner without compensation, and after publishing this TTG Sustainability Report, we continue our journey towards a more sustainable tomorrow with new goals and actions. 

Quoting our final words of wisdom from the report; sustainability is not a separate goal – it is an integral part of our strategy, our daily operations, and who we are as a company.” 

As TT Gaskets moves forward, sustainability is not treated as a separate function, but as a core element of its identity. The full sustainability report offers a detailed view of the company’s current impact, future goals, and long-term vision to lead the industry as a pioneer in sustainable sealing solutions. 

Read our full Sustainability Report and download the PDF version here:  Full Sustainability Report

TT Gaskets Invests €3M in Fully Automated Laser Cutting Line

March 13, 2025

TT Gaskets is making a significant leap forward in manufacturing efficiency and automation with a €3 million investment in a fully automated laser cutting line. This investment includes the option for an additional €2M in the coming years to further enhance automation and expand production capabilities. The transformation is not just about upgrading machinery, it’s about pioneering a new era of automation that enhances efficiency, precision, and sustainability.

This strategic move enhances our long-term partnerships with TRUMPF, TruTekniikka, and STOPA, leveraging their cutting-edge technologies to transform our production capabilities.

Beyond a Single Machine – A Fully Automated Laser Cutting Line

This investment extends far beyond acquiring the TruLaser 5030 Fiber L76. It includes:

Driving Industry Leadership Through Innovation

“We are fully committed to international growth and reaching new heights while ensuring we remain the greenest choice in the market,” says Aleksi Arpiainen, CEO of TT Gaskets. “I’d like to extend a big thank you to our talented and devoted machine, software, and automation partners, whose collaboration is powering the development of our smart factory. Together, we can reach new heights, learning from one another.”

TT Gaskets’ investment in automation is more than just an upgrade, it’s a strategic move to redefine industry standards. By integrating advanced automation and smart technology, the company is strengthening its position as an innovation leader.

“This investment is a key step in our strategy to lead the industry through innovation and efficiency,” adds Petri Lehtinen, Business Director at TT Gaskets. “By integrating cutting-edge automation, we are positioning TT Gaskets for continued growth and delivering even greater value to our customers.”

Through this transformation, TT Gaskets is not only enhancing production capabilities but also ensuring long-term competitiveness in the global market. The fully automated laser cutting line represents a commitment to pushing the boundaries of efficiency, precision, and customer excellence.

Preparations Underway – Fully Operational by August 2025

The construction work has already started at our facility, and we’re moving forward with the plans to ensure a smooth implementation.
Once the TruLaser 5030 Fiber L76 is operational in August 2025, it will transform our laser-cutting department. Its fully automated features, including direct material handling from the integrated warehouse, will reduce manual intervention and significantly improve production flow. Additionally, modernized equipment will reduce the risk of unplanned maintenance, ensuring reliable and consistent production. Our team has planned a step-by-step transition, including:

A Commitment to Innovation & Sustainability

By reducing manual intervention, improving efficiency, and minimizing waste, TT Gaskets is reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and customer excellence.
This major investment is made possible through our long-standing partnerships with Trumpf, TruTekniikka, and Stopa, whose expertise and technology are crucial in bringing this transformation to life.

The TruLaser 5030 Fiber L76 is a key component of our comprehensive investment program, designed to renew and modernize our laser cutting department. This advanced system, featuring an integrated automatic warehouse solution, will significantly enhance our operational efficiency, capacity, and sustainability efforts.
“With this investment, we’re not just upgrading machinery, we’re improving how we serve our customers,” said Teemu Sillanpää, Purchasing and Sourcing Manager. “This partnership with the skilled teams at Trumpf and TruTekniikka enables us to push boundaries in efficiency, quality, and sustainability,” Sillanpää added.

Delivering Superior Value to Customers

“This investment is a game-changer,” adds Teemu Piipponen, Production Manager. “Many companies have advanced machines, but a fully automated system like ours is truly unique. We are shaping the future of laser cutting technology.” Once fully operational in August 2025, this next-generation laser cutting line will provide faster turnaround times, higher-quality cuts, and enhanced reliability, reinforcing TT Gaskets’ commitment to customer excellence. “This cutting-edge technology represents our commitment to our customers. It’s about meeting their needs with better quality, faster delivery, and reliable service,” Piipponen added.

Stay Tuned for More Updates

By August 2025, this cutting-edge system will be fully operational, reinforcing TT Gaskets’ commitment to delivering faster production times, unmatched precision, and increased reliability. Stay tuned for updates as we reshape the future of laser cutting at TT Gaskets!

Image Source: TRUMPF

TT Gaskets CEO Aleksi Arpiainen Participates in Launch of Tampere Region’s Economic Strategy for 2026–2030

February 28, 2025

Tampere, Finland – TT Gaskets is pleased to support the Tampere region’s newly unveiled economic strategy for 2026–2030, titled Uuden edellä (Ahead of the New). This strategy outlines a bold vision for the region’s future, focusing on Ambitious Renewal and Smart Growth. Aleksi Arpiainen, CEO of TT Gaskets, had the honor of joining the launch event as a panelist, representing the region’s industry and SME companies.

Photo: Petri Kangas / Business Tampere

The launch event took place on Thursday, February 20, 2025, at Tampere’s Torni Hotel, bringing together over 150 industry leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs. The event opened with remarks from Harri Ojala, Managing Director of Business Tampere, who shared key insights into the strategy’s objectives and the collaborative efforts behind its development.

During the panel discussion, Arpiainen emphasized the importance of fostering collaboration, innovation, and securing new financing opportunities to drive sustainable growth in the region.

“The vision for 2030 – Boldly Renewing, Smartly Growing – is an exciting one. It aligns perfectly with our approach at TT Gaskets, where we constantly push for innovation while staying committed to sustainability and smart business practices,” said Arpiainen. “For companies like ours, this strategy presents a clear path forward, encouraging cooperation across industries and enabling larger investments in the region.”

Photo: Petri Kangas / Business Tampere

The new strategy focuses on strengthening regional cooperation, enhancing international expertise, and increasing the Tampere region’s visibility and attractiveness. Arpiainen highlighted the critical role of entrepreneurship education and the need to equip individuals at all levels with the skills to create new ventures and drive new product development.

The strategy also identifies key growth clusters, such as defense and green transition-related solutions. As a company committed to sustainable manufacturing, TT Gaskets is eager to contribute to these high-potential areas and play a role in shaping the region’s economic future.

Photo: Petri Kangas / Business Tampere

“Sales and entrepreneurship education are vital to sparking new ideas and making them a reality. We must find ways to support these efforts, not only by fostering innovation but also by ensuring that good ideas are backed by solid financing and resources,” Arpiainen added.

The Tampere region’s economic strategy sets the stage for continued success, supporting businesses of all sizes and fostering new collaborations to drive growth, innovation, and sustainability.

Discover more about the Tampere region’s 2026–2030 economic strategy here

TT Gaskets CEO Aleksi and Chairman of the Board Matti Honored as Tampere Chamber of Commerce’s Business Persons of the Year 2024

January 27, 2025

“We are more than a gasket supplier – we are your strategic partner”

August 8, 2024

David Lindgren works as a Key Account Manager for TT Gaskets. He’s located in Munich, taking care of German speaking customers in Europe. The gasket market in Europe is extremely competitive, but David knows why TT Gaskets is a brilliant option for the clients.

David’s previous work experience consists of various purchasing roles in different global organizations. He’s career in automotive and heavy-duty industry, as well as oil and gas industry, led him to TT Gaskets. Strong understanding of customer needs and strategies on a global scale help him in his daily work.

“My job is to help our clients and potential clients. I take care of their needs from the very first phone call through daily business operations, expanding that business, and building strategic partnerships. At the moment I’m a “one-man-show” in Central Europe, but I have the full support of TT Gasket’s sales, management and production teams in Finland”, says David Lindgren.

Why to source gaskets from Finland?

When a customer needs gaskets in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, the help is near. David counts that there are at least a handful of potential suppliers within a 50-kilometer range of any production line. How can TT Gaskets compete with that?

“We are more than your supplier. We’re a partner. There are a lot of suppliers in Europe but not that many strategic partners. We are there for the client the complete lifetime of the gasket, from engineering, prototyping, zero-production to production and spare parts”, promises David.

After less than two years of working for TT Gaskets, David already has numerous success stories in selling gaskets. Business in German speaking Europe is growing, a lot of projects are in progress, and new ones in the horizon. He’s learning the market and working closely with the team in Finland.

“I couldn’t do anything without the team in Tampere. They support my role and understand what customers require and what they want from the partnership. But expanding business in German speaking Europe also teaches new insights to the team in Finland. Whether it’s co-engineering or co-designing or help with their applications need, TT Gaskets can help. We know the gaskets.”

Sustainable future is built now

Just like in Finland, Germany is big on green values, circular economy and sustainability. David sees sustainability as a unique selling proposition for TT Gaskets as a supplier.

“Sustainability will only grow in the future. At some point, clients won’t source from suppliers that aren’t sustainable. TT Gaskets is one step ahead. We’ll be CO2 neutral in 2024, which is a huge advantage and an additional benefit to our clients and their purchasing organizations. It’s great to work for a company, that constantly invests in the future.”

David thinks that TT Gaskets is a great as an employer too. According to him, TT Gaskets is like big family where the owners take care of everybody. He’s job takes him on the road to see clients and of course visiting the headquarters in Finland.

“It’s our team, the flexibility and freedom in the job that I enjoy. We have an opportunity to innovate something great together. I’m excited to be a part of building the future for TT Gaskets in German speaking Europe. Of course there are challenges, but that’s what we do, manage and overcome challenges, David says.”

How to improve work-life balance

David’s job is never done. There’s always something left in the evening for the next morning. To balance it all out, he enjoys nature, skiing, hiking, and cycling among other things. When he’s staying at a hotel, he always takes he’s sport equipment with him.

“I’m here to support every aspect of the relationship between TT Gaskets and our clients. To keep my work-life in balance, I take the time for my hobbies. I can go to the gym at a hotel or go for a run. If you do sports, you need recover time. The same goes for work. I believe if you only concentrate on work 24/7, you won’t be successful. It’s about keeping your balance.”

Milestones from 2023 provide a platform for future growth – Our focus is on exports and sustainability

March 5, 2024

TT Gaskets’ recent development work and new ventures gained recognition and provided insight into the international demand for our products and services.

Golden Gavel competition highlighted TT Gaskets’ great board work

Independent board members are vital in developing a family business. Participating in the Finnish Golden Gavel competition gave us a chance to reflect on our learnings from recent years and compare our board status with the top boards of today’s SME companies.

TT Gaskets’ executive team members have a pronounced focus within our board work.  Executives participate in every meeting, providing insight into our future through the lens of their own position.

– Our board and executive team function as sparring partners for each other. Our goals regarding board work are to continue to enable advisor roles for board members. We’ll also be increasing board work diversity which will create added value for our executive team, CEO Aleksi Arpiainen sums up.

Pirkanmaa Exports Award is a recognition for our dauntless export expansion

The award jury described TT Gaskets as an international growth company with intrepid intentions to increase the share of exports within our turnover. The jury gave special thanks for emphasizing exports in our strategy. We are targeting Scandinavia, German-speaking Europe and North America in our coming export efforts.

–  Customer orientation and proximity are crucial in exports, and in this regard, we are preparing to take entirely new steps. We have already started a model in Sweden where we are easily accessible to our customers, and we intend to replicate the same pattern in new areas. Larger launches are coming soon, Business Director Petri Lehtinen promises.

Collaboration with top university opens up new avenues for exports

The United States has become our fastest-growing market area in the 2020s. Conquering this highly competitive market requires a profound understanding, which is why we have conducted thorough market research in collaboration with UCLA, one of the top universities in the US.

– We have gained a clear understanding of who our potential customers are, what are our most viable geographical locations, and who the right stakeholders are for us. We need to approach the market “boots on the ground.” Increasing our customer base requires having several local agents on the continent.

EcoVadis assessment yielded top results for TT Gaskets

Ranking among the top seven percent in the international EcoVadis sustainability assessment proved that our long-term investments in sustainability are paying off. Sustainability and responsibility permeate our operations on environmental, social, and governance levels. Sustainable choices strengthen our competitiveness.

Corporate responsibility is not just empty rhetoric for us but significant actions towards a brighter future. Our goal is to achieve full carbon neutrality by 2027. Sustainability is also emphasized in our international growth strategy.

– We aspire to be sustainability pioneers and advocates within certain markets where issues related to responsibility are not yet at the forefront. We want to promote best practices and spread the message for a good cause on our own scale, says Quality, Lean and IT Director Matti Järvinen.

Micaseal Suniflex is our first proprietary gasket material

TT Gaskets’ first private label gasket material Micaseal Suniflex has gotten a great reception among our customers. Suniflex has proved to be a successful material, and gaskets made from it perform very well even in demanding conditions.

– Suniflex is designed to withstand extremely hot temperatures of nearly 1000 degrees centigrade, and it performs reliably in different chemical environments. Experiences of its appliances have been highly positive. The mica-based material’s name is a tribute to late Key Account Director Jukka Sunila, Petri Lehtinen says.

The year 2023 was significant for us in many ways. We achieved significant milestones and recognitions that reflect our commitment to continuous improvement and responsibility. Considering these achievements, our focus is already on the future and new ventures. This is a good starting point for moving forward!