Kavika Oy celebrates its 80th anniversary this year. The company was officially founded in May 1945. It was then that the entrepreneurial spirit of Kallio, Virtanen and Kavonius was ignited in the midst of the reconstruction period. The journey has continued through the decades, and although the owners have changed, the fire for making has remained. The roots of the company are still present in our daily lives, as the expertise of the Kavonius family is still present in our work community.
In the early days of the business, the availability of materials was limited, but the need for sustainable and practical manufacturing was great. In the early years, the materials used included waste wood from Strömberg Oy, which was used to make children’s play guns such as pea shooters, water guns and bubble guns. Between 1946 and 1950, around 40 000 of these were produced. Although tin guns later gave way to plastic, that history lives on in our office staircase, where an enlarged Nalli gun stands as a memento.
As plastic became more common, production was redirected. Over the decades, the company focused on stainless steel solutions tailored to the needs of professional kitchens, healthcare and industry. In the early 1950s, stainless steel began to be imported to Finland, and Kavika supplied the first household sink units.
Kallio, who was known as a technical expert, developed his own tools for production, such as pulling devices for the pools. At this stage, an important policy decision was also made: the owners decided to focus on customisation instead of mass production. This decision set a direction that is still reflected in our activities in the form of customised solutions to customer needs.
Today, Kavika’s product range includes a wide variety of domestically manufactured furniture and special products that meet the high quality and hygiene requirements of different industries.
Responsibility has been a key part of our operations since the beginning. In February 2025, we obtained ISO 14001:2015 environmental certification, which confirms our commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainability. We also hold an ISO 9001 quality certificate, which guarantees customer-oriented and efficient operations. Together, these certificates demonstrate our commitment to both quality and responsibility.
In 80 years, we have learned and experienced a lot. We have increased our expertise, renewed our machines, developed our processes – and above all, we have welded, bent and made lasting quality with Finnish craftsmanship. One thing hasn’t changed: Kavika continues to produce individual, made-to-measure stainless steel solutions, with high quality and tailored to the customer’s needs.
The trust we have received from customers and partners shows that we are moving in the right direction. We would also like to thank our customers, our partners and all our employees who have been part of this journey.
Together towards the next eighty.