Nammo's Lapua factory receives giant order from the Defence Forces: "There could have been something similar during World War II"
The order received is now worth 220 million euros. This means investments of around 30 million euros and 60 new jobs for the Lapua factory.
Nammo Lapua has received a large order for cartridges from the Finnish Defence Forces.
Ilkka-Pohjalainen was the first to report on the matter.
The order is worth a whopping 220 million euros. This means investments of around 30 million euros for the Lapua factory and approximately 60 new jobs.
Lapua currently employs over 200 people.
Lapua factory director Pekka Himanka says that the order is downright historic.
– There may have been a similar order during World War II. So this is the largest order in a long time, Himanka reckons.
Possible extension to the order
The four-year contract agreed with the Finnish Defence Forces may also be extended.
According to the newspaper Ilkka-Pohjalainen, there has already been talk of an additional order of the same class for the next four years in connection with this order.
However, Himanka stresses that there is no certainty yet about an extension, although there has been talk of it.
– Among other things, NATO caliber changes are coming to the Defence Forces. It may well be that there will be a continuation, but this four-year contract is already really big for us, Himanka says.
Nammo Lapua's factory director Pekka Himanka stands at the factory in Lapua.
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According to factory director Pekka Himanka, the order also requires investments in the factory's production facilities. Archive photo. Photo: Mirva Ekman / Yle
A lot of training work ahead
Nammo Lapua has recruited new people in recent years.
According to factory director Pekka Himanka, there have been a lot of applicants for the positions.
– Recruiting 60 people is hard work. We have to train every employee practically from the beginning ourselves. It's a big project, Himanka says.
The Defence Forces' order concerns cartridges for assault rifles and machine guns. So making them will be a large part of the production in the coming years.
– In practice, we are only talking about two calibers here. Of course, we are also doing other things at the same time. When we make large series, it is always a slightly different kind of production than civilian production for hunting and sporting purposes.
More production facilities
Nammo Lapua exports to about 60 countries.
According to Himanga, the fact that export orders can be handled together with a new order means investments in production facilities.
– A large order causes more investments because we can increase capacity so that we can also place orders for others on schedule at the same time.
Nammo's factory is located on a plot of about one hundred hectares in Jouttikallio, Lapua, so there is plenty of room for expansion.
This year marks a hundred years since the inauguration of the Lapua cartridge factory.
The Nammo Group is owned by the Norwegian state and Patria.
Nyt saadun tilauksen arvo on peräti 220 miljoonaa euroa. Se tietää Lapuan tehtaalle noin 30 miljoonan euron investointeja ja 60 uutta työpaikkaa.
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