Meet the Team: Master Welders Eeli and Marko

Our welding department in Finbin factory located in Finland consists of nine individuals who ensure the high quality and durability of our products. The welding operations are divided into four stations: the Solar station (for CitySolar smart compacting bins), the Finbin station (for waste and recycling bins), the PT station (for bike racks, benches, and tables), and the shelter station (for bike and bus shelters).

Eeli specializes in welding the CitySolar smart compacting bins and also serves as the company’s occupational safety representative, actively contributing to the development of a safer working environment. His role includes listening to his colleagues’ concerns and suggestions and passing them along to the management team.

Marko works at the Finbin station, welding waste and recycling bins. In addition, he serves as the chief shop steward, promoting workplace development and ensuring that employees’ voices are heard in decision-making processes. Marko’s days are filled with both practical welding tasks and supporting and listening to his colleagues.

Together, Eeli and Marko work to ensure that Lehtovuori Finbin’s workplace is safe and motivating. Their responsible roles and open collaboration have established a foundation for regular interaction with the production manager, where employee concerns and development ideas are discussed. This structured communication has significantly improved the work environment over the past year and a half.

Eeli’s career at Lehtovuori Finbin began directly after vocational school, where he earned a qualification in sheet metal welding. He has been with the company for just over five and a half years. From the start, Eeli’s dream was to work at the Solar station, and just over a year ago, his wish came true. The precision and challenge of the work at the Solar station keep him motivated.

Marko joined the company 13 years ago, also directly after vocational school. He completed his internships and training periods at Lehtovuori and has remained there ever since. Marko appreciates the company’s commitment to the future, noting how investments have been made to grow the business. He admires that many things have been done right to enable the company to expand, keeping the future bright and ensuring job security—a rarity in today’s world.

For both, the most important aspects of the company are their colleagues and the sense of community. They value the fact that they can be their true selves at work. The welding department is a tight-knit community, organizing holiday parties and other events together. This camaraderie and mutual support are evident in their daily work and have helped create an environment where everyone feels heard—regardless of age, experience, or gender.

Master welders Eeli (left) and Marko.

The Challenges and Skills of Welding

Welding requires precision and focus. Every joint impacts the final quality and durability of the product. Eeli and Marko follow strict standards to ensure each weld is as accurate and durable as possible. Welding is often surrounded by myths, such as the idea that it’s a dirty and physically exhausting job. However, modern welding is often clean and demands considerable craftsmanship. Eeli even compares welding to tattooing, which he also has experience with.

Eeli shares an interesting fact about welding, which ties into his deep interest in astronomy: "Welding doesn’t necessarily involve heat. For example, in space, which is a vacuum, welding doesn’t require heat. Without an oxygen layer, metal molecules don’t recognize that they aren’t one piece, so you can just press them together."

Eeli and Marko’s work in Lehtovuori Finbin’s welding department demonstrates how the skill and dedication of individual employees form the foundation of the company’s success. Their contributions extend beyond welding seams; they significantly influence the workplace spirit and the company culture as a whole.