Tampella

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Oy Tampella Ab is a Finnish heavy industry manufacturer, maker of paper machines, locomotives, military weaponry etc.

The company was formerly "Tampereen Pellava- ja Rauta-Teollisuus Osake-Yhtiö", until 1963. In 1993 the company’s forest and packaging business was bought by Enso-Gutzeit Oy.

It is situated in Tampere, Finland.

Tampereen Pellava- ja Rautateollisuus Oy was a company merging two factories by the rapids Tammerkoski, formed in 1861. The other factory was a linen mill, and the other a small foundry and workshop. After a modest start it grew to an institution employing thousands of people in downtown of Tampere alone, and more in the other units. In 1950's the giant's name was shortened to Tampella. Tampella went bankcrupt in 1990, so it's not really one of the victims of the economic depression of 1990's, although falling occurred nearly at the same time. After bankcruptcy the company's functions were split and sold to various, mostly international owners.

Products included linen, which was not very important in later times but was apparently kept because of historic aspects, and all kinds of things made of steel. Those things included grave crosses (in the very early days), guns (big ones), mining drills, paper machines, locomotives (steam and Diesel), steam boilers and turbines. Also carton was produced in the Inkeroinen mill.

Industrial activity ceased in downtown bit by bit, and last machines stopped in 2000. Soon after this, most of the buildings were demolished. Some had already been dealt with earlier. Some buildings were also converted to new use, but most gave way to blocks of flats, which now fill the once huge industrial area of Tampella.