company history and milestones
It all started at Högforss Engineering School. In the photo, Jari Aho is presenting his final project to teachers.
Jari Aho, who had dreamed of being an entrepreneur since he was a little boy, set out on his entrepreneurial journey encouraged by his brother-in-law, who wanted Jari to build him a new sty.
In addition to construction work, Jari did metalwork in a tractor garage he rented from a farm, and thus, Welding and Construction Aho was born.
Soon, this small tractor garage grew into something bigger.
As work increased, the company moved to the industrial village of Karkkila, where their hall size grew to 400 m².
In 1987, the company also hired its first outside worker.
A big leap in the company's history was taken in 1996, when Welding and Construction Aho acquired its first laser cutting machine. The investment, which was significant both financially and operationally, was equivalent in size to the company's turnover at the time.
Before the turn of the millennium, neighbouring and adjacent buildings were bought and merged.
In addition, Jari's wife Marja joined the company full-time.
In 2013, robotics were used to take the company's container production to a new level. This bold investment decision was rewarded when Aho won the award for Uusimaa Industrial Company of the Year.
In 2024, the AhoSteel brand was refined to reflect the direction and quality for which the company has become known.
When Jari Aho started his entrepreneurial career, he could never have imagined the scale to which his company would grow in forty years.
Jari Aho, who had dreamed of being an entrepreneur since he was a little boy, set out on his entrepreneurial journey encouraged by his brother-in-law, who wanted Jari to build him a new sty.
In addition to construction work, Jari did metalwork in a tractor garage he rented from a farm, and thus, Welding and Construction Aho was born.
Soon, this small tractor garage grew into something bigger.
A big leap in the company's history was taken in 1996, when Welding and Construction Aho acquired its first laser cutting machine. The investment, which was significant both financially and operationally, was equivalent in size to the company's turnover at the time.
In 2004, the Karjaa chapter of the company began, when Welding and Construction Aho expanded again to new premises. The expanded operations added almost 20 new employees to the company, bringing the total number of employees to half a hundred.
In 2013, robotics were used to take the company's container production to a new level. This bold investment decision was rewarded when Aho won the award for Uusimaa Industrial Company of the Year.
In 2018, a monumental 3,600 square metre hall began to rise on Metallimiehenkatu. This was another new beginning for the company, which moved almost all its operations to the new hall.
In 2024, the AhoSteel brand was refined to reflect the direction and quality for which the company has become known.
When Jari Aho started his entrepreneurial career, he could never have imagined the scale to which his company would grow in forty years.
ENTREPRENEUR JARI AHO - THE MAN BEHIND IT ALL
In 2024, AhoSteel turned 40 years old. With decades of experience and uncompromising customer focus, the company has achieved a solid position in the Finnish manufacturing industry. Founded by Jari Aho, the company has grown from a one-man business to an international engineering company that is already a major employer in its region.
Welding and Construction Aho was chosen as Uusimaa Company of the Year in 2013. Karkkila Entrepreneurs' Association chose Jari Aho together with his wife Marja Tykkyläinen as Karkkila Entrepreneurs of the Year 2018.
In the photo above, Jari Aho is presenting his final project to teachers at the Högfors School of Engineering in 1969