Kemppi celebrates 70 years of innovation in welding technology
Free for publication on 23 May 2019 at 09:00 EEST
Finnish welding equipment manufacturer and software developer Kemppi celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. Kemppi’s many pioneering innovations have helped it grow from a small family business into a global welding technology leader that continues to drive the welding industry’s development in the digital era and beyond.
This year also marks the 100th birthday of the company’s late founder, Martti Kemppi, who established the business with his brothers on 23 May 1949. His hard work and courage to experiment led the company to revolutionize arc welding equipment in 1977 with the world's first welding power source to use inverter technology. Since then, Kemppi has continued to introduce industry-transforming innovations, including the world’s first digital welding power source in 1993 and the first universal welding management software in 2014.
In addition to manual arc welding equipment and welding management software, Kemppi also provides welding safety gear and comprehensive automated welding solutions to meet the growing needs around the world.
Today, Kemppi operates globally with subsidiaries in 17 countries and a partner network covering over 60 countries. It remains a privately-owned family company that is nowadays led by Martti Kemppi's grandchildren. Each generation has had its own role. While the first one grew the company and created a strong foundation, the second one expanded Kemppi abroad. The third generation is now building the company into a truly global corporation.
Kemppi’s international growth has recently continued with the establishment of a new welding torch factory in Wuxi, China and through the acquisition of Italian welding torch manufacturer Trafimet Group S.P.A.
The 70th anniversary will be marked at customer events organized by the company and its subsidiaries around the world during the remainder of the year.
MORE INFORMATION AND INTERVIEW REQUESTS:
Kati Heikkonen
Manager, Marketing and Communications
Tel. +358 44 2899507
kati.heikkonen@kemppi.com
‘Kemppi 70 Years’ anniversary site: https://www.kemppi.com/en-US/kemppi-70/
IMAGE CAPTIONS:
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Martti Kemppi was a man of many skills with an entrepreneurial attitude. He encouraged to experiment without fear of failing, as he trusted that was the only way to create something new.
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Kemppi’s foreign trade started in the 1950s just a few years after the establishment of the company. Internationalization accelerated even further when Martti Kemppi’s children Hannu Kemppi, Eija Vartiainen and Jouko Kemppi took the lead in the 1980s.
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”We were not content with everything being alright. We have wanted to be pioneers and forerunners", says Teresa Kemppi-Vasama, Chairman of the Board, Kemppi Oy. "If you want to pass the company on in better shape, you must work for it all the time,” continues Antti Kemppi, Chairman of the Board, Kemppi Group Oy.
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The world’s first universal welding management software, Kemppi ARC System, was introduced to the market in 2014 and and turned the industry's focus to digital welding quality verification, hidden welding defect identification, and weld traceability. The software is nowadays known as WeldEye.
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Kemppi’s flagship MIG/MAG welding system that combines modern welding technology with software, X8 MIG Welder, was launched in 2016. The X8 MIG Welder introduced the digital welding procedure specifications (dWPS) which can be used to setup the equipment automatically according to the parameters stated in the WPS.
ABOUT KEMPPI
Kemppi is the pioneering company within the welding industry. It is our role to develop solutions that make you win business. Headquartered in Lahti, Finland, Kemppi employs over 800 welding industry experts in 17 countries and has a revenue of more than 150 MEUR. Our offering includes welding solutions - intelligent equipment, welding management software and expert services - for both demanding industrial applications and ready-to-weld needs. Local expertise is available via our global partner network covering over 60 countries.
