Five decades powering industrial businesses
Today’s Makron was born when Pekka Leppänen decided to take a new challenge and acquired a business from Jalo Paananen. Leppänen saw an opportunity in growing a modern and efficient medium- and heavy-duty machine manufacturing industry in southern Finland, serving major export companies.
Since then, Makron has consistently navigated the currents of industrial manufacturing, customers’ needs and technological development. Stagnation has never been an option for Makron – continuous innovation is what powers true progress. Our path from diverse machinery manufacturing to industrial modernizations reflects our commitment to change as a business opportunity.
Becoming completely industrial: key milestones
Learn how decades shaped Makron as a company.
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Makron was founded in 1975 by Jalo Paananen. The company began manufacturing processing machines and equipment for log house production and sports equipment, among other things, laying the groundwork for future machinery solutions.
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The decade of expansion, particularly through bilateral trade with the USSR, provided a strong base for Makron’s industrial manufacturing expertise. The technologies were developed in close collaboration with Finnish customers and exported to the USSR, North America, the Nordics, and Europe. Contract manufacturing started.
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The collapse of the USSR led to a strategic restructuring of Makron. By 1999, Pekka Leppänen acquired the manufacturing business and the Makron name. Makron then possessed all the capabilities needed to design, manufacture, and deliver industrial machines to customers. Makron also continued as a contract manufacturer for global project companies such as Valmet, Sandvik, and Acotec.
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With the start of the 21st century, Makron fully established its machine production factory in Estonia. In 2004, Makron acquired a production facility from Andritz in Finland. Two years later, minority share of Elmont was acquired. These expansions strengthened Makron’s capabilities in electrical engineering, automation and machine manufacturing, driving growth in its net sales.
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Makron powered its expertise through a series of strategic arrangements. With Mekateam, Makron forged its advanced mechanical engineering and technical design competences. By co-owning the installation company Solmex Oy and establishing Makron Grodno FLLC, Makron extended its reach into Eastern Europe and Belarus. In 2017, Makron’s next generation took the lead as Johanna Vuopala started as CEO.
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Makron sharpened its focus by divesting log house technologies and consolidating operations. The addition of conveyor technologies and the integration of AI further drive our capabilities to modernize industrial businesses.
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Makron continues to support diverse industrial companies in their business transformations from R&D and piloting to modernizations and operational solutions. Together, we push the boundaries of what is possible in industrial businesses.
Finnish engineering for industrial advantage
Makron’s evolution is a story of strategic adaptation, anchored in Finnish engineering precision, quality, and a customer-centric approach. Over the decades, we have built long-term relationships and solved complex industrial challenges. What has changed is our specialization: from multi-sector manufacturing to focused expertise in industrial modernizations and machine solutions, engineering and design, automation and digitalization, and machine manufacturing. This transformation makes us an agile, impactful global partner.
Shaping industrial businesses
Today, Makron is a specialized leader offering solutions for machine technology, manufacturing, intralogistics systems, waste and water treatment, and electrical surface treatment. We develop smart solutions driving sustainable performance, flexibility, and shaping the future of industrial businesses.
