The history or Työvene
The Finnish shipyard tradition is long and knowledgeable. There are well over 100 000 islands along the coast and the sea has always provided for the Finnish people. Historically, travelling by boat was the most effective way of transportation.
The beginning
After World War II, Finnish shipyards typically focused on extensive serial production. Specialisation in working on demanding ship designs came to be a turning point that has led us to where we are now. Today, innovation and high-quality design are key characteristics of Finnish shipbuilding in general – and of Työvene in particular.
Uudenkaupungin Työvene Oy was founded on 11 March 1987. The company started producing smaller aluminium workboats at an inland location in the Orivo industrial area, in Uusikaupunki, Finland. The majority of the boats made at Orivo were less than 15 meters long.
A new era
In 1993, Työvene acquired Uusikaupunki shipyard’s premises and relocated. This resulted in the possibility to manufacture bigger vessels with a length of up to 140 meters. The acquisition and relocation was the starting point for Työvene of today.
Changing market
Fast forward to 2014 and 2015 and the business opportunities changed quite drastically for Työvene due to smaller deals with lower margins, at the same time as more competitors appeared in the market. But as always – challenges are what drive us to think differently, and these challenges were the starting point for a long-time needed change in the company.
New management
In 2019, the next big milestone was reached for Työvene when a new generation of shipbuilders took the helm with a more pronounced intention to grow, both in size and in-market segments.
Our future
Today, Työvene is transforming from a traditional shipbuilder to a more agile and future-proofed company, ready to take on – and shape – the marine industry of tomorrow.