THE SPIRIT OF M-FILTER WAS BORN IN THE SIXTIES
Urho Kekkonen Wikimedia.org
President Urho Kekkonen, who held his position in the sixties, emphasized the importance of developing Finnish industrial production. The goal of self-sufficiency was strongly on the agenda. According to Kekkonen, Finland should have its own metal industry to produce vital consumer durables and to replace imported products.
The story of the filters of M-Filter began as a result of such a project. However, success was at stake several times during the company’s history.
The story of M-Filter is launched by Raisio's former managing director
The story of M-Filter is launched by the former managing director of Raisio.
The starting point for the production of Finnish filters was the trio of Kekkonen, Kivivuori and Pekkala. Kekkonen’s creditor, Eino Kivivuori, had to step down from the position of managing director of the Raisio Group due to a margarine scandal. The situation was certainly unfortunate – after all, he had successfully managed the Raisio company for a long time.
After his resignation, Kivivuori founded a new metal company – Mekes Oy. The purpose of the company was to assist metal companies in product development, marketing and export efforts.
Almost 400 small and medium-sized companies in the metal sector became shareholders.
The new company had ambitious plans. Already in its second year of operation, the Parkano assembly plant was completed. It was to start assembly of the BMW 700 LS and the production of the Steyr-Daimler-Puch cars and off-road vehicles.
In addition to the manufacture of cars, Mekes also launched other production projects. The beginning of M-Filter may be timed to Eino Kivivuori’s speech held in Northern Ostrobothnia. The purpose of the speech was to convince listeners of the need for a filter factory. Ahti Pekkala, who worked for the cooperative, was also present. According to the story, he had in the meantime suggested to Kivivuori that a filter factory should be located in Haapavesi. The story does not tell how Haapavesi was, in fact, selected as a factory town, but, in any case, Pekkala’s wish was fulfilled.
M-Filter oil change labels, production, and sponsorship of racing sports from decades past.
M-Filter survives from the ruins of Mekes
Mekes also made other products. For example, a lock factory was established in the municipality of Nivala. However, despite their great plans, Mekes never began the assembly of vehicles. Throughout its operations, the company had experienced financial difficulties and eventually went bankrupt. This took place only a few years after its establishment in 1967.
However, the production of M-Filter filters that began in Haapavesi looked promising. Parkano Oy continued to operate after the Mekes bankruptcy. Filter production had already been attempted in 1963, and the actual production began the following year in prefabricated facilities. Two years after the launch, there were already 115 different oil and fuel filters available, covering virtually the entire filter demand in Finland.
As the business expanded, the company’s own product development was vital. Finnish conditions are problematic for filters. The varying operating temperatures – from the hot summers to the freezing winters – require quite a degree of pressure resistance from the filters. Foreign products were not known for such endurance. To meet this need, an oil filter structure was developed to provide a pressure resistance of 20 kilos (kpm). The company’s own structure was tested by VTT at that time with excellent results. This structure is still used in some classic M-Filter models.
Customers were convinced by the quality of the filters and there was a strong demand for the products. Sales were buoyant and growth was strong. The construction of the company’s own production facilities began very soon after with the first private facilities completed in 1970. It seems that M-Filter survived as a reliable filter product from the ashes of Mekes.
A developed M-Filter oil filter design for excellent pressure resistance.
Will the idea of Finnish ownership and production be destroyed?
The success of the filters of M-Filter was built on domestic ownership and serving the Finnish demand. Moments of fate were encountered when M-Filter passed to new owners during the late 1990s. One of these owners was the American Mark4, which, even in its current state of affairs, had grandiose imaginations for the company. The intention was to increase production many times over what M-Filter’s own management had planned. However, the self-important view of the Americans did not turn into an investment. The company changed hands again, even twice. All of these owners were international corporations. For a while, it seemed that M-Filter was to be driven from post to post, from owner to owner. Development and perseverance seemed to have been lost.
The management of the company were concerned about the future of M-Filter. After all the twists and turns, M-Filter finally returned to Finnish ownership in 2001. Kekkonen would no longer need to turn in his grave. Pekkala’s idea of the production location remains: The plant in Haapavesi is still an integral part of M-Filter’s production of filters.
The company is once again in Finnish hands and we want to develop our filter production over the long term with a view towards the future. The ambitious plans of foreign owners have turned into steady upward growth.
M-Filter for maximum performance, even in challenging conditions
M-Filter - a concept product for Finns
Throughout history, the names of the owning companies have varied. Today, the brand known as M-Filter is well-known among professionals and consumers. The name of the company bears the letter M, which is a legacy from Mekes.
To meet the high demand, the filters of M-Filter are already manufactured in several factories. Known for its black, stylish packaging, M-Filter is one of trademarks of HL Group Oy. The company Oy M-Filter Ab is a manufacturer of filters and an OM partner for the manufacturing industry in Europe.