Kesla Oyj

About Kesla

Kesla Oyj is a Finnish machinery manufacturer with headquarters and plant in Joensuu, developing machinery, technology and services for applications in and outside the forest. The product range comprises four product groups: tractor attachments, harvesting equipment and cranes, truck timber loader and recycling cranes, and industrial cranes, complemented by the KESLA Defence product line. The assortment includes timber loader cranes, city cranes, harvester heads, forestry machine cranes, grapples, forwarding equipment, loaders, trailers and tractor equipment. The family business, founded in 1960 by the Finnish farmer Antti Kärkkäinen, employs around 200 staff and generated revenue of 34.4 million euros in 2025, of which 53% came from exports. Production takes place at the Finnish sites of Joensuu, Kesälahti and Ilomantsi; the German market is served through the subsidiary Kesla GmbH based in Appenweier. The company's A shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki.

Site

Joensuu, Finland

Processes

Service and warranty support, Spare parts sales, Technical support, Chipper sales, Dealer network/local dealers, Catalogues/sales support

Founded

1960

Employees

approx. 200

Industries

Forestry technology, Material handling, Timber loader cranes, Recycling cranes, Industrial cranes, Defence (KESLA Defence)

1. 01

   Development

2. 02

   Manufacturing

3. 03

   Assembly

4. 04

   Distribution via dealer network

5. 05

   Service and spare parts sales

Sites

Products

Inside the production

History

1. 1960

   Founded in Rantasalmi by the small farmer Antti Kärkkäinen

2. 2025

   Revenue EUR 34.4 million, of which 53% exports; approx. 200 employees

3. 2026

   Tuomo Salo is appointed to the management team as Vice President, Sales and Customer Experience