Ari Piispanen is a mechanical engineer by education. He has been an inventor and entrepreneur almost throughout his working career. He has more than 60 patents and has founded several companies, such as Saimaan Panimo, The Switch, UniqAir, and Axco Motors and Visedo, which have since been sold to Danfoss.
Ari Piispanen, addressed by friends as Ari, was born on September 17, 1962, in Imatra, Finland.
From 1978 to 1980, Ari studied at the School of Mechanics, where he laid the foundational groundwork for his subsequent endeavors in machine engineering. Ari pursued further studies in machine engineering with a specialization in construction from 1980 to 1984.
From 1980 to 1986, Ari worked as a student and young Engineer at Enso-Gutzeit Paper Mill Kaukopää (currently known as Stora Enso). From 1986 to 1989, he worked as a construction engineer in Teollisuussuunnittelu Oy.
Ari’s first invention was a fully automatic gem grinding machine, which he designed and implemented himself. It once served for years in the production of Kalevala Jewelry. Since then, he has worked as a solver of various technical problems.
In 1989, he began his entrepreneurial journey by founding Konetuote Piispanen Oy. He established a floor tile production line in 1991 and a cardboard flat rack production line in 1993. In 1994, Ari invented an automatic machine that can prepare electric resistance. In 1996 Ari developed a much efficient cutting and molding line for aluminum. He also invented an apparatus for preparing batteries in 1998.
In 1999 Ari invented a specialized type of brewery equipment and founded Saimaan Panimo Oy (Saimaan Juoma tehdas) which was later acquired by the Hartwall family.
From 1999 to 2001, Ari collaborated with a large enterprise named ‘The Switch’ to pioneer his efficient method of bulk manufacturing electric motors in his company Rotatek Oy. He invented a core jointing production line in 2001. Rotatek was later acquired by Vacon Oy. He has also designed things for Avari.fi.
In 2004, Ari founded Axco-Motors. It was later acquired by industry giant Danfoss.
In 2009, Ari founded Visedo Oy, this venture was also later acquired by Danfoss.
In 2014, Ari founded UniqAir Oy, an indoor air purification venture, which was later acquired by the Paulig and Kiikka family.
Ari continued to push the boundaries of innovation with the establishment of Core Handling Oy Ltd in 2015, where he assumed responsibility for coordinating subcontractors, purchases, and delivery projects.
Ari Piispanen, who has lived in Lappeenranta almost all his life, is currently piloting three impressive companies in Skinnarila. The mission of Afstor Oy (2017), Elstor Oy (2017) and Soletair Power (2016) is to develop technical solutions to tackle climate change.
In 2020, serial inventor and entrepreneur Ari was honored as the honorable “Holder of the Lappeenranta Fortress” by the city of Lappeenranta.
“Ari Piispanen is an innovative, solution-oriented and cooperative entrepreneur. He is a great example of a person who, when faced with a problem or challenge, immediately thinks that there is a solution,” says Kimmo Jarva, Lappeenranta City Mayor. “Piispanen is a rethinker who is strongly committed to green values and thinking. A responsible entrepreneur solves the challenges of climate change through technology”.
The father of three adult children describes himself as sociable and open. Ari does not believe that ingenuity comes from family background so much, rather he believes that one needs to see the challenges in the world that require technical, logical solutions to solve them.
His legacy serves as an inspiration to aspiring inventors and entrepreneurs worldwide toward driving meaningful change in the world.
