Forcit to build new factory in Salo, creating 200 jobs

Defence manufacturer Forcit will build a factory in Salo and hire 200 workers, the company announced at the start of June, according to a report by Yle.

The move comes as Salo’s unemployment rate stands at 11.4%, matching the national average. City officials say recent positive business news is boosting Salo’s economic recovery.

Mika Mannervesi, Salo’s director of vitality, noted the city’s strong legacy in electronics assembly, a skillset inherited from Nokia’s era. Forcit cited this expertise, along with Salo’s geographic location, as key reasons for its investment.

Forcit’s factory will produce technical components for defence use. Production will initially take place at partner company Manutec’s facilities before moving to the new site once completed. Manutec and IT-Line are Forcit’s two main local partners in the project.

Kirsi Junnilainen, CEO of Manutec, said Salo’s involvement in the defence industry could grow further. “We are on the verge of something big,” she told Yle.

Salo’s industrial heritage is still visible, particularly in the Meriniitty industrial area, where Nokia’s former headquarters remains a landmark. The Salo IoT Campus now operates in the former Nokia and Microsoft facilities, housing around 100 companies of varying sizes, as well as associations and a 24-hour care facility for the elderly.

Atte Köykkä, CEO of Salo IoT Campus, described the area as a hub of continuous growth, with improving activity levels and workforce numbers.

Technology company Jolla, led by former Nokia engineers, has also returned production to Salo, assembling its new smartphone at the IoT Campus. Sami Pienimäki, Jolla’s CEO, said output remains small-scale for now.