Finland’s largest manufacturer and distributor of special metal cutting tools for the metal industry, JR-Tools Oy, is investing in two new CNC grinding machines. The SMP CA7XL and Schneeberger ARIES NGP+ will strengthen the company’s machine capacity for metal cutting tool reconditioning.
The SMP CA7XL CNC grinding machine is a versatile addition to JR-Tools’ tool resharpening capacity. “This is the first modern 5-axis machine for sharpening long pull broaches in Finland. It is also capable of sharpening gear cutting tools and performing, for example, surface grinding thanks to its detachable magnetic table,” says JR-Tools’ Sales Director Veli-Matti Uusitalo. The company has received a business development grant from the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment of Central Finland for the acquisition of the machine, meaning the investment is co-funded by the EU.
The Schneeberger ARIES NGP+ CNC grinding machine increases the company’s capacity for carbide drill reconditioning. “We purchased a similar machine a couple of years ago and have been very satisfied with it, so acquiring a second one was an easy decision. It is a fast and compact machine equipped with modern 3D simulation features, and it will be fully occupied from day one,” notes JR-Tools’ CEO Pasi Rönn.
The delivery of the new machines is scheduled to take place this year. JR-Tools’ strategy includes acquiring at least one new machine each year. “These investments enable growth, and overall order development has been positive. Last year, our company’s turnover was around €3.5 million. We are aiming to reach the €4 million mark within the next couple of years,” Uusitalo explains.
Cutting tool maintenance as a sustainability action
JR-Tools offers services for the entire lifecycle of a tool: tools are designed and manufactured according to customer specifications, reconditioned, and finally recycled. By utilising the full life cycle of a tool and recycling it, its carbon footprint is reduced.
“Sustainability is important to us as a company, and this year we have implemented product-specific carbon footprint calculation. When a customer buys a tool from us, we commit to taking care of its reconditioning and recycling as well,” Rönn explains. Proper sharpening and PVD coating of metal cutting tools are also crucial for maximising tool life. “Reconditioning cutting tools is a responsible act, as the carbon footprint of one reconditioning cycle is significantly lower than that of a new tool. From this perspective too, it is easy to justify why we are investing specifically in tool reconditioning,” Rönn continues.
Further information:
CEO Pasi Rönn +358 (0)50 469 7921
Sales Director Veli-Matti Uusitalo +358 (0)40 835 8075
JR-Tools Oy is a manufacturer of special cutting tools for the metal industry, operating in Tikkakoski, Jyväskylä, in the historic rifle factory premises. JR-Tools is the largest and most versatile company in its field in Finland, and its machinery enables not only the manufacture of carbide and HSS special tools but also their reconditioning and PVD coating. In addition to its own tool production, the company imports various gear cutting tools. www.jrtools.fi
Our sales team will be taking holidays in shifts, so we will be available to serve our customers throughout the summer. Our service car will be on a summer break during weeks 29–31 (14 July–3 August 2025).
During the summer, we recommend sending messages to sales(at)jrtools.fi so they reach our entire sales team on site. You can also call our switchboard at 020 762 2220.
On Monday 5 May 2025, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Industrial Committee of the Central Finland Chamber of Commerce to JR-Tools. The committee held its second meeting of the year at our premises. At the beginning of the meeting, our CEO Pasi Rönn and Sales Director Veli-Matti Uusitalo introduced our company, including a guided tour of our production facilities.
“Our guests were particularly interested in PVD coating and tool manufacturing. It’s great that our company sparks such interest, and the meeting provided an excellent opportunity for us to showcase our operations,” Uusitalo said. Rönn considers networking a vital part of the committee’s activities. “It’s extremely valuable to engage in discussions with professionals from different sectors and to gain new perspectives on emerging issues,” he noted.
The Industrial Committee’s mission is to enhance the competitiveness and attractiveness of the region’s various industrial sectors. It serves as a forum for key individuals from manufacturing and production companies to share current topics and address any challenges that may arise. JR-Tools is represented in the committee by our CEO, Pasi Rönn.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this enjoyable visit!
Our CEO, Pasi Rönn, has been invited to join the Industrial Committee of the Central Finland Chamber of Commerce. Through this role, we contribute to enhancing the competitiveness and appeal of various industries in the region. The committee serves as a forum for key figures in manufacturing and production companies to share current topics and address emerging challenges.
The committee’s focus areas include:
Increasing awareness of job opportunities in manufacturing and production companies in Central Finland (TekijäKS Week).
Improving the profile and perception of industrial sectors to reflect today’s reality more positively.
Promoting sustainability and responsibility to ensure that industrial sectors remain competitive in the future.
Leadership – advancing leadership in industrial sectors to strengthen the region’s attractiveness and retention, foster innovation and productivity in companies, and enhance employee well-being.
We wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year 2025!
We will be closed due to the holidays on week 52 (23.-27.12.2024) and on 1.1.2025. If you wish to contact our sales team during the holidays, please send an email at to ensure a swift reply.
The Central Finland Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre) has awarded JR-Tools a development grant. The funding is designated for a project focusing on CNC-assisted broach reconditioning.
Our sustainability report 2023 has now been published. By publishing the report, we want to be transparent about how we, as a company, make decisions in our daily operations and the values that guide them. The report includes our company’s sustainability programme, code of conduct, carbon footprint calculation, and highlights from our sustainability work. We will continue to publish our sustainability report annually.
You can read more about our sustainability programme and the new report here.
JR-Tools Oy has been selected for Kasvu Open TOP 60 list of growth companies (press release in Finnish). Over 200 companies participated in Kasvupolku (Growth Path) coaching, and now 60 of the most promising ones have been selected. The companies on the TOP 60 list will compete for the title of Growth Company of the Year.
The TOP 60 list includes both young startups and more established growth companies from across Finland. Nine companies from Central Finland are represented. The selection criteria included the company’s market potential, team, growth capacity and track record. The company’s active participation in the coaching was also considered.
A national jury will choose ten companies from the TOP 60 list in October, which will continue competing for the Growth Company of the Year title.
The national jury:
Katriina Anttila, Chief Growth Officer, Good Ventures Simo Kajaste, Group CEO, hasan & partners Lennu Keinänen, serial entrepreneur, investor Merja Rahkola, board professional, investor Unna Lehtipuu, communication director, entrepreneur, investor Vesa Riihimäki, director, Nordea Startup and Growth
Focus on highlighting strengths and sustainability
Kasvupolku programme, which started in the spring, has already been rewarding for JR-Tools. “During the coaching, it became clear that we need to highlight our strengths and uniqueness even more. The programme has positively challenged our thinking, and we have received valuable advice from experts,” says Veli-Matti Uusitalo, Sales Director at JR-Tools.
JR-Tools CEO Pasi Rönn finds the coaching a very positive experience. “During the sparring, it was emphasised that growth requires positivity from leaders. A negative work community cannot achieve its growth targets. Sustainability is another important topic to focus on for all growth companies,” Rönn points out.
The winner of the Growth Company of the Year title will be announced at the Kasvu Open Carnival in Jyväskylä on October 31, 2024.
JR-Tools Oy is a manufacturer of special metal cutting tools for metal industry. The company is located in Tikkakoski, Central Finland. Founded in 1973, JR-Tools Oy is the largest and most versatile company in its field in Finland, and the company’s machinery enables manufacturing, service and PVD coating of special HSS and carbide tools. JR-Tools Ltd is also an importer and reseller of gear cutting tools.
This spring, we sent a customer satisfaction survey to our entire customer base in Finland. We received a gratifyingly large number of responses. The results were clear: our customer satisfaction is at a very high level and our customers value high quality and sustainability.
“The results of the survey are important for the development of our entire company and we take them into account when we plan future development steps,” says JR-Tools Sales Director Veli-Matti Uusitalo.
We asked our customers how likely they would recommend our company’s products or services to a colleague or friend. About half of the respondents would recommend JR-Tools very likely, 40 percent likely and the rest fairly likely.
We also asked what has been the single most important reason why they have chosen our products. For our customers, quality seems to be the most important factor. Based on the results, our customers also value Finnish products and services and are price-conscious.
“High quality is a very important value for us in all stages of the production chain. Based on the results, it looks like we have succeeded in reaching this goal: 98 percent of our customers consider our company’s products to be either of very high or high quality,” says Uusitalo.
We also asked for feedback on our service car. As many as 97 percent of those who use the service are satisfied or very satisfied with it. “Our service car is a part of our tool reconditioning service, and the concept has been developed based on the needs of our customers. Our goal is to make tool reconditioning as easy and effortless as possible for the customer. Logistics is included in the service, which means that the customer saves time and money,” says Uusitalo.
Focus on sustainability
Sustainability is clearly an important theme for our customers. About 30 percent of our customers think that sustainability is very important, just under half of the respondents consider it important, and 20 percent consider it quite important.
“We will publish our company’s first official sustainability report this year. Sustainability is important in every aspect of our business. By publishing the report, we want to openly communicate what the different aspects of sustainability mean to us in our everyday work and what our future goals are,” Uusitalo says.
We want to thank everyone who responded to our customer satisfaction survey!
Our new company video has now been published on our YouTube channel! Watch the video to get a tour in our production and get to know our service and product portfolio.
We are proud to announce that we have been selected as one of the companies to participate in the Kasvupolku sparring programme this year.
“The selected companies were united by their growth potential and a plan for implementing that growth. The path has already been built and realistically shown where the company is headed”, says Tero Rautiainen, Chairman of the Jury from the Central Finland Regional Council.
Kasvu Open organises sparring programmes for companies. The programmes aim to enhance companies’ growth capabilities. Sparring brings an outside view on how to take your business to the next level and helps in, for example, crystallising strategy and finding the right people to make your growth plans into a reality.
This week, we have started using geothermal heating at our production plant in Tikkakoski. The new system will reduce our need for bought energy and improve our energy self-sufficiency. We will also have approximately 20% lower emission levels and better working conditions. The new heating system also includes the option of implementing geothermal cooling.
We wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year 2024!
We will be closed due to the holidays on 25.-26.12.2023 and 1.1.2024. If you wish to contact our sales team during the holidays, please send an email at sales(at)jrtools.fi to ensure a swift reply.
Our CEO Pasi Rönn and Sales Director Veli-Matti Uusitalo will be at EMO Hannover on 19.–20.9.2023. If you wish to book a meeting with them, please contact either Pasi or Veli-Matti.
JR-Tools, the biggest manufacturer and reseller of special metal cutting tools for metal industry in Finland, celebrates its 50th anniversary. The company was founded in Muurame in 1973 and is nowadays located in Tikkakoski, Jyväskylä. JR-Tools has been on a strong growth-path in the past few years. The company wants to be a pioneer in the Finnish tooling industry and a trustworthy partner for all Finnish machine shops.
JR-Tools is celebrating the company’s 50th anniversary this year. The company has been growing rapidly in the past few years, and its turnover has increased by over 10% every year in the past five years. “We estimate that our turnover will be around 3.6 million euros in 2023. That would be a 20% increase compared to last year”, says CEO of JR-Tools Pasi Rönn.
The company’s name refers to its founder Jaakko Rajakallio who founded the company in 1973. The business concept was built around manufacturing and reconditioning of metal cutting tools. After five decades, this remains the foundation of the company. Nowadays, the company’s operations have three cornerstones: manufacturing and sales of new metal cutting tools, tool reconditioning services and resale.
From Muurame to historic premises in Tikkakoski
Metal industry in Tikkakoski has a history of 130 years. Between 1997–2004, JR-Tools was a part of Tikka group. In 2002, JR-Tools decided to move to Tikkakoski where the other companies of the group were located. The company moved into the historic premises of a former rifle factory. The new facilities made it possible to have the company’s PVD coating units under the same roof with the rest of the production. “PVD coating became a part of the operations when we acquired Suomen Plasmatekniikka in mid 1990’s. The move allowed us to bring all operations into one place”, says Rönn.
Having their own PVD coating units is a significant factor for the company’s competitiveness. “PVD coating makes both new and reconditioned metal cutting tools function better. It is a big advantage that we are able to do the PVD coating in our own facilities. It minimises extra delays”, says JR-Tools Sales Director Veli-Matti Uusitalo.
The resale business was added to the company’s repertoire in 2006 when Teho-Tools Oy, founded by Pentti Törri, was acquired by JR-Tools. “Teho-Tools was merged with JR-Tools in 2010, and later we decided to stop using the name Teho-Tools and do the all resale business under JR-Tools. The legacy of Teho-Tools is remains a big part of JR-Tools”, tells Uusitalo.
Digitalisation as a game changer
Both Rönn and Uusitalo have a long history with JR-Tools. Ten years ago, they also became partners of the company. “We have had an entrepreneurial mindset from the start and free rein in terms of managing the company. It has been a positive thing for us”, says Rönn.
During these five decades, the world has changed significantly and it has also affected JR-Tools. “Digitalisation has made the world smaller, which means that in sales we are no longer tied to a certain place or time. The project cycles also seem to be shorter and that is why customers are often in a hurry. Due to this, predicting the future may be difficult”, says Uusitalo.
The number of machine shops in Finland is so high that for a company like JR-Tools, the possibilities for growth are nearly endless. The company sees continuous development as a key factor in surviving the inevitable market changes. “Our whole personnel is taking part in LEAN training to improve our processes and work well-being. Every employee has a chance to develop their own work together with others”, tells Rönn.
Securing Finnish work
The lack of competent work force is a big theme in the Finnish metal industry. When it comes to recruitment, the situation is unique for JR-Tools since there is no degree for tool grinding in Finland. However, a CNC Machinist will usually have the basic skills that are required for becoming a CNC Grinder. “Many of our CNC Grinders have a CNC Machinist degree, but we also have employees with completely different educational backgrounds”, tells Rönn. “When you work in tool grinding, you get to work with modern technology and develop your skills as much as you want”, adds Uusitalo. The pictures we see in the media don’t always reflect the reality in today’s metal industry. Work is done in clean facilities and in good working conditions. “Even though the production works in shifts, we want to be flexible with working hours”, says Rönn.
The company’s special metal cutting tools and tool reconditioning service have been awarded the Key Flag Symbol as a sign of Finnish work. The symbol recognises that the product has been manufactured, or the service has been produced, in Finland. “By buying special metal cutting tools or the tool reconditioning service from us, the customer knows that they are also supporting Finnish work. Sustainability and securing the domestic production are big trends at the moment and the world situation only emphasises them. Our industry is no exception”, states Uusitalo. “When it comes to metal cutting tools, we want to be a trustworthy partner for all Finnish machine shops. This includes both tools and tool reconditioning services but also tool and process design. Ideally, we are able to help the customer to improve their processes and save time”, tells Rönn.
Pioneering and continuous development
In May, JR-Tools strengthened its capacity in drill reconditioning with a new Schneeberger Aries NGP+ CNC tool grinding machine. “Having continuous growth and certain big customers in drill reconditioning meant that we had to invest in a new tool grinding machine for this department”, says Uusitalo. “Due to the company’s growth and the age of our existing machinery, our investment plan includes a minimum of one new machine per year”, tells Rönn.
The company has also purchased a Famup MCX 600 machining centre this spring. The machine will enable tool testing using the customer’s own material. “With this machine, we will have the opportunity to test our tools in our own facilities and observe how different geometries and PVD coatings affect the tool”, tells Uusitalo.
In addition to machine investments, JR-Tools is also focusing on other new technologies. “We are constantly looking for new ways to implement AI in our production. We have taken part in the aiADDVA project hosted by The Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences. The goal of the project for us was to explore ways to recognise and sort tools with the help of computer vision”, tells Rönn. “We aim for continuous development and want to stay on top of the Finnish tooling market. We want to be pioneers in the business. We believe that tracking market signals and the continuous improvement of our processes will help us succeed also in the next 50 years”, states Uusitalo.
Inquiries:
CEO Pasi Rönn
+358 (0)50 469 7921
Sales Director Veli-Matti Uusitalo
+358 (0)40 835 8075
JR-Tools Ltd is a manufacturer of special metal cutting tools for metal industry. The company is located in Tikkakoski, Central Finland. Founded in 1973, JR-Tools Ltd is the largest and most versatile company in its field in Finland, and the company’s machinery enables manufacturing, service and PVD coating of special HSS and carbide tools. JR-Tools Ltd is also an importer and reseller of gear cutting tools. http://www.jrtools.fi/en/
The summer is finally here! Our production will have holidays mainly on weeks 29 and 30 (17.–30.7.2023). Our Service Car will also have a summer break on weeks 29–31 (17.7.–6.8.2023).
During the summer months, we kindly ask you to contact our sales team members at to ensure a swift reply.
We have a new Schneeberger Aries NGP+ CNC tool grinding machine. The machine further strengthens our drill reconditioning capacity.
“The investment was a natural step for us at this point because there is an increased demand in drill reconditioning and our biggest clients still have a lot of growth potential”, says Pasi Rönn, CEO of JR-Tools. “We chose Schneeberger Aries NGP+ because it matches our existing machinery. We also want to further streamline our work in the drill reconditioning department”, adds Veli-Matti Uusitalo, Sales Director of JR-Tools.
JR-Tools Ltd, a Finnish manufacturer and reseller of special metal cutting tools for the metal industry, is investing in a new Schneeberger Aries NGP+ CNC tool grinding machine to further strengthen its drill reconditioning capacity.
The new CNC tool grinding machine will be delivered in spring 2023. “In the past five years, the company’s turnover has increased by over 10% each year. The investment was a natural step for us at this point because there is an increased demand in drill reconditioning and our biggest clients still have a lot of growth potential”, says Pasi Rönn, CEO of JR-Tools. “We chose Schneeberger Aries NGP+ because it matches our existing machinery. We also want to further streamline our work in the drill reconditioning department”, adds Veli-Matti Uusitalo, Sales Director of JR-Tools.
Together with the new machinery investment, the company is also improving its production processes. The whole personnel takes part in a Lean training by Finnish Humaanikone Oy. “While we are investing in new machinery, we also want to make sure that we keep developing our own internal processes at the same time. Our goal is to create a model for continuous development and also improve work well-being in the process. Skilled and motivated employees are our biggest asset”, says Rönn.
In 2021, the company’s turnover was 2.6 million euros. During 2022, JR-Tools has continued to grow. “We are expecting a turnover close to 3 million euros this year”, tells Rönn. “Considering the large number of machine shops in Finland, there is a huge growth potential in the tool reconditioning business for us”, he adds.
Inquiries:
CEO Pasi Rönn
+358 (0)50 469 7921
Sales Director Veli-Matti Uusitalo
+358 (0)40 835 8075
JR-Tools Ltd is a manufacturer of special metal cutting tools for metal industry. The company is located in Tikkakoski, Central Finland. JR-Tools Ltd is the largest and most versatile company in its field in Finland, and the company’s machinery enables manufacturing, service and PVD coating of special HSS and carbide tools. JR-Tools Ltd is also an importer and reseller of gear cutting tools. http://www.jrtools.fi/en/
JR-Tools Ltd, Finland’s biggest manufacturer of special metal cutting tools for metal industry, is increasing its resharpening service capacity with a new machine investment.
The company has also launched a new JR Label for new and resharpened tools.
JR-Tools Ltd has invested in a new machine designed for resharpening of gear shaper cutters. “With this new machine, we have been able to multiply the resharpening capacity of gear shaper cutters. The delivery time is also significantly shorter thanks to the new machine”, says Veli-Matti Uusitalo, Sales Director of JR-Tools.
The company has also launched a new JR Label for both new and resharpened tools. The label is attached on the plastic storage tube of the tool and it can include product information as well as a barcode. “We started developing the JR Label as a result of customer feedback. Our customers wanted a solution that makes sorting and storing the tools quick and easy”, tells CEO of JR-Tools Pasi Rönn.
Developing the resharpening service of cutting tools is one of the cornerstones of the company’s operations. The most difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of the resharpening service because many customers preferred to resharpen their tools instead of investing in new ones. During 2021, the situation on the market and among the company’s customers is looking brighter. “There’s an increased demand for our products and services which naturally means new recruitments. We are also planning to invest in new machines in the next couple of years”, says Rönn.
JR-Tools Ltd is a manufacturer of special metal cutting tools for metal industry. The company is located in Tikkakoski, Central Finland. JR-Tools Ltd is the largest and most versatile company in its field in Finland, and the company’s machinery enables manufacturing, service and PVD coating of special HSS and carbide tools. JR-Tools Ltd is also an importer and reseller of gear cutting tools. http://www.jrtools.fi/en/
JR-Tools Ltd, a manufacturer of special metal cutting tools for metal industry, has begun cooperation with Portuguese Frezite Group to resell FMT Tooling Systems high-precision tools on the Finnish market. The product selection includes high-precision special tools with inserts and brazed tips.
JR-Tools is expanding its special tools selection by launching a new cooperation. “FMT contacted us and suggested a cooperation. They wanted to find a company with knowledge in special tools and of the Finnish tooling market. For us, this is a great opportunity because we did not have this type of special tools in our product portfolio yet”, says CEO of JR-Tools Pasi Rönn. “FMT is very happy to start this cooperation and we feel that JR-Tools have a strong enough brand and team to develop and resell the FMT products on the Finnish market”, says Valter Mesquita who is responsible for FMT export sales on the European market.
FMT Tooling Systems special tools are available with brazed PCD, CBN and carbide tips and inserts. The tools are designed for high-precision machining. In addition to FMT special tools, JR-Tools is also a reseller of Gleason gear cutting and clamping tools, Tyrolit grinding wheels, Unior Components broaching tools and MegaTec inserts.
Last year, JR-Tools’ turnover increased by nearly 20% and was around 2.4 million euros. The company plans to continue on the growth path and finding new high-quality products for resale is a key factor in reaching this goal. “When it comes to resale, we aim to expand our product portfolio in a way that allows us to offer both the high-quality products and optimised solutions that meet the client’s individual needs. Our goal is to always help the client to improve their processes. We also organise tool trainings for our clients”, says Veli-Matti Uusitalo, Sales Director of JR-Tools.
Inquiries:
CEO Pasi Rönn
+358 (0)50 469 7921
Sales Director Veli-Matti Uusitalo
+358 (0)40 835 8075
JR-Tools Ltd is a manufacturer of special metal cutting tools for metal industry. The company is located in Tikkakoski, Central Finland. JR-Tools Ltd is the largest and most versatile company in its field in Finland, and the company’s machinery enables manufacturing, service and PVD coating of special HSS and carbide tools. JR-Tools Ltd is also an importer and reseller of gear cutting tools. http://www.jrtools.fi/en/
Portuguese FMT Tooling Systems is a special tooling systems manufacturer focusing on tools in solid carbide, brazed PCD as well indexable solutions for the metal and composite machining market. FMT have manufacturing plants in Portugal, Germany, Czech Republic, Brazil and Mexico and official sales offices in markets like Italy, United Kingdom, Romania, Turkey, Poland and Spain. https://www.fmttooling.com/en
