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Prewel doubles its factory space and switches to district heating: “It was an easy decision”
Connection number 1,000 to the Herrfors district heating network
When Prewel installs district heating in its new factory in Jakobstad, it will mark a special milestone for Herrfors. This is connection number 1,000 since the expansion of the district heating network in Jakobstad gained momentum in the early 1970s. Today, district heating is a popular form of heating, and Herrfors continues to invest in the network to ensure competitive prices for its customers.
In its new factory, pipe specialist Prewel will be able to take on larger custom orders. When expanding its existing production hall in Jakobstad, switching to convenient, cost-effective and environmentally friendly district heating felt like a natural choice. The transition will also help reduce the carbon footprint of the end products supplied to Prewel’s industrial customers.
Cone-shaped pipe components are one of Prewel’s specialities. Forming a steel pipe into a smooth, even cone requires a high level of craftsmanship – expertise that Prewel has in abundance.
Among the custom products manufactured at Prewel’s factory in Jakobstad are various pipe components featuring a cone-shaped section. This particular cone holds a special place in the company’s history. In the early 1980s, a desperate foreman walked into the factory looking to order a cone for a paper mill – a component that the usual suppliers had been unable to manufacture. After some drawing and calculations, the company found a solution. Following the first delivery, several more orders quickly followed. This marked the beginning of Prewel’s development journey, and today the company is a leading supplier of pipe components and prefabricated parts.
“About half of our orders are custom projects for industrial customers in the Nordic countries. Steel pipes are needed across a wide range of industries, but at the moment we are seeing particularly strong demand from water utilities and wastewater treatment plants,” says Kriste Koski, Managing Director of Prewel.
Kriste Koski is Managing Director of Prewel in Jakobstad, which supplies custom-made steel pipes to Nordic industry. Orders have been coming in for more than 45 years, and the industry continues to offer interesting opportunities for growth.
New products require more headroom
Prewel’s product range includes cone-shaped steel pipes, segmented bends and T-pipes in a variety of configurations. The company is also planning to begin manufacturing different types of tanks, which will take production into a new size category and require larger premises with plenty of headroom.
In early 2026, construction began on a new 2,340-square-metre production hall next to the existing facility at Bottenviksvägen 60 in Jakobstad. The new section also includes 800 square metres of staff facilities, including offices and a canteen.
– When we decided to build the new facility, it felt natural to renew the property’s heating system at the same time. We wanted to move away from LPG entirely and considered both geothermal and district heating. When we compared the offers, choosing district heating from Herrfors was very easy – and it was also readily available at our location,” says Kriste Koski.
Prewel Managing Director Kriste Koski and foreman Kim Nordlund in front of completed pipe components ready for delivery to Turku. The company plans to manufacture larger components and tanks in the future, which is why a larger factory with plenty of headroom is needed.
Twice the factory space – the same operating costs
During the summer of 2026, Herrfors extended district heating pipes to the property from the existing line at the intersection of Bottenviksvägen and Depågatan. The necessary modifications to the existing part of the factory were completed during the summer maintenance shutdown. By Christmas, the new facilities are expected to be complete, with district heating fully operational throughout the factory.
– “According to our calculations, the new heating system and more efficient ventilation should allow us to keep our operating costs at roughly the same level as we previously had for the old production hall alone – but now we will be heating a building twice the size,” Koski says.
Koski looks forward to having a reliable and virtually maintenance-free heating solution at the factory.
– With LPG, you need inspections, permits and an appointed operations supervisor. There are also uncertainties related to factors such as availability and price. District heating is a reliable solution that essentially requires no maintenance on our part.
Environmental considerations increasingly important to customers
Industrial customers are placing increasingly stringent environmental requirements on their suppliers and carefully calculating the carbon footprint of the components they purchase.
– Our customers audit our operations regularly. Our products themselves are 100% recyclable, which means that the steel can be melted down and reused at the end of its life cycle. Switching from fossil fuel to district heating is a clear step towards reducing our emissions and puts us in a better position to meet current and future regulatory requirements,” Koski says.
According to Koski, the investment is preparing Prewel for the future and gives the company excellent opportunities to continue growing in Jakobstad.
Facts: Prewel Oy
Founded: 1980 in Jakobstad. The company was known for many years as Painehitsaus Oy, but in 2010 it adopted the more internationally suitable name Prewel Oy.
Employees: 26 (7 in the office and 19 in production).
Main markets: Finland, Sweden and Norway.
Speciality: Acid-resistant stainless steel pipes, cone-shaped pipe components and customised project solutions for industrial customers.
Current investment: An expansion of more than 2,300 m² at the Bottenviksvägen factory and a transition to district heating throughout the facility.
