History
1940'sHartela's roots lead back to 1942 and the city of Turku, with the founding there of the building company Urakoitsijat Oy by Emil Hartela and Vilho Heinonen. Finland's acute post-war demand for housing is further spurred by the country's rapid industrialisation and mass urbanisation.
1950's
Business expands to the capital region, where Rakennusosakeyhtiö Hartela is founded in 1959. Heinonen relinquishes his share in the company.
1960's
Operations expand beyond traditional housebuilds and industrial buildings to larger site developments and special constructions. Management of the family business passes forward to the second generation.
1970's
The 1970's sees the start of export operations, with hotels, holiday villages and health centres built in the Middle East and Far East and the former Soviet Union.
1980's
Traditional housing construction now accounts for just 50% of turnover. Hospital construction rises as a strong new growth area.
1990's
Hartela retains its competitiveness in an economically challenging period by diversifying its land bank and by regionally focussing its operations. Hartela secures a significant share of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area's growing business premises market.
2000's
Hartela Group continues to pursue and develop cutting-edge production solutions. Strategic acquisitions have significantly expanded Hartela's sphere of expertise: Hartela Building Services Ltd is now one of Finland's leading specialists in the design and implementation of demanding building services systems. The third generation of the family business is actively present in the company management.