Warm-hearted living in Leppävirta

Timo Hulkkonen, founder of Gebwell, has devoted his life to Leppävirta in North Savo, Finland. He reflects: “I have always felt it was important that the countryside stays populated, clean and that people here are free to pursue their business ventures.”

A gofer in his dream job

Hulkkonen’s HVAC career began at age fourteen as an errand boy at Onninen, delivering bills in the Varkaus area. He progressed to become a fitter’s apprentice, discovering his passion for pipe fitting work. After military service in 1970, he joined his father’s piping company, Leppävirran Putki ja Metalli, before establishing his own fitting company, LVI Asennuspalvelu Ky, in 1974.

From 1976 to 1978, Hulkkonen operated in Outokumpu after purchasing his father’s HVAC branch there—the only years he spent outside Leppävirta. During the 1980s, he acquired his father’s metal specialization division and entered district heating, with LP Metalli capitalizing on large companies abandoning substation production.

The computer whirs away

Facing resistance from banks reluctant to finance computer purchases, Hulkkonen delayed supplier payments to acquire LP Metalli’s first company computer. This investment streamlined invoicing and delivery slip preparation, enabling customers to receive invoices before deliveries arrived.

The company expanded to Sweden in 1982-1983, becoming LPM Group Ltd. Through acquisitions from Kymi-Strömberg and Rauma-Repola, and successful collaborations including work with Finnish company IVO in China, LPM grew internationally. The collapse of the Berlin Wall redirected focus toward Poland and Eastern Europe’s district heating markets, leading to factory establishment there.

The phone wouldn’t stop ringing

Combining expertise with customer-focused innovation, LPM’s reputation attracted acquisition interest. In 2003, Hulkkonen sold LPM Group to Danish company Danfoss.

However, Danfoss’s plan to relocate production to lower-cost countries threatened approximately 150 Leppävirta jobs. More significantly, their production philosophy contradicted Hulkkonen’s commitment to customer-specific solutions and close partnerships, favoring instead standardized approaches.

A second round

Hulkkonen founded Gebwell in 2005, initially focusing on ground source heat pumps and well drilling, with production subcontracted in Leppävirta. Equipment production commenced in his garage in 2006-2007. District heating products followed in 2008 after his non-compete clause expired.

Hulkkonen transitioned from CEO to Board Chairman in late 2012, stepping down from that role in April 2021 while remaining principal owner and board member.

Evening hay for the horses

As of August 2021, Hulkkonen resides in Leppävirta, operating a thriving horse farm established in 2005. His facility holds Europe’s fastest harness racing record and won its fourth Finnish championship in 2020.

Now past seventy, Hulkkonen pursues golf and reading in his leisure time. He remains deeply committed to environmental stewardship through both personal and business endeavors, expressing gratitude for rural living: “Here in the countryside of Leppävirta, you don’t need to spend your day at traffic lights.”