Tikkurila (corporation)
Encyclopedia
Tikkurila Oyj is a Finnish manufacturer of paints and lacquers. The main office and most of the production is located in Tikkurila
, Vantaa
near Helsinki
.
The company was founded in 1862 as Dickursby Oljeslageri to produce linseed oil
and varnish
, and was acquired by the Helsinki company Schildt & Hallberg in 1885. As Schildt & Hallberg Oy, it started producing paints in 1919, eventually rising to the position of the largest paint manufacturer in Finland. In 1972, the Finnish chemical conglomerate Kemira
(then Rikkihappo Oy) acquired the company, and started the expansion and modernization of the production plant, which was moved a bit further from Tikkurila center; the old plant was demolished in the 1980s. In 1975, it was renamed Tikkurilan Väritehtaat Oy ("Tikkurila Color Factories"), which was shortened to Tikkurila Oy in 1986. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Tikkurila successfully expanded into the Baltic and Russian markets, reaching market leader status.
Tikkurila, serving consumers, professional painters and industrial customers in approximately 40 countries, was separated from Kemira and Tikkurila's shares were listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd in March 2010. Tikkurila’s product range consists of decorative paint
s and coatings for the wood and metal industries. The brands of the Tikkurila
paints division are major players in the Nordic countries
and even market leaders in Russia.
In 1986, Tikkurila published the ad-game
Painterboy
for Commodore 64
.
Tikkurila
Tikkurila is a district of the municipality of Vantaa, Finland. Located in the eastern half of the Helsinki conurbation, some north of the capital's downtown district, it is the administrative and commercial hub of Vantaa, although Myyrmäki is a rival shopping centre within the municipality and...
, Vantaa
Vantaa
Vantaa is a city and municipality in Finland. Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo and Kauniainen make up the Helsinki Metropolitan Area.Vantaa, with its population of , is the fourth most populated city of Finland. The biggest airport in Finland, the Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, is located there...
near Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
.
The company was founded in 1862 as Dickursby Oljeslageri to produce linseed oil
Linseed oil
Linseed oil, also known as flaxseed oil, is a clear to yellowish oil obtained from the dried ripe seeds of the flax plant . The oil is obtained by cold pressing, sometimes followed by solvent extraction...
and varnish
Varnish
Varnish is a transparent, hard, protective finish or film primarily used in wood finishing but also for other materials. Varnish is traditionally a combination of a drying oil, a resin, and a thinner or solvent. Varnish finishes are usually glossy but may be designed to produce satin or semi-gloss...
, and was acquired by the Helsinki company Schildt & Hallberg in 1885. As Schildt & Hallberg Oy, it started producing paints in 1919, eventually rising to the position of the largest paint manufacturer in Finland. In 1972, the Finnish chemical conglomerate Kemira
Kemira
Kemira Oyj is a chemical industry group that consists of three main segments. Kemira is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland.Kemira’s main shareholder is Oras Invest Oy and its owners, members of the Paasikivi family. Its former main owner, the State of Finland, sold the largest part of its holding...
(then Rikkihappo Oy) acquired the company, and started the expansion and modernization of the production plant, which was moved a bit further from Tikkurila center; the old plant was demolished in the 1980s. In 1975, it was renamed Tikkurilan Väritehtaat Oy ("Tikkurila Color Factories"), which was shortened to Tikkurila Oy in 1986. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Tikkurila successfully expanded into the Baltic and Russian markets, reaching market leader status.
Tikkurila, serving consumers, professional painters and industrial customers in approximately 40 countries, was separated from Kemira and Tikkurila's shares were listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd in March 2010. Tikkurila’s product range consists of decorative paint
Paint
Paint is any liquid, liquefiable, or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to an opaque solid film. One may also consider the digital mimicry thereof...
s and coatings for the wood and metal industries. The brands of the Tikkurila
Tikkurila
Tikkurila is a district of the municipality of Vantaa, Finland. Located in the eastern half of the Helsinki conurbation, some north of the capital's downtown district, it is the administrative and commercial hub of Vantaa, although Myyrmäki is a rival shopping centre within the municipality and...
paints division are major players in the Nordic countries
Nordic countries
The Nordic countries make up a region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic which consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and their associated territories, the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland...
and even market leaders in Russia.
In 1986, Tikkurila published the ad-game
Advergaming
Advergaming is the practice of using video games to advertise a product, organization or viewpoint. The term "advergames" was coined in January 2000 by Anthony Giallourakis, and later mentioned by Wireds "Jargon Watch" column in 2001...
Painterboy
Painterboy
Painterboy is a game for Commodore 64. Released in 1986, it is one of the first advergames produced in Finland.The game is advertising paints from Finnish paint company Tikkurila...
for Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
.
Brands
- Tikkurila (international)
- Beckers (international)
- Alcro (Sweden)
- Vivacolor (Baltic countries)
- Finncolor (Russia — founded by Tikkurila)
- Kraski Teks (Russia — acquired)