A Long Career, Strong Partnerships

When it comes to steel, quality and partners matter. The cooperation between Sten Teräs and the Austrian steel producer Böhler has continued for more than 90 years. Its longevity reflects the commitment of both parties. Senior Key Account Manager Krister Sundman has followed the development of the industry closely for 45 years. He has worked at Sten since 2008, and through his work Böhler’s specialty steels find their way into the needs of Finnish industry.

A career built on steel and expertise

Krister Sundman’s career in steel began in a heat treatment shop. From there, his path led through sales to international specialty steel companies. In 2008, he joined Sten Teräs, where he has now worked for 17 years. For the first time in his career at a family-owned company, he has seen firsthand what speed, agility, and sales support mean in practice in a family business.

According to Sundman, Sten’s warehouse in Nurmijärvi and the modern heat treatment facility in Muurame provide concrete proof of how agility and successful investments come together. By combining a large stock, deep expertise in steel, and top-tier heat treatment services, Sten can offer customers solutions that are not available elsewhere in the Nordic countries.

“The best part of this job is that I get to combine expertise and hands-on experience. You never have to tell a customer that we don’t know the solution. Almost always, we find the right material and the right approach,” Sundman says.

Böhler – quality you can rely on

Sten and Böhler began their cooperation in 1932. Since then, Sten has held the exclusive right to sell the Austrian manufacturer’s specialty steels in Finland. The partnership began when Master of Science in Engineering Artur Stén contacted Böhler’s management during the economic depression and after the bankruptcy of his former employer. He knew the factory and its steels thoroughly from his previous work and convinced the Austrians with his expertise and strong personal relationships within Finnish industry. Böhler granted the representation rights to Stén, and shortly thereafter Oy Stén & Co Ab was founded. Already in its first year of operation, the company became profitable and established its position as the guarantor of Böhler quality in Finland.

Over more than 90 years, the partnership has been built on high quality and trust. Böhler is internationally known for its premium tool steels, high-speed steels, and special rolled products used in demanding industrial applications. According to Sundman, uncompromising quality is what truly sets Böhler apart from its competitors.

“Böhler stands out because it offers exactly those specialty steels and even small batches that many manufacturers do not supply. The customer knows they always get top quality, and the quality has never been questionable,” Sundman states.

He first worked with Böhler products in the early 1980s and knows their strengths well. The quality has remained consistent, and during his 17 years at Sten, Sundman says there has not been a single complaint from customers about the quality of Böhler materials. Long delivery times from Central Europe are addressed by maintaining a large stock in Nurmijärvi, enabling fast and reliable deliveries to customers.

Cooperation continues strong

The steel industry has undergone major changes during Krister Sundman’s long career. Where work once relied on manual processes and even data read from punch cards, today operations use automated furnaces, digital data, and virtual customer meetings. Automation and digital tools have made both customer collaboration and daily operations in the heat treatment shop easier. The fundamentals remain unchanged. High-quality steel, expert service, and a reliable supply chain still form the core of everything. The partnership between Sten and Böhler continues steadily, and Sundman believes its importance will only grow.

“It is a pleasure to represent Böhler steel in Finland, and I trust that this cooperation will carry far into the future,” he concludes.