Nordkalk Lies Firmly at Anchor in Tytyri, Finland

A lively and glad punch of brothers and two nice nephews gather around a canteen table at Nordkalk's Tytyri plant to think back at how they've ended up here and when the Ankkuri (anchor in English) era in Tytyri started.

There is also talk about what has changed and how one can find the strength to continue to work and be happy for years and decades at a job that can occasionally be quite heavy.

The Miner Tradition of the Ankkuri Family Started Back in the 50's
The Ankkuri era started in the 50's when Paavo Ankkuri, the grandfather of Timo, Tero, Tenho and Teijo, started his career as a miner in the Ojamo quarry, where he handled lime wagons. Paavo, who originated from Ostrobothnia, settled in Lohja after the Second World War, is the one who started the family's mine digger tradition. The Ankkuri family has focused its influence on Nordkalk, not many of the men in this family work anywhere else if any. Paavo's sons started in the company in the 60's working several decades in different posts. The farther of these brothers worked first 20 years in the mine and then another 10 years in the Mustio quarry. Their uncle started as a measurer down in the mine and continued on ground level in the laboratory.

Henri, Timo, Teijo, Tenho, Tuomas and Tero Ankkuri

A Dozen but One Anchors
Today there are two generations of Ankkuris in Tytyri; four brothers and two sons. Altogether there have been 11 Ankkuris on the company's payroll when one counts in also two more representatives of the younger generation, Joonas and Tomi who both have worked several summers in the mine. Timo Ankkuri was the first of the four brothers that started working for the company. He started already before his military service. This was 32 years ago this year. There was still a job for offer after the army, and as he liked the work and the workmates and when even the benefits were to his liking, he stayed on. Those days the feeling of solidarity was excellent and unique, there was economical company housing available, one got even discount for one's electricity bill, and a little kitchen plot was for taking. Nowadays the benefits may not be the same and the rent has gone up but a good and secure job and nice workmates are reasons why Timo as well as all the other Ankkuris will stay put. The brothers value also the regular medical check-ups that the company arranges every three years.

- It is good that the employer organizes the check-ups, one would not necessarily have any if one had to fix it oneself, says Timo.

After Timo came Tenho to the company 29 years ago. According to him he has never been much of a bookworm, so after a quick side step into the retail business he followed his brother in 1981. He has worked for the company ever since. A couple of years later Tero joined in, and another couple of years after this also Teijo started in the company. From 1985 the brothers have stack together at work as well as in their free time. One reason for Nordkalk having been such a good choice when thinking about a profession and a job was that the company had become familiar already thanks to the brothers working there - one knew already in beforehand what kind of a employment one was seeking for.

The Brothers Work Together and Do Sports Together
They say it is simple when one knows well the men and what they do. Of course the brothers are as pleased to work with other workmates too, but it is just so easy to contact one's brother if there is a problem during a shift. They all do a bit different things so the know-how is quite extensive. Whenever a question arises, one knows immediately who to turn to.

The brothers get along well and they get together also after work. Tenho who has the longest free periods between shifts drops often in for a coffee at the houses of the other brothers but they stay in contact otherwise also and regularly. As a counterbalance to the heavy work the Ankkuri brothers do a lot of sports.

- Sports is really important, especially for those who do shift work. The body is able to resist the strains caused by shift work much better when one is in good condition. I like to emphasize that to all, says Tenho and continues by telling that all Ankkuri brothers are healthy which has also helped to enjoy the work even there is a lot more work to be done these days, the pace is more hectic and the work demands new skills all the time.

All Ankkuris do versatile sports from rowing to skiing and cycling. They go on bike rides together every year. Timo is also a keen soccer player.

"One Gets Friendly Banter"
Friends and families like to banter with the brothers over their shared work place. Timo's wife is of that opinion that he could move into the factory as he spends so much time there already. Timo receives phone calls also often outside his shifts and he goes to the plant and helps out even at night if needed as he lives so close by.

A comment they often here is that "Nordkalk would go under if all the Ankkuri brothers would leave", so it is nice to here that they all like their work. There has not been any female Ankkuris on the company's payroll nor does one know yet about the coming generations, but if the family holds on to the tradition, Nordkalk will lie firmly at anchor in Tytyri also in the future.

Tiina Roine