Our journey from 1950 to today
Tamsalu EPT AS is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year – three-quarters of a century of experience in the Estonian metal industry. Our story began in 1950 as a machine-melioration station, the primary purpose of which was to organise forest drainage works and repair the necessary machinery – mainly excavators and tractors.
Tamsalu EPT has had several names over the years, but the production activities have been consistent. Over the years, the company has gone through several stages of development and today operates under the name Tamsalu EPT AS, which is today one of the oldest metal industry companies in Estonia.
Growth and development through the decades
Although the beginning was difficult and arduous, Tamsalu EPT still developed strongly thanks to the selfless work and skilful management of the managers. In the 1950s, deep in the Soviet era, forest drainage works began to be organised in Tamsalu under the then name Tamsalu MMJ and the necessary machinery – excavators and tractors – repaired. It was the first forest drainage-oriented company in the entire Soviet Union.
In the early days of the company’s establishment, Tamsalu EPT was assigned nearly 12 hectares of arable land on Tõnusoo farm, which initially had no buildings. Tamsalu is lucky that a machine-reclamation plant was established here in 1950, which became a well-known and outstanding company throughout Estonia.
The first director of the machine reclamation plant, Aleksei Potemkin, must be praised, who built a properly functioning company with infrastructure in a few years on a completely empty site and, based on the results of the work of the Tamsalu MMJ, made it one of the best companies of its kind in the entire Soviet Union.
Alexei Potemkin was a rather tough man who respected discipline and did not tolerate scoundrels and drunkards. The principal also visited forest drainage sites quite often and put the house in order when necessary.
Premises were found for the office on Tehnika Street, in the so-called Baron-Muti House, next to the current Grossi store, where two small rooms were available – a room and a kitchen, which had to accommodate 7–9 employees. At the end of the same year, the construction of the first barrack-type residential house began.
1950s: Establishment and initial period of the production base
The 1950s were the years when the Tamsalu Machine-Forest Drainage Plant was established and the beginning period. It was built on an empty area with no infrastructure or equipment. First, the first workshops, residential buildings and offices were built, and forest drainage machines began to be used.
Working conditions were difficult, and the shortage of building materials and labour made work difficult. However, a stable production and organizational system developed, which laid the foundation for future growth. The number of employees increased and the first cultural and sports events took place.
1960s: Technological development and social empowerment
The 1960s brought significant expansion and technical improvement. Forest drainage reached a new level of quality thanks to new machinery, facilities and infrastructure, which allowed to increase the volume of excavation work and improve efficiency. Moscow’s financial support and the close ties of Estonian foresters with Finland contributed to the spread of technological knowledge.
New residential buildings and extensions of office premises were built, the work of its own construction team was started, and a kindergarten was also established, which improved the well-being of employees. The social and cultural life of the company also developed – sports events and competitions were held, which strengthened the sense of belonging of the collective. Organisationally, several reorganisations took place, which improved the organisation of work and increased the efficiency of work.
1970s: Peak and production volumes at record levels
The 1970s were the peak of forest drainage for Tamsalu EPT. The workshop expanded, the equipment and machinery were renewed, and the production increased tenfold. Instead of forest drainage, the term forest land improvement was used. Work was also carried out extensively in the Karelian ASSR, where there was a large movement of workers from Estonia. The living conditions of the workers improved, the machine crews received cars and motorcycles, and the organization of work became more efficient.
In the 1970s, new residential buildings, a dormitory, a swimming pool, sports facilities were also built, and several new traditions were started, such as the celebration of Women’s Day and the Viru Games. The workshop received many awards and recognition. The volumes of forest drainage reached a record high, but from 1975 onwards, more attention was paid to the quality and complexity of the works. The number of employees increased up to nearly 100, and the technology and production capacity increased significantly. Workshop rooms and public buildings were also developed.
1980s: Growth and export orientation
The 1980s were the years of an important period of growth for Tamsalu EPT, when several new buildings and technologies were completed, the number of employees increased and the infrastructure was improved. Production and forest land improvement were expanded, the organisation of work was made more efficient, and exports were started more actively. The cohesion of the employees was increased with sports and cultural events. By the end of the 1980s, Tamsalu EPT had strengthened its position in the field of industry and forest land improvement and was ready to expand into new markets.
1990s: Market transition, exports and expansion
From 1991 to 2000, a major period of restructuring took place in the Tamsalu EPT, which was related to the restoration of Estonia’s independence and the establishment of a market economy. State orders disappeared, especially in forest drainage, and the workforce decreased. However, the workshop’s production increased as the company shifted its operations to cooperation with foreign partners in Finland, Sweden and Norway. 1993. In 1999, the public limited company RAS Tamsalu EPT was formed, which was a step towards privatisation. 1995. In 2009, the employees acquired a part of the company, which helped to ensure stability.
After Estonia gained independence, production changed significantly – new materials and technologies emerged, and the company began to produce snow removal equipment, dump trailers, and buckets for loaders and excavators. During this time, the small rudimentary workshop has been developed into a large industrial enterprise that is able to satisfy both domestic and international demands.
After Estonia regained its independence, the focus was on the Nordic countries – in the 1990s, we found permanent cooperation partners in Finland and Norway, and exports took off. At the same time, we started producing excavator special purpose buckets for both construction and agriculture. Today, the equipment manufactured in Tamsalu is sold not only in the Nordic countries but also throughout the Baltics.
In the mid-90s, the volume of land improvement work decreased, but the company found success in selling forestry machinery abroad. Despite the difficult economic environment and strong competitors, Tamsalu EPT was able to adapt and continue to operate in the new circumstances.
2000s: A modern industrial company and international expansion
In the 2000s, the Tamsalu EPT workshop gradually grew into a modern factory. The company received recognition among rapidly developing companies, was a member of the Gazelle TOP and received the ISO 9001:2000 certificate for the quality of production activities for three years. Production expanded and the export of forestry machinery to the United States marked an important step in the international market.
The economic crisis of 2008–2009 also affected the company, but in 2010 the 60th anniversary was celebrated in a dignified manner and the renovation and technical development of the factory, including the renewal of lifting capacities, continued.
2010–2020: Change and development of production activities
The years 2010–2020 were a period of change and challenges for the company, when land improvement activities were discontinued and the focus was on the development of production and workshops. 2011. In 2009, the transition to the euro took place in Estonia, and the company launched new machines and compiled product catalogues to simplify sales. This was followed by significant investments in production equipment and renovation of buildings, including office and utility building upgrades, improvements to ventilation systems, and improvements in working conditions.
During the period, production volumes fell by up to half due to the pre-coronavirus financial crisis, and the company had to adapt to smaller batches and special orders. The shortage of skilled labour and wage pressure proved to be a major challenge. Close relationships with customers and constant participation in Maamessi helped to maintain product development and market position.
2020. The company celebrated its 70th anniversary and made significant investments in the infrastructure of the production base – asphalting roads and improving safety. All in all, this decade is characterized by the restoration of the company’s stability after the economic recession, the emphasis on quality and meeting the needs of customers in a changing market situation.
Important people throughout history
Behind the success story of Tamsalu EPT there have been many special people with dedication. Some notable examples:
Aleksei Potemkin headed the company from 1950 to 1955. Shaped the development of Tamsalu EPT, shaping the organisation of work and future perspectives of the institution.
From 1950 to 1955, Aleksei Potemkin worked as the director of the Tamsalu Forest Management (the predecessor of the later EPT), forming a strong foundation for the development of the institution. Under his leadership, the organisation of work and discipline of the farm improved, and the necessary preconditions for the development of production were created. Potemkin is considered one of the important founders of the structure of the Tamsalu EPT.
Sergei Kurochkin headed the company from 1955 to 1986. Led Tamsalu EPT to become the leading provider of machine maintenance services in the Estonian SSR.
Sergei Kurochkin was the legendary leader of the Tamsalu EPT and a meritorious engineer of the Estonian SSR, under whose leadership a large part of the industrial and living environment of Tamsalu was built. As a former candidate for the national volleyball team, he established a strong sports culture in Tamsalu and was an active coach and competitor until the end of his life. He was a fair, demanding and dedicated leader, whose contribution was recognised with the Tamsalu Thanksgiving Money and whose influence extended far beyond his official duties
Ants Arukuusk led the Tamsalu EPT from 1986 to 2009, making it one of the most progressive centres for land improvement and the promotion of physical education in Estonia.
Under Arukuus’s leadership, a small physical education collective developed into a sports club that included nearly 90% of the employees and grew up with several dozen champion athletes. Arukuusk actively stood for the well-being of the Tamsalu community – on his initiative, a kindergarten, a sports complex, a residential area were established, and employee events were organised for decades. Even during the difficult period of privatization, he maintained the direction of the company and was responsible for the future of the employees, which shows his exceptional dedication and vision.
Valdo Simonlatser, CEO from 2009 to 2018, steered the company towards the metal industry, giving up land improvement works.
Valdo Simonlatser played a key role in Tamsalu EPT during a difficult transition period, when the company had to adapt to the collapse of the Soviet-era system and find its way in the new economic environment. Under his leadership, a strong cooperation relationship was established with the Finnish metal industry, which opened doors to the international market and brought a large part of production to Scandinavian countries. Simonlatser was recognized as a balanced and dedicated leader who cared about the company’s development and the well-being of its employees.
Aivar Maasik was the Managing Director of Tamsalu EPT AS from 2019 to 2024, whose leadership period included difficult years in the global economy.
Under Maasik’s leadership, the company has coped with the economic recession as well as other difficult periods. His technical background and experience in quality management have helped to maintain high quality in production.
Today: Reliability, innovation, quality
Tamsalu EPT’s product range has expanded and diversified over the years and now includes excavator buckets, road maintenance machines, forestry machines and agricultural equipment. All of our products are designed to meet challenging operating conditions and for long-term use, while providing the flexibility you need to adapt to the demands of different industries.
More than thirty different standard types of buckets are manufactured for excavators and loaders, using world-renowned high-quality steels such as HARDOX and STRENX. These materials ensure the durability of the products, allowing the buckets to withstand heavy loads and work in tough conditions, which in turn helps customers reduce maintenance and operating costs.
Today, all production takes place in Lääne-Viru County, where the closed production area reaches nearly 4000 square meters. All products are made of high-quality welding materials and under strict quality control, which ensures that they meet the established standards and customer expectations. Our production process is built flexibly – this also allows us to fulfill special orders and take into account the specific needs of various heavy equipment dealers and end users, such as farmers, foresters and road builders.
Customer-centricity is at the heart of Tamsalu EPT’s activities. Our team works every day to thoroughly understand the needs of our customers and provide solutions that help increase work efficiency and productivity. Reliability, innovation and quality are values that we consistently highlight in our daily work and with the help of which we maintain lasting and reliable relationships with both local and international partners.
Your partner in the metal industry
We are proud of our history and traditions, but we look to the future, invest in new technologies and continue to cooperate with our customers and partners internationally. We are ready to take on new challenges and continue our contribution to the development of the Estonian metal industry.
If you want a reliable partner in the metal industry, we at Tamsalu EPT are ready to support you. Check out our product range on our website tamsaluept.ee and feel free to contact us to find the right solutions for your needs.
