10.03.2026

Lahti, Finland - January 2026 - Jartek has appointed Johannes Hujanen as the company’s new Automation Manager. In his new role, Hujanen will lead the development of Jartek’s automation business and continue strengthening the company’s position as a provider of intelligent, customer-driven solutions for the sawmill industry.

The appointment follows Heikki Laaki’s transition into the role of Chief Technology Officer and ensures continuity in Jartek’s long-term technology strategy.

Strong expertise in industrial development and factory systems

Hujanen is a professional in industrial business development and project management, with extensive experience in factory systems and automation environments. He has contributed to the development of scalable, user-oriented solutions that support operational efficiency and long-term business performance.

According to Heikki Laaki, the appointment is a natural step in Jartek’s development:

“Johannes combines deep technical understanding with a strong business perspective. He can see the big picture while still understanding the critical details. I am extremely confident that under his leadership, our automation business will continue to evolve in line with our long-term technology strategy,” says Heikki Laaki, CTO at Jartek.

Continuity in technology strategy and customer focus

As Automation Manager, Hujanen will be responsible for advancing automation across Jartek’s full solution portfolio, including sorting lines, sawmill solutions, and thermally modified wood technologies.

For Hujanen, the new role represents both responsibility and opportunity:

“I’m excited and honored to take on this role at such a pivotal time for the industry. Automation, digitalization, and data-driven development are transforming how production is optimized and managed. Our mission is to turn technological complexity into clear, user-friendly solutions that genuinely support our customers’ competitiveness,” says Johannes Hujanen.

He emphasizes that close collaboration between technology, project execution, and customer operations will be essential:

“The future of automation lies in intelligent systems that are not only powerful but also intuitive and adaptable. At Jartek, we have a strong foundation to build on, and I look forward to working with our talented team to take the next step forward.”

Building the future of intelligent sawmill automation

Jartek continues to invest strongly in automation, digitalization, and AI-driven solutions. With Hujanen leading the automation business and Laaki overseeing the company’s broader technology development as CTO, Jartek is well positioned to support sawmills in navigating the ongoing technological transformation.

The company’s vision remains clear: intelligent control systems, seamless software integration, and data-driven optimization will become a natural part of modern sawmill production delivering measurable efficiency, flexibility, and long-term competitiveness.

Johannes Hujanen, Automation Manager at Jartek.