Finland’s oldest company, Fiskars, founded in 1649, is celebrating its 375th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, Design Stories visited the Sorsakoski factory to explore the production of Fiskars pots and pans. Join us on a factory tour to see how the products are made!
NOT ONLY THE OLDEST COMPANY in Finland but also one of the oldest continuously operating companies in the Western world, Fiskars is celebrating its 375th anniversary this year. Founded in 1649 as a small ironworks, Fiskars has, over the centuries, produced everything from steam engines to garden tools and from pans and pots to the world-famous orange scissors.
Today, Fiskars’ frying pans and pots are still made in Finland, specifically in the small village of Sorsakoski in Leppävirta, eastern Finland. The production facility, operational since 1891, functioned for a long time as a factory of Hackman, another well-known Finnish company, producing many iconic cutlery sets and knives. Cookware has been manufactured in Sorsakoski since 1956.
Design Stories took a trip to Sorsakoski to see the manufacturing process up close. We interviewed Emmi Härus, Senior Product Manager for Cookware, who has extensive experience in Fiskars kitchen products.
Hi Emmi! Could you tell us about your role at Fiskars?
“This spring marks my eighth year at Fiskars. I’ve worked in sales and marketing and now, in recent years, with Fiskars’ cookware. Working with frying pans and pots has been incredibly rewarding, especially in collaboration with Fiskars’ own factory in Sorsakoski.”
What Fiskars products and series are made in Sorsakoski? What special expertise does the factory have?
“Currently, Sorsakoski focuses on producing stainless steel and aluminum cookware, both coated and uncoated. The Norden steel, Taiten, All Steel, Hard Face and Functional Form pots and pans are all made here.
The Sorsakoski factory has a long tradition of research and development in cooking products. It’s ISO-certified, and we’re continuously improving our production methods and logistics towards more environmentally sustainable and responsible practices. For instance, we use recycled materials in our cookware and have switched from polished to matte-brushed steel finishes, reducing landfill waste by 30% in 2023 compared to the previous year.”
Can you tell us about the design and testing of the products?
“Fiskars cookware is designed by our in-house design team, which won the prestigious Red Dot: Design Team of the Year award in 2020. Additionally, the All Steel and Norden Outdoor products have won Red Dot Design awards. We test our products and their functionalities in our own test laboratories, one of which is located at the Sorsakoski factory.”
Customers often have questions about coatings and treatments of cookware. What coatings do Fiskars products use?
“Pans and pots are often coated to enhance their non-stick properties. These features prevent food from sticking to the surface and make cleaning easier. Coated pans are suitable for all types of frying and browning and are ideal for delicate ingredients like fish or eggs. Uncoated steel pans are also popular because they are extremely durable.
Fiskars’ aluminum cookware, such as the Taiten pans, is always coated. The steel cookware in the Norden and All Steel series is coated when non-stick properties are desired. In the Norden steel, All Steel, and Taiten series, we use a ceramic Ceratec coating that browns beautifully and withstands high heat. Its recommended maximum frying temperature is 270 °C (518 °F). The ceramic coating is plastic-free and does not contain PFAS compounds.”
Can you tell us about the mineral treatment of the Norden cast iron products – what are its benefits?
“Norden cast iron products are finished with a Thermium mineral treatment, making them easy to clean. Cast iron cookware is often seen as difficult or time-consuming to clean. With the Thermium mineral treatment, cleaning is easier, and any stuck-on food can be removed effortlessly.”
“Hand-washing is recommended for coated frying pans to extend the coating’s lifespan”
What should be considered in the use and care of coated pans?
“Wooden, silicone, plastic, and other non-scratch utensils are highly recommended to keep the coating in good condition and extend the lifespan of coated cookware. Except for cast iron products, all Fiskars cooking and frying utensils are dishwasher safe, though hand-washing is still recommended for coated frying pans to extend the coating’s lifespan.”
• Read also: How to choose a frying pan? We asked an expert >
Can coatings be renewed? When is it time to replace a frying pan?
“Coated products are everyday items and will inevitably show signs of use. Ceramically coated Norden steel, All Steel, and Taiten frying pans can be recoated through Fiskars Frying Pan Service, available periodically at Iittala stores.
Our pan maintenance service restores the original non-stick properties of frying pans. Often, the pan’s coating is the most worn part, while the body and handle are still in excellent condition. In such cases, pan maintenance is a great option, as it consumes 99% fewer natural resources than purchasing a new pan.”
How do Fiskars’ coated frying pans differ from others – can they be used on induction cooktops, which can heat up very quickly? Can the pans overheat?
“All Fiskars cookware is suitable for all stoves, including induction. The most common cause of rapid wear on the coating is overheating the pan on induction. Induction heats up very quickly, so it’s advisable to lower the heat to medium. For those cooking on induction, we offer Taiten frying pans with Optiheat technology, which prevents the pan from overheating on induction: when the pan’s temperature exceeds 230 °C (446 °F), the material demagnetizes until the temperature drops.
Cookware should never be heated empty. For the best frying results, we recommend using oil or butter during the heating phase, which also ensures a more beautiful frying surface.”
What kind of cook are you, and do you have a go-to recipe? What series of pans do you currently have at home?
“My cooking routines vary with the seasons – on weekdays, I often cook something quick and easy, while on vacation, I enjoy seasonal delicacies. This summer, my favorite is new potatoes and fried perch. My daughter’s absolute favorite year-round is banana pancakes. Currently, I use the All Steel series, whose ceramic-coated pan is perfect for both fish as well as banana pancakes.”
One last tip: if you had to buy one pan as a gift, which one would you choose and why?
“I would choose the classic and durable Norden cast iron pan or pot. These products are beautiful and extremely long-lasting, often lasting from one home to another. We offer a 25-year warranty on Norden frying pans and pots.”
Explore Fiskars cookware
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Edit: Nora Uotila Interview: Mikko Vaija Images: Kaisu Kaplin