Expansion in Finland: Pumppulohja, River Finland and Pump Service River Oy Move Forward Together
River Group’s expansion in Finland marks one of the most significant strategic steps of 2025. With Pumppulohja, the establishment of River Finland, and the presence of Pump Service River Oy, the group now combines three complementary strengths under one umbrella, creating a broader, stronger, and more coordinated market presence across the country.
To understand what this means in practice, we spoke with Stefan Stigell and Tommi Rantala, who each lead key parts of the Finnish operations. A third perspective is provided through Pump Service River Oy, which brings technical and installation capability to the combined offering.
Stefan Stigell: 1 + 1 = 3
For Pumppulohja, the past two years have been marked by a challenging construction market. Residential building activity in Finland has been declining since mid-2023, and wholesale sales have been negative for several consecutive quarters. Yet despite the downturn, Pumppulohja has managed to maintain its sales levels and grow its market share. According to Managing Director Stefan Stigell, this has required effort well beyond everyday routines: more customer visits, more calls, more activity, and the strength of well-established product brands.
“When the number of projects shrinks, you simply have to win more of them,” Stefan says. “Thanks to our strong portfolio and close customer relationships, we have been able to do just that.”
Pumppulohja’s product range, including River Pump, Watman, Franklin, Weda, and others, has been key to staying competitive. Looking ahead, market analysts expect a turning point around mid- 2026, when construction activity is forecasted to begin recovering.
“Everything we’ve built during the downturn prepares us for that moment,” Stefan explains. “When the market turns, we want to be the partner customers already trust.”
The integration of River Finland, a 30-person sales organisation transitioning from Xylem on 1 November, adds significant strength. While Pumppulohja brings decades of market presence and a broad product range, River Finland contributes deep expertise in Xylem’s portfolio and strong customer relationships across Finland.
“These units do not compete; they complement each other,” Stefan says. “Together, we are stronger than we are individually. We are now one company with three units. If we do this right, one plus one will equal three. Maybe even four.”
We complement each other perfectly
Tommi Rantala: Faster, More Flexible, and Full of Potential
For Business Unit Director Tommi Rantala, the transition to River Group has been both dramatic and energising.
“We moved the entire unit in one month,” he says. “New systems, new emails, new company, but the same team and the same customers.”
The contrast with their previous owner is noticeable, Tommi says.
“Before, we were part of a billion-dollar corporation. Now our actions have an immediate impact. It’s exciting and a little scary, but in the best way.” Tommi describes the shift as moving from a large, slow-moving ship to a smaller, agile one. “Things are faster. Decisions are simpler. Our systems are easier. People feel the difference already.”
River Finland has a broad portfolio spanning water treatment, purification systems, remote meters, and water utility equipment. Combined with Pumppulohja’s wholesale operations, the two companies now form one of the most prominent players in the Finnish pump and water-technology market.
“We complement each other perfectly,” Tommi explains. “Different products, different customer segments, but aligned interests. And together, we have the scale to win more.”
With area sales representatives living and working across the country, River Finland also maintains a strong local presence and local knowledge, a key factor in customer trust.
“Our main task next year is building trust,” Tommi says. “We are the same people, but now we represent a new partner. Customers need to feel the benefits: more flexibility, more options, more collaboration.”
Pump Service River Oy: Practical Capability that Completes the Offering
The third unit within River Finland is Pump Service River Oy, led by Jani Hämäläinen. Where Pumppulohja strengthens product sales, and River Finland expands market reach, Pump Service River Oy provides something equally critical: hands-on installation and service capability.
Their team has grown steadily over the past years, expanding into both clean-water and wastewater infrastructure. They deliver pump stations, long-distance piping, filtration installations, and municipal upgrades, and have successfully executed several large and technically demanding projects across Finland. What defines this unit is deep field competence, the kind of practical expertise that comes from years of working underground, on-site, and in close collaboration with municipal stakeholders.
A Broader Finnish Presence
In addition to these three core units, River Group’s presence in Finland also includes Suomen Jätevesipalvelut Oy (SJP), owned by Pump Service River Oy. Operating in the Pirkanmaa region, SJP strengthens the group’s wastewater and sewer-service capability and complements the overall Finnish structure.
River Group also has Watman active in Finland, operating within a different segment of the water industry, further broadening the group’s total footprint in the market.
Together, River Group’s Finnish operations now consist of several complementary units. This capability makes the Finnish structure complete:
- Pumppulohja: Product brands, wholesale strength, long-standing customer relationships
- River Finland: National sales presence, Xylem portfolio, broad water-technology range
- Pump Service River Oy: Installation, commissioning, service, and real project delivery
- Suomen Jätevesipalvelut Oy: Wastewater and sewer services in the Pirkanmaa region
- Watman: Customized, high-quality water treatment solutions, from household filters to industrial systems.
Together, they form a powerful combination.