NIT is a Finnish maritime industry company that specializes in turnkey interior design and construction contracts for cruise ships and ferries. We have delivered passenger, crew and technical areas for the most demanding customers in our business including the European shipyards of Turku, Rauma, Helsinki, Papenburg and Bremerhaven, and recently also Mitsubishi Nagasaki in Japan.
The story of NIT is a story of determined entrepreneurship.
Two engineers, Kenneth Luoma (left) and Jari Suominen (right), have been building ships for all of their working lives. They were both inspired by shipbuilding at a very early age, when they were able to follow the traditions and shipbuilding achievements in the two southwestern Finnish cities of Turku and Uusikaupunki.
Kenneth and Jari both started working for the industry as employees. Based on the many lessons they learnt they eventually established NIT (standing for Naval Interior Team) with Arto Naumala at the turn of the millennium in 2000.
They defined a simple but challenging business idea for their newborn company: to find the best people, to take good care of them, and to do whatever possible to shape the interiors of great ships and enhance the success of their customers.
NIT grew rapidly during its first years, when the Finnish shipyards at Rauma, Turku and Helsinki were also thriving. A high mark was reached in 2007-2008 when annual sales peaked at 17 million euros. But orders quickly dried up after the financial crisis of 2008, and NIT’s management had to start looking for new markets.
This meant moving outside NIT’s home base in Finland and finding new customers.
NIT has by now received orders from almost all of the shipyards that build cruise ships anywhere in the world. Business has recovered, and the company is enjoying growth again.
Managing director Jari Suominen adds that NIT will not forget its roots, however. Turku shipyard has a bright future under its new German owner, Meyer Werft, and Turku remains the customer most closely connected to NIT.
Suominen emphasizes that NIT will continue to serve all customers with the same dedication and honesty. This will mean continuing to realize innovations, while effectively demonstrating high respect for deadlines.
NIT’s work strives for perfection. This is not easy where highly complex projects are concerned. Problems will inevitably arise, but they will be shared and addressed as promptly as possible, rather than by waiting until there is no other option. Constructive co-operation towards a common goal is the best way forward for both parties.
“So this is our story – which all of us within the company have written together with our customers,” concludes Jari Suominen.