In July 1985, the Finnish Trade Register recorded a new company called Robit in its books. It was founded by Vesa and Jorma Järvelä – brothers whose vision was to develop the market’s best button bit for rock drilling. The company gradually took off, growing internationally, and continues to expand to this day. Robit will soon celebrate its 40th anniversary. On these pages, we share a few highlights from the past years.

Growth in every decade
Robit set its sights on export markets very early on. Rapid sales growth supported expansion, and by the 2010s, the company sought new products and larger market shares through bold acquisitions in addition to organic growth.

• 1987: First export market: Sweden
• 1992: Ten export countries: all continents covered except the Far East
• 2002: One hundred sales representatives worldwide
• 2007: Revenue exceeds €10 million
• 2011: First acquisition: Top Hammer rod and shank manufacturer Young Poong (South Korea)
• 2012: One hundred export countries
• 2015: Listed on Nasdaq First North
• 2016: Major acquisitions into the Down the Hole (DTH) market: Drilling Tools Australia and Bulroc (UK)
• 2017: Listed on Nasdaq Helsinki main market
• 2018: The industry’s most modern factory opens in Korea
• 2021: Revenue exceeds €100 million

The new ultra-modern production facility in Hwaseong, Korea was opened in 2018.

 

Nam Kyung-Pil, Governor of Gyeonggi-Do and Chairman Harri Sjöholm: the signing ceremony of Robit's major production 
investment in the Foreign Investment area in Gyeonggi-Do, South Korea, Sept. 15, 2017.

Key to Success: Distributor Collaboration
Close collaboration with local distributors has been central to Robit’s international expansion. This successful strategy differs from global competitors. It was introduced by Harri Sjöholm, who joined Robit in 1988 and is still the company’s Vice Chairman of the Board and a major owner.

• 1988: First distributor agreement abroad: Minroc (Germany)
• 1990: First Distributor Days: a dozen participants
• 1990s: Market-driven product development with dealers and end-customers: competitive, customizable products
• 2000s: Customer-focused production planning: consumption forecasted carefully, ensuring quick delivery
• 2010s: Solid new distributor network: Robit now a comprehensive supplier of TH bits, rods, and shanks
• 2020s: Specialized DTH and GEO segment distributors introduced
• 2024: Distributor Days: 95 participants from 21 countries

In 1988, Andreas Stelke (right) of Minroc, West Germany, and Harri Sjöholm (second from left) signed Robit's first foreign distributor deal.
Old friends Andreas (right) and Harri in Tampere in  December 2024.

Leading the Way in Innovation
Since its inception, continuous product development and improving production methods have been at Robit’s core. Guided by customer and distributor needs, Robit has introduced the most high-performing products and technological innovations in its field. For a challenger in the market, this has been essential for success.

• 1989: Robit HiTech button bit product family
• 1996: Long-body retrac bit: straighter blasting holes
• 2000: First Top Hammer product series for forepoling
• 2005: First fully robotic, unmanned production cell in Lempäälä
• 2005: RoX product range for ground drilling, based on Robit’s patented locking technology
• 2010: Hard Top Green (HTG) bit series made from recycled steel
• 2013: Durable Robit® DTH Prime casing systems series for demanding piling conditions
• 2016: Robit® 33” Hyper – most powerful Down the Hole hammer in the market
• 2020: Rbit drill bits: optimized button placement, improved penetration
• 2020: Reliable Robit® DTH bit series for deep well drilling projects
• 2023: H Series DTH hammer: superior fuel efficiency per drilled meter
• 2024: Robit Male-Bit concept for Top Hammer (patent pending)

H Series – the lowest total drilling cost: Up to 25% lower fuel consumption, Best-in-class performance and Unbeatable for all conditions

Robit’s distributors and staff at the MEGA Dealer Meeting 3.0 in United Kindom in September 2017.