50 Years of Stainless Steel from Tornio

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Outokumpu Tornio stainless steel plant. The operations in Kemi and Tornio together form the world’s largest integrated stainless steel production facility and one of Europe’s largest recycling clusters. Recycled steel is the main raw material used in Outokumpu’s stainless steel production, and Outokumpu processes approximately two million tonnes of recycled steel in the area every year.

More than 2,000 Outokumpu employees work in the Kemi–Tornio area, and the company’s indirect employment impact is estimated at around 8,000 jobs. Outokumpu is therefore a significant regional employer, and the Tornio site has been a central part of Finnish industry and regional development for five decades.

Alongside the celebration of 50 years of stainless steel production, the 250th anniversary of Tornio Harbour is also being marked. The purpose of the 50 Years of Stainless Steel from Tornio exhibition is to present the history of the steel plant and Tornio Harbour through photographs, and to highlight the changes that have taken place in safety and processes over the past 50 years. The historical photographs on display date from the 1970s and 1980s, while the new photographs were taken in 2026.

The exhibition has been produced in cooperation between the Museum of Torne Valley and Outokumpu. The new photographs were taken by photographer Nina Susi. The exhibition is open from 8 May to 4 October 2026.