SuperSealer Saila Kallio
As Boldan Oy settles into life as part of Trelleborg, Trelleborg Pipe Repair Finance & Control Saila Kallio has been a key figure guiding the transition. With a strong financial background and a steady focus on improving operations, she is helping shape the next chapter for the Finnish company. In this edition of SuperSealer, Saila shares insights from her role, the changes brought by the acquisition and the opportunities she sees ahead.
Who are you?
My name is Saila Kallio. I’m 58 years old and I work as Trelleborg Pipe Repair Finance & Control in Nurmijärvi, Finland, the birthplace of one of the country's most famous authors, Aleksis Kivi. I joined Boldan in 2017 with a background in finance, and after three years leading the finance function, I stepped into the Managing Director role. Today, I am responsible for the overall development of the company and for ensuring we continue to grow and strengthen our operations; it’s a challenge, but one I love.
How long have you worked in this position, and what are your key duties?
I am fortunate to serve in Trelleborg Pipe Repair as Finance & Control. My main responsibilities include overseeing our daily operations and ensuring our financial performance is on track. I love collaborating with the team here every day, helping us reach our goals and finding ways to improve our processes.
I’m also deeply involved in financial reporting, which has brought some exciting changes for our finance team. Transitioning from a privately owned company to becoming part of a large global group has been a big and positive shift for us. Lately, I’ve also been excited about the opportunity to help integrate new companies into the Trelleborg family, a process that has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding.
How long have you worked at Trelleborg, and what do you enjoy about working here?
Boldan Oy was acquired by Trelleborg in May 2024, so we have now been part of Trelleborg for about 18 months. What I enjoy most is meeting new colleagues and learning how Trelleborg operates. Moving from a privately owned medium-sized Finnish company into a global group has required a real shift in mindset for us, but it has been exciting. At the same time, it has opened opportunities to further improve and develop our operations. Being part of Trelleborg gives us access to new knowledge, more structured processes and support from a much wider network. What's not to love about that?
What are the key challenges you face in your job?
I find it challenging to keep up with the reporting schedules. The expectations and timelines are different from before and staying on top of everything requires discipline and structure.
At times, it can also be difficult to find answers when questions arise. The organization is much larger and finding the right person to turn to for specific issues takes time. However, colleagues throughout Trelleborg have been incredibly helpful and their support has made the transition much smoother.
How do you think the business in your area is going to evolve in the future, and how are you preparing for this?
Competition in our field will continue to increase, that’s for sure. To prepare for this, we have been strengthening our manufacturing capabilities to keep our product costs competitive. Ensuring efficient production will be essential to maintaining our market position. By building stronger internal capabilities, we can respond more effectively as the environment becomes more demanding.
What do you do in your free time?
I have a one-year-old miniature poodle named Sulo, who is very active and keeps me busy. We take long walks and I spend a lot of time trying to teach him to be a well-behaved dog. I regularly bring him to the office, where he always cheers up my colleagues. I also enjoy travelling and during the winter I go ice swimming, which always gives me fresh energy and balance.
