Our clients are leaders in their own fields — domestic start-up companies and SMEs, major global companies, universities and organisations, as well as private individuals. Our long-term client relationships are an indication of the quality of our service and of the trust that we enjoy.
CLIENT STORIES
Conenor’s innovations breathe new life into problematic plastic waste
Based in Orimattila, Finland, Conenor is set to solve the world's fibreglass waste problem. Thanks to the company’s innovative technology, non-recyclable fibreglass plastic waste can be transformed into new composite materials. IRP plays a key role in operations and licensing – "a zero can be added to the price when patents are in place", says Conenor CEO Markku Vilkki.
If you are suspected of being infected with coronavirus, you might be tested using technology rapidly launched by Mobidiag. The company is an expert in diagnostic solutions for infectious diseases, and carefully protects their innovations and R&D investments. The best protection is achieved by combining patents, trade secrets, and trademarks.
Take a look at your wrist – it may contain hundreds of Polar patents
Everyone wants to develop. This insight has given rise to Polar, the everyday partner for active movers and athletes – and hundreds of unique innovations. Jyrki Schroderus, Director of Research and Technology at Polar Electro, knows brands and patents and can also demand the best from an IPR partner, as the doctor of philosophy in the field of physics is himself a former patent attorney.
Zoy melts hearts with its patented sound jewellery technology
The start-up company Zoy developed the world’s first mechanically operated Soundlocket® sound jewellery technology that captures life’s meaningful moments from generation to generation. The company is boldly aiming at the global luxury jewellery market with protected technology and strong emotions as its strengths. Legal and IPR partner Kolster ensures that the big vision can come true.
Oulu-based startup company Cerenion’s C-Trend® medical device software makes it easy to interpret the EEG of intensive care patients. The company aims to license the brain function monitoring technology to major medical device manufacturers – with the help of IPR investments.
From tickets to pulp bales and servers – Confidex is a global pioneer in remote tags
Confidex got a first-class ticket into China when China’s Ministry of Railways wanted to use the contactless tickets of the Tampere-based product development team in train traffic. Efficient production and patented innovations in industrial remote tags set the company on a path to growth.
Take-off to growth! Kide Science makes children excited about science in both Finland and China
Children were the first to get excited, then parents, then financiers. The children’s science educator Kide Science is internationalising rapidly – with China as the driver of growth and good IPR protection in its portfolio.
TaiFin Glass Machinery developed a unique production technology and specialty furnaces for tempering safety glass and bending windshields – and immediately hit the giant Chinese market with its first order.
The earthmoving industry is going through a transition, and the smart machine control systems developed by Novatron play an important role in the digitalisation of infrastructure construction sites.
When a company possesses unique technology and strong patent protection, even a small business can become a global market leader. Pegasor has already attracted the US-based CoorsTek as well as big names of the automotive industry from Japan and Germany as partners.
Pike or barramundi? Rapala’s innovative lures attract fish and fishermen all over the world
Rapala, the world’s largest lure manufacturer, knows fish and is constantly innovating new products to the delight of fishermen. New innovations are now being fuelled by environmental issues.
When a secondary product turned out to sell better than the original business idea, Ekahau dared to change direction. A significant patent portfolio enabled the leap into new business and growth with the company's easy-to-use tools for designing and optimising wireless local area networks.
The ski wax company Vauhti Speed did not hesitate when new types of cleaner poducts were needed for the skin skis favoured by active skiers. As the COVID-19 expanded into a pandemic, the production line was harnessed for intensive hand sanitiser production. There is plenty of innovativeness for the upcoming ski season as well: the company will be the first to launch ski waxes based on new fluorine-free additives.
Did you know where in the world is the Silicon Valley of biodegradable medical implants? It is in Tampere, Finland. Arctic Biomaterials develops implants and ecological alternatives to traditional plastics there. The market is virtually unlimited – as long as the IP protection of inventions is in order for sure.
Oulu-based entrepreneur Marko Höynälä intends to revolutionise the microwave oven market and cross-country skiing with his patented IoT inventions – while also making life easier in developing countries with his smart pain assessment device. Having founded three companies, he has learned that a technology startup needs the support of a strong patent partner.
Only three years after its foundation, Aalto Haitek is making a major international breakthrough. Its ecological wave layered timber and completely new construction technology are of interest worldwide. The journey to the global markets is being safeguarded by patent and trademark protection built at Kolster.
Menstrual cup developed by a doctor is the trump card of a two-person startup on the femtech market
Nonna Heiskanen, a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology, has a doctor’s heart, but the blood of an entrepreneur coursing through her veins. Nomai Oy, a startup founded by two health sector professionals, developed a menstrual cup designed to conquer the world. Kolster protects the efforts with trademarks and design rights.
From a cap to a lifestyle brand! Tella is aiming to the international market
The manufacture of TELLA® artisan caps, which began a hundred years ago in Southern Ostrobothnia in Finland, transformed into an internationally growing lifestyle brand. The conquering of new markets is progressing in a promising way with brand protection carefully planned and targeted with Kolster’s trademark professionals.
Helsinki is Juneyao Air's port to Europe – Kolster as its legal partner
The Chinese carrier Juneyao Air launched direct flights from Shanghai to Helsinki in 2019. Helsinki is the third home base of the airline company, alongside Shanghai and Nanjing, and serves as a gateway to Europe for this airline company, which carried 18 million passengers last year. Kolster is the legal partner of the fast growing airline.
Polarmoss creates design products from reindeer moss – IPR secures growth in Asia and America
Reindeer moss is the gold of Hailuoto. Polarmoss transforms it into coloured interior decoration elements for the global design market. The journey of the design products from Hailuoto to the growth markets of Asia and America is secured by the IP protection of technical solutions and the brand.
Maritime innovator Langh Group turned competitors into customers by patenting SOx scrubbers
Langh Group is growing and solving its customers’ problems and aspirations for more environmentally friendly seafaring by patenting its cleantech innovations. Throughout its history, the business that started with industrial cleaning services and shipping has been built around practical inventions. The family company’s portfolio includes more than 200 patents.
Textbook example of brand protection: Mobile app Hookle gains traction on international markets
A year ago, startup company Hookle patented its user-friendly mobile social marketing tool for small businesses and partnered with technology giant Google. Within a year, the Hookle®App has developed into a commercial product and a fresh brand with worldwide appeal. Kolster continues as the company’s partner in brand protection.
VM-Asfaltti to patent a revolutionary method for precise patching of roads
In the 1990s, Marko Koivisto developed an asphalt patching method that became widely used. Because it was not patented, he did not benefit from his invention. Now wiser, Koivisto immediately turned to Kolster when he made his next patching invention. The patent for it is now pending.
Their domestically developed vegan food innovation is intended as a substitute for soya products and cream in professional catering. Finnish patent application has been filed by Kolster for the innovation.
Will the innovations of the Turku-based Montisera cure alcoholism, Parkinson’s disease, lower urinary tract ailments and prostate cancer in the future? Will we have new Finnish export products made of spruce sawdust? The company further processes and commercialises some of the most interesting bioactive compounds of university research, and Kolster ensures that a high degree of refinement is also achieved in the IP portfolio.
When measured by the number of invention reports, the University of Oulu is on par in innovation with US universities. The university’s research groups develop promising new technologies, creating new intellectual property and research-based companies. Kolster is a long-standing partner in protecting inventions.
Erikoistyöt Lehtinen Oy from Kokkola in Finland has decided to make the most of both sauna bathing and the protection of their latest sauna invention. The hemp sauna developed by the entrepreneur brothers Ari and Jari Lehtinen was recently granted a utility model. Kolster serves as a sauna buddy in the protection.
Idea-Keksi Oy refines innovations into products and reforms working methods
A multi-purpose work machine and antiskid technologies that have revolutionised environmental management services are hit products of Idea-Keksi Oy. The novelty searches and IP valuation carried out by Kolster have played an important role in their creation. Anything less than watertight product protection will not do for the productisation company.
iLOQ brought locks to the digital age with patents
Could an electronic lock work with the electricity generated from the kinetic energy of the key? This pondering gave rise to the Finnish success story iLOQ. The company is a pioneer in its field with its self-powered, programmable and patented lock technology. Kolster has been a long-standing IP partner since the company’s early stages.
Grip and glide! Vauhti Speed races to the global top of ski wax
Traditional ski wax company Vauhti Speed is going ahead at full speed. The cleaner and care products it developed for skin skis were recently patented in Finland. The products convinced ski giant Fischer, and patent partner Kolster is proudly following its ski champion’s grip and glide among the industry’s top companies.
Oulu-based UROS rose to become a partner to the world’s giants in record time
The mobile services company UROS is building the IoT ecosystem of the future. The company has become a respected partner to the world’s largest telecom operators and technology giants – as well as being one of the biggest growth stories of the Finnish economy. The foundation for the growth is the strong patent portfolio built with Kolster.
Amandan Healthcare developed the world’s healthiest shower
Panu Vapaavalta, an enthusiastic ice swimmer, became convinced about the benefits of the cold and came up with an idea about a health enhancing cold mist shower. The now IPR-protected Amandan® cold therapy method is ready to take an international growth leap, in which Kolster’s patent, trademark, and licensing professionals are a valued support.
Digitizer of seafaring tamed the ionosphere with its patents
KNL Networks, a startup company based in Oulu, is a forerunner in digitalizing seafaring. The company’s own field of specialization has been patented in cooperation with Kolster in a way that ensures freedom of operation and competitive edge in the heavily patented area of technology.
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Paint and coating brands in a managed way into trademark portfolio
The international paint manufacturer, Teknos, is enjoying huge growth. It is patiently building its IP strategy by trusting the strong experience of another traditional family-owned business, Kolster.
IPR protect the innovations of a circular economy developer
Ductor, a biotech company, wishes to solve the big challenges the world is faced with: How to stop climate change, manage the ever-increasing waste problem, and secure food production in the future. IP partner Kolster has collaborated with Ductor from the very start and is now managing the company’s worldwide technology patents.
Toyota's journey to the world’s most valuable car brand
Toyota has persistently fought against counterfeit products and trademark infringements, with particularly good results on the Finnish market. Close cooperation with the Customs and IP partner Kolster keep product counterfeiters and reputation free-riders at bay.
Hookle patented a social media application and charmed Google
The meeting room is filled with inspiration and hope as brothers Tero Seppälä and Jere Seppälä are envisioning the patenting strategy of their start-up company, Hookle, in cooperation with Kolster. The mobile application Hookle has already charmed the technology giant Google, and the patent application has progressed promisingly.
The success of Plantui's smart gardens has its roots in IPR
The indoor growth method of plants and herbs, developed by Plantui Oy in Finland, is making a significant breakthrough in global markets. The world conquest of smart home gardens is boosted by a carefully built patent portfolio in cooperation with Kolster.
Fashion IP rights of Saga Furs in good hands
The fur auction house Saga Furs brand faces constant attempts at unauthorised exploitation on the Chinese market. In such situations, the company comes out on top thanks to a solid IP strategy. This is ensured by close a cooperation with Kolster.
Butter & Egg Spread makes history – European patent opens door to the world
At the end of July, Finnish egg producer Munax Oy was granted a Europe-wide patent for Laitilan Kanatarha’s Butter & Egg Spread (Munavoi). Kolster, an IP expert, was involved in the process from the very beginning.
A glass artist aesthetised concrete and patented her method
Glass artist Renata Jakowleff busts myths about the aesthetics of concrete and the patenting possibilities in art industries. She is working determinedly on building her business internationally, and Kolster is a valuable IP and legal resource for her.
Ponsse: The ultimate protection for forest machine innovations
Leading forest machine manufacturer Ponsse and IP expert Kolster have found common ground in the forest. Because harvesters and forwarders rumbling among the trees are a genuine hotbed of innovation, outstanding expertise in intellectual property (IP) rights is a must for their effective protection.
BookIT: New business with partnerships and licensing
Jukka Salonen, a cowboy of mobile digitisation, has mounted his horse in Texas to put BookIT and the entire Finnish patent license and partnership business on the road to growth. Kolster is partner in the field of IPR and international patenting.
Serres: IP is long-distance running
Serres, a hospital technology enterprise from Finland has gained a strong foothold on global markets.
“In the IP and legal field, Kolster has shown its expertise. We have been presented with well-founded views on how to successfully run our business as regards protecting and defending our rights”, says CEO Mika Hagberg.
JUHA HUTTUNEN, CFO, SAGA FURS OYJ
"Saga Furs has long been cooperating with Kolster’s trademark, design and domain name experts in order to protect and defend our brand globally. We have particularly benefited from Kolster’s special expertise on Asia as 80 % of all challenges concern Asia. When registering a trademark in China, for example, you must be familiar with the distinctive names and subclasses of goods and services approved by the Chinese registration authority, to be sure there will be no gaps in the protection because of your lack of knowledge. "
JUKKA KOHONEN, CEO, JOKERIT HOCKEY CLUB
"Dozens of Finnish companies have joined the One Step Ahead in China project, which was launched by Jokerit with the purpose of exporting to the growing Chinese market. Jokerit chose Kolster as its partner with an eye on trademark and IP protection in particular. We hold Kolster’s solid practical experience and China Desk service in high regard."
HARRI NYLUND, CEO, LIGNELL & PIISPANEN
"Intense competition emphasises the importance of brand, design, and registered product names. We rely on Kolster's IP experts when it comes to brand protection and defence. We've received efficient and professional service as well as new ideas and perspectives. Those Have you thought of this -kind of suggestions have been extremely valuable to us."
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