A large copper roll has been set at one end of the production line
Copper strip slowly begins to be rolled for patination, where the pre-oxidised surface receives a natural greenish or bluish colour according to the customer’s wishes. Production worker Petri Jussila’s task is to ensure that the quality of the patination and the liveliness of the surface meet the requirements.
Aurubis factory patination is rapid compared to the natural patination of copper. Several rolls can be patinated in one shift, while the natural process takes several decades. Patination requires patience and precision to get the desired result. In highly automated manufacturing, the accuracy of production line set-ups and patina composition must always be ensured on a batch-by-batch basis, says Jussila, explaining how products are manufactured for architectural applications.
Patina is one of the unique properties of copper: it is formed when copper first reacts with oxygen to form dark copper oxide, which then reacts with the carbon dioxide in the air. The patina layer protects the metal from corrosion, among other things.
The patina surfaces created at the rolling mill of Aurubis’ Pori plant correspond to the basic minerals of natural patina.
Aurubis is the world’s only supplier capable of producing patinated copper strip. A few international competitors supply copper sheets, but they use completely different methods. Being able to do something fairly unique makes our work feel important, says Jussila.
Jussila has worked at Aurubis for 25 years. However, he has not spent a quarter of a century working behind a dyeing machine, but in a variety of tasks.
If I had worked with the same machine all this time, the work might have been a little boring. The fact that there are several different in-house positions available is one of the benefits of a large company, says Jussila.
Aurubis and Pori have provided Jussila with everything he needs. Jussila has not longed for bigger growth centres – or other jobs.
Aurubis is a stable employer, and Pori is just the right size for me. I have no complaints, says Jussila.
Jussila dedicates a large part of his spare time to his sons’ ice hockey activities and his own company-sponsored games. In the summer, he swaps ice skates and ice rinks for golf clubs and provincial golf courses. After about ten years of play, Jussila’s handicap is 18.
Life in Pori is easy: Pori offers all the necessary services and leisure opportunities, everything is close by, and there are never any traffic jams.
In addition, Pori has a large beach, which cannot be found anywhere else.
