Background and business beginnings

The Virve ja Juha Montonen entered the firewood business in 2017 after a poor grain harvest forced them to seek new sources of income. They decided to sell their own firewood stocks and quickly realized the high demand for firewood.

In 2018, they bought their first Japa hydraulic log splitter, producing a truckload of firewood. Recognizing the need for more efficient solutions, they began upgrading their equipment in 2019. They first purchased a Pilkemaster Go, followed by the more powerful Japa 365 model the next year. After selling their farm in 2020, they invested in their first Hakki Pilke 38 firewood processor They now their third Hakki Pilke machine, which reflects their satisfaction with the brand and its features.

As their business grew, they acquired the Hakki Pilke 43 Pro in 2023, which offered improved efficiency and advanced features. With this experience, they were ready to further expand their operations.

The first years were spent working outdoors, but production later moved to the farm’s hall. In 2024, a new production facility was completed along Highway 6 in the Lappeenranta region. After years of planning and growth, the couple sold their farm and fully committed to the firewood business. Hakki Pilke machines have been their trusted choice, and as of 2025 season, they are operating a new Hakki Pilke 43 Pro to meet the demands of their expanding operations.

Investment background

The company prioritizes meticulous maintenance of its equipment and upgrades as needed. In the fall of 2024, it was time to look for a new firewood processor. Virve and Juha Montonen visited the FinnMetko trade show, where they carefully explored the firewood processor options offered by various manufacturers. Their choice once again fell on the Hakki Pilke 43 Pro, which they consider the best option on the market for their needs. The decision was influenced by the machine’s ease of use, cleaning outfeed conveyor, and feed assist system, which ensure smooth and ergonomic operation. The wide conveyor and joystick controls enable versatile functions and fast work processes.

All the firewood processing work is done personally by Virve and Juha

The new Hakki Pilke 43 Pro machine arrived in November, but no additional training was needed as it was identical to their previous model. Virve and Juha Montonen manage all the work themselves to ensure high-quality firewood – always clean, dry, and mold-free. Juha handles log sorting and loading onto the table, as well as transferring finished firewood bags to the drying area on their large gravel lot. Virve operates the firewood processor and ensures minimal waste by expertly adjusting the splitting wedge. Together, they manage firewood sales and deliveries.

For them, firewood production has been an inspiring way to combine hands-on work with customer service.

Future and recommendations

Their raw materials come from local sources, and while log sizes vary, all firewood is processed using a single machine. Hakki Pilke offers a comprehensive blade selection, ensuring that logs of different sizes can be splitting wedges to match customer needs. The entrepreneurs believe their investment will pay off quickly, as the efficient and ergonomic machine makes work enjoyable.

Firewood business challenges and competition

The biggest challenges in the firewood business today are the scarcity of raw materials and unpredictable weather conditions. Warm winters limit access to forests, while rainy summers affect the drying process. The couple differentiates themselves with high-quality products and personalized customer service. They customize firewood loads by wood type, length, size, and quantity, tailoring each order to the customer’s needs. Their new location has also attracted a growing number of pick-up customers.

Virve and Juha prioritize customer service, always taking time to engage with their customers. For them, every customer is equally important.

The company plans to continue focusing on high-quality firewood and expand her offerings with smaller packages to meet the needs of individual and pick-up customers. Growing sales and the declining number of people making their own firewood provide promising opportunities for expansion.

She highly recommends the Hakki Pilke machine to other firewood entrepreneurs for its efficiency, user-friendliness, quality output, and cleaning features. Her advice for new entrepreneurs is to start with moderately sized machines and scale production as needed.

Entrepreneurial perspective

According to the couple, the best part of the firewood business is the independence and the opportunity to meet a wide variety of people. While the busy season involves long days, the rewarding nature of the work makes it worthwhile. They believe exceptional customer service is key to success – everything begins with good collaboration, from the machine manufacturer to the end customer.

Background and business beginnings

The Virve ja Juha Montonen entered the firewood business in 2017 after a poor grain harvest forced them to seek new sources of income. They decided to sell their own firewood stocks and quickly realized the high demand for firewood.

In 2018, they bought their first Japa hydraulic log splitter, producing a truckload of firewood. Recognizing the need for more efficient solutions, they began upgrading their equipment in 2019. They first purchased a Pilkemaster Go, followed by the more powerful Japa 365 model the next year. After selling their farm in 2020, they invested in their first Hakki Pilke 38 firewood processor They now their third Hakki Pilke machine, which reflects their satisfaction with the brand and its features.

As their business grew, they acquired the Hakki Pilke 43 Pro in 2023, which offered improved efficiency and advanced features. With this experience, they were ready to further expand their operations.

The first years were spent working outdoors, but production later moved to the farm’s hall. In 2024, a new production facility was completed along Highway 6 in the Lappeenranta region. After years of planning and growth, the couple sold their farm and fully committed to the firewood business. Hakki Pilke machines have been their trusted choice, and as of 2025 season, they are operating a new Hakki Pilke 43 Pro to meet the demands of their expanding operations.

Investment background

The company prioritizes meticulous maintenance of its equipment and upgrades as needed. In the fall of 2024, it was time to look for a new firewood processor. Virve and Juha Montonen visited the FinnMetko trade show, where they carefully explored the firewood processor options offered by various manufacturers. Their choice once again fell on the Hakki Pilke 43 Pro, which they consider the best option on the market for their needs. The decision was influenced by the machine’s ease of use, cleaning outfeed conveyor, and feed assist system, which ensure smooth and ergonomic operation. The wide conveyor and joystick controls enable versatile functions and fast work processes.

All the firewood processing work is done personally by Virve and Juha

The new Hakki Pilke 43 Pro machine arrived in November, but no additional training was needed as it was identical to their previous model. Virve and Juha Montonen manage all the work themselves to ensure high-quality firewood – always clean, dry, and mold-free. Juha handles log sorting and loading onto the table, as well as transferring finished firewood bags to the drying area on their large gravel lot. Virve operates the firewood processor and ensures minimal waste by expertly adjusting the splitting wedge. Together, they manage firewood sales and deliveries.

For them, firewood production has been an inspiring way to combine hands-on work with customer service.

Future and recommendations

Their raw materials come from local sources, and while log sizes vary, all firewood is processed using a single machine. Hakki Pilke offers a comprehensive blade selection, ensuring that logs of different sizes can be splitting wedges to match customer needs. The entrepreneurs believe their investment will pay off quickly, as the efficient and ergonomic machine makes work enjoyable.

Firewood business challenges and competition

The biggest challenges in the firewood business today are the scarcity of raw materials and unpredictable weather conditions. Warm winters limit access to forests, while rainy summers affect the drying process. The couple differentiates themselves with high-quality products and personalized customer service. They customize firewood loads by wood type, length, size, and quantity, tailoring each order to the customer’s needs. Their new location has also attracted a growing number of pick-up customers.

Virve and Juha prioritize customer service, always taking time to engage with their customers. For them, every customer is equally important.

The company plans to continue focusing on high-quality firewood and expand her offerings with smaller packages to meet the needs of individual and pick-up customers. Growing sales and the declining number of people making their own firewood provide promising opportunities for expansion.

She highly recommends the Hakki Pilke machine to other firewood entrepreneurs for its efficiency, user-friendliness, quality output, and cleaning features. Her advice for new entrepreneurs is to start with moderately sized machines and scale production as needed.

Entrepreneurial perspective

According to the couple, the best part of the firewood business is the independence and the opportunity to meet a wide variety of people. While the busy season involves long days, the rewarding nature of the work makes it worthwhile. They believe exceptional customer service is key to success – everything begins with good collaboration, from the machine manufacturer to the end customer.

This customer story is an inspiring example of how the right investments and a commitment to quality can build a successful firewood business.This customer story is an inspiring example of how the right investments and a commitment to quality can build a successful firewood business.