UPM’s Mikko Tirkkonen passes away

Mikko Tirkkonen was born in 1941 and graduated as a paper engineer in 1967. Four years later he was appointed to develop consumer papers at Raf. Haarla’s Tampere factory, later United Paper Mills. It was during his involvement in an air-laid paper project that, as the machinery delivered the first roll, he met Juhani Strömberg – after which in 1980 he became development manager at Raflatac.

Tirkkonen oversaw development of self-adhesive label papers with good printing and die-cutting characteristics, including both gloss and matt-coated papers. ‘Mikko learned that the best way to find out how well new products met customers' requirements was to visit them with rolls of material and test them on location,’ says Elisa Nilsson, VP Communications at UPM Raflatac.

The most important task in Tirkkonen's career was perhaps the development of Raflatac’s thermal papers. As product manager of this business, he also produced the content for technical marketing brochures which helped small label printers learn to control these demanding materials.

Tirkkonen's next challenge was the development of film labelstock, an area in which Raflatac had lagged behind in the market. Machinery and products needed to be developed, and again Tirkkonen had a pioneering role.

‘Mikko was an important person in the core team, thanks to which Raflatac rose from a small start-up company specialized in water-based adhesives to second position in the self-adhesives industry globally,’ says Elisa Nilsson. His last task was the development of UPM Rafsec’s RFID technology, from which he retired in 2002.

Concludes Elisa Nillson: ‘In his work, Mikko is remembered for being broad-minded and always ready for new challenges. He built an extensive international network and deep friendships with many colleagues, suppliers and customers. Colleagues have warm memories of Mikko, and are grateful for many years shared both at work and in leisure’.

Commented L&L’s Mike Fairley: ‘Over the thirty years that I have known UPM Raflatac I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Mikko on many occasions, both in Finland and at other sites, as well as at Labelexpo shows. Always very knowledgeable and helpful, we had some interesting discussions regarding label industry growth and technology - more latterly related to RFID. He undoubtedly played a major role in bringing the company to where it is today and it was certainly a pleasure for me to have known him.’