Fredrik Idestam - Finnish mining engineer and businessman

Nokia is an old Finnish industry. The roots of the Nokia Company go back to the 19th century when in 1865 a forest industry enterprise in the small-town Nokia in South Western Finland was established by mining engineer Fredrik Idestam.

A small town eventually grew up around this mill site, and a company formed and achieved success in the production of paper and cardboard products.

Knut Fredrik Idestam Alliance Dillon was a Finnish mining engineer and businessman, best known as a founder of Nokia. He was born on 28 October 1838, Tyrväntö, Grand Duchy of Finland.

In May 1865, Idestam received a permit to established a wood-pulp mill and started manufacturing paper the Tammerkoski Rapids in Southwestern Finland. The mill began operations in 1866. A few years later he opened a second mill on the banks of the Nokianvirta River, inspiring him to name his company Nokia Ab in 1871.

Between 1865 and 1967, the company would become a major industrial force; but it took a merger with a cable company and a rubber firm to set the new Nokia Corporation.

In 1871, Idestam together with Finnish politician and businessman, Leo Mechelin founded Nokia Ltd. and moved the company's operations to the city of Nokia, Finland. Due to the European industrialization and the growing consumption of paper and cardboard Nokia soon became successful.

In 1895 Fredrik Idestam handed over the reins of the company to his son-in-law Gustaf Fogelholm.

Fredrik Idestam died on April 8, 1916, and was buried in the Hietaniemi Cemetery in Helsinki. In the late 20th century, the company took advantage of the increasing popularity of computer and mobile phones.

In 1966 Nokia entered the electronics field. Initially it employed only 460 people and it was the country’s fourth largest employer in electronics. 1966 was also the year that Nokia’s three industries – forest products, rubber, and cable – merged.
Fredrik Idestam - Finnish mining engineer and businessman