More than 300 family members joined the Family Day at Umicore Kokkola
Umicore Kokkola opened its doors to over 300 employees and their families for a special Family Day on June 7. The event provided children, spouses, and grandparents with a unique opportunity to visit the production facility and experience its daily operations.
A day centered on family and safety
"I am thrilled to see such a fantastic turnout for the event,” Pentti Vihanto, Managing Director Umicore Finland, exclaimed with a smile. “We crafted the day with family enjoyment and safety at its heart. What better motivation to prioritize workplace safety than the wellbeing of your own family? We also brought safety into our homes, engaging families into activities like making safety pledges with children.”
Exploring the industrial area
The day kicked at 10 in the morning as the first group eagerly boarded the bus outside the gate. Each bus was guided by a Umicore employee who enthusiastically shared insights about the industrial area during the tour. The unique environment attracted many curious visitors, eager to explore what lays beyond the gates.
In Finland, Children at Work Day is celebrated annually during Children's Rights Week. Recognizing the challenges of organizing such events in industrial settings, Umicore made it a priority to host Family Day, allowing children to visit their parents' workplace. For many children, the highlight was finally seeing the door parent walk through each day.
A glimpse into the future
During the tour, everyone learned more about our processes to produce battery materials for electric vehicles. Visitors explored our production facilities and laboratory, gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of our work.
They were given a tour of the new cathode material production line, a key component in electric vehicle batteries. In the photo, Niklas Jylhävuori explains Umicore's operations.
"My spouse works at Umicore as a commercial back-office team lead, and it was wonderful to visit her workplace with my family for the first time. Umicore’s facilities are truly impressive, and the expansive environment is remarkable", says Timo Hanhineva.
The visit concluded with refreshments and a speech by the Pentti Vihanto, Managing Director. Families were delighted to receive summer goodies to take home, and everyone enjoyed having their picture taken, proudly wearing work clothes and protective gear, or testing the firefighting equipment.
Aimi Dong, 10 years old: “The coolest was the laboratory, I would like to work here when I grow up!”
The day was filled with smiles and memorable moments, making it a truly special experience for all.