Meet our team member – Ari-Matti Tuovinen, Plant Director

Spinnova’s team is growing through the acquisition of Woodspin and Suzano Finland. One of the team members joining the Spinnova Group is Ari-Matti Tuovinen, the Plant Director of Woodspin Oy and Spinnova's refining environment in Jyväskylä, Finland. Ari-Matti’s contribution to building, optimising, and identifying best practices for Spinnova’s innovative process has been truly invaluable. Below, Ari-Matti shares more about his motivation for initially joining Woodspin, his background, and his outlook for the future.

"I was motivated to join Woodspin and Spinnova by the pioneering technology and the opportunity to contribute to something truly groundbreaking. I knew this experience would be one I’d look back on with pride, even in retirement. Spinnova’s values also aligned perfectly with my own. Now, several years on, I value the relaxed yet focused work environment, where collaboration and a results-driven mindset ensure meaningful outcomes.

Since joining Woodspin, I’ve lived in Jyväskylä for three years with my wife, our nine-year-old daughter, and our dog. We relocated here for my role at Woodspin, and it’s been a great decision for our family. In our free time, we enjoy spending time at our summer cottage, which offers a peaceful retreat from work. I also enjoy jogging and actively participate in voluntary defence activities, which often keep me busy on weekends and evenings.

I would describe myself as someone who balances contrasting traits: I’m social and active at work, but I recharge by seeking calm and quiet during my free time.

With 15 years of experience in operational and project management, I’ve held diverse roles in the glass and food service industries before joining Woodspin and Spinnova. My career has focused on expanding production facilities and establishing new ones from the ground up, giving me extensive experience in factory ramp-ups and process implementation.

I’m passionate about continuous improvement and development—enhancing both technology and ways of working to support operational excellence. I would describe myself as a results-oriented leader.

Looking ahead, Spinnova represents the future direction of the textile industry. To remain relevant, the industry must evolve alongside others, with a strong focus on environmental responsibility and sustainability. Spinnova’s technology is truly unique and offers solutions to many of the sector’s most pressing challenges.

I look forward to continuing to contribute my expertise in operational development to ensure that the technology produces fibres with maximum efficiency and minimal waste."

Ari-Matti Tuovinen, Plant Director at Spinnova