Media group Sanoma will close its printing plant in Tampere by year-end. The company began change negotiations in September and planned to consolidate news media printing operations at its Sanomala printing facility in Vantaa's Martinlaakso district.
After completing negotiations, Sanoma decided to proceed with its plan. A total of 65 employment contracts will end due to the closure. The company offered four permanent positions and 7-12 temporary positions within the organization to affected staff.
The plant closure means Aamulehti and Satakunnan Kansa Länsi Suomi newspapers will now be printed in Vantaa. Editorial offices will remain in their current locations, and distribution schedules will not change. However, production timelines will shift slightly earlier.
"This means some late evening news will not appear in the printed newspaper," said Aamulehti editor-in-chief Sanna Keskinen in a statement.
With declining print volumes, Sanoma stated it can now print all its publications at one facility. The company aims to secure the lifespan of printed newspapers as far into the future as possible through the Tampere closure.
"Sanoma Manu is one of Finland's most modern printing plants with highly skilled staff. The decision to close was difficult," apologized Sanoma Media Finland's News and Feature Business Director Petteri Putkiranta in the company's release.
Sanoma remains the largest owner of Finnish news agency STT. The consolidation reflects the ongoing challenges facing print media as digital consumption grows and print volumes decline across the Nordic region.