Picture 1. TKR is versatile for washrooms, garages, or technical spaces.

Founded in 2020, Lumelli Oy is a specialist in coating, sealing, and renovation construction, serving a wide range of clients from industrial companies and power and water treatment facilities to housing associations and consumers.

Lumelli has been a TKR partner for several years. Most recently, the company plans to add HVAC duct maintenance and repair work with bio-based coatings to its offering.

Cost-effectiveness and Non-toxicity as Competitive Advantages

According to Lumelli’s CEO Matti Romppanen, interest in TKR products was initially sparked purely for economic reasons.

“As a plumbing industry entrepreneur, I was particularly interested in improving the efficiency of floor drain work. The traditional chipping method was laborious and expensive – a day and a half of chipping meant approximately one thousand euros in costs for the customer. TKR’s alternative enabled the work to be completed significantly faster and more affordably,” Romppanen recalls.

While the initial interest arose from cost-effectiveness, other benefits soon emerged. TKR’s non-toxicity and odorless nature distinguished the product from others, as the solvent-free material enabled coatings to be applied in spaces where operations continued simultaneously.

“This property opened entirely new markets. Lumelli has implemented TKR coating projects in bakeries during weekends, for example, allowing production to continue normally during weekdays. Unlike with epoxy coatings, space users didn’t need to be evacuated due to odor nuisances or health risks.”

Cost-effectiveness in the Overall Picture

The overall economy of TKR coatings has convinced Lumelli’s customers time and again, according to Romppanen.

“From a total cost perspective, TKR is very often the most sensible solution. For example, in an industrial property where oils and chemicals have absorbed into the floor over the years, TKR simultaneously acts as an encapsulating layer. It seals gases and compounds rising from below while providing a durable surface.”

This same property has proven valuable particularly in building renovation projects. The product is versatile for washrooms, garages, or technical spaces. Along the way, there have been projects where all wet areas of a building are coated with TKR.

“If the alternative is milling, chipping, and using several different materials, TKR’s advantages include the possibility of implementing encapsulation and a finished surface in one go. Work phases are eliminated, making the solution both cleaner and faster for the customer.”

Picture 2. Coating saves bathroom renovations from chipping and demolition, for example.

Versatility and Durability as Essential Benefits of the Coating Solution

Over the years, Lumelli has found numerous applications for TKR coatings. TKR has been used in industrial spaces, residential properties, and theaters on various materials from wood to metal and concrete. Overall, TKR has proven extremely useful in many coating and sealing projects.

“One memorable project was coating a large shopping center’s supply air chamber. Schedules were tight, and no actual plan had been made. We were asked whether it would be possible to implement slopes, waterproofing, and a finished surface in the chamber on a fast schedule. We made a TKR-quartz sand mixture that achieved sealing, the necessary slopes for drains, and coating. This project tackled multiple problems at once.”

In addition to versatility, Romppanen has convincing evidence of TKR’s durability.

“We coated some outdoor stairs near Joensuu back in 2006, and they still look like new. Various stone mixtures can be mixed into the product to prevent slipping, making it ideal for outdoor use as well. An interesting example that comes to mind is motorsport – we have coated rally car wheel wells to prevent damage caused by gravel. An impact-resistant, elastic, and versatile product.”

Quality Collaboration has Bonded TKR and Lumelli Together over the Years

The collaboration between Lumelli and TKR has developed into a close partnership over the years. Most recently, Lumelli has begun offering ventilation duct coatings with TKR products specifically to solve fiber problems in properties.

“We are in contact with TKR’s specialist almost daily. We can test products either at their facility or our own location and prepare sample applications for customers. This is naturally a significant advantage when both companies operate in Joensuu.”

Picture 3. Professional installation ensures a quality and durable end result.

Professional use of TKR products requires expertise, which has enabled quality installation work and durable end results. The product’s domestic origin has also emerged as an important selling point, according to Romppanen.

“Even this morning I visited a large commercial property where designers and supervisors highlighted the product’s domestic origin as a positive aspect. Today we can immediately tell the customer how the problem will be solved and with which products. These experiences have been built as a result of years of collaboration,” Romppanen concludes.