Meet Katja Santamäki
Katja Santamäki first stepped into the tervakoski mill in 2003 as a student – and never really left. What began as a study visit turned into a career spanning more than two decades in quality assurance, shaped by curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning.
Today, Katja gives us a personal look behind the scenes at delfort – what has changed, what has stayed the same, and what makes the journey worthwhile.
Name
Katja Santamäki
Position
laborant QA
Location
tervakoski
team delfort since
2003
energy source
nature & people
balance secret
weekly yoga
Do you remember your first impression of delfort?
I do, actually – surprisingly clearly. I visited tervakoski as a student, and what struck me immediately was the atmosphere. It felt genuinely welcoming and down-to-earth. People were approachable, and there was a sense that everyone was working together. That stayed with me, and shortly after, I came back as an intern. Looking back, that moment really set the direction for everything that followed.
How has your journey evolved over the past 20 years?
It’s been anything but linear – and that’s what I love about it. I’ve worked in the mill laboratory, as a process laboratory technician, and today in quality assurance as a research laboratory technician. Along the way, I’ve also taken part in system projects and now act as a key user for SAP in QM/QA/QS.
More recently, I’ve stepped into temporary roles in the electrical laboratory and Delsci, which brought fresh perspectives and new learning opportunities. That variety keeps things interesting and reflects something I really value at delfort: the encouragement to grow beyond your initial role.
What kind of support have you experienced during your career?
A lot, honestly. There’s a strong sense of collaboration here - people are always willing to help and share knowledge. You’re not expected to have all the answers; you’re expected to work together to find them.
Multi-skilling is also a big part of how we work. It creates flexibility but also gives you the chance to keep learning. I even completed a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology and Food Engineering while working, which I finished in autumn 2025. That deepened my understanding of environmental topics, risk management, and occupational safety – all very relevant to what we do every day.
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Bachelor’s degree
Celebration at delfort in tervakoski -
What changes have you seen in your field over the years?
Quite a few – and some of them are very visible. Digitalization has had a huge impact. The systems we use today make our work more efficient, more accurate, and easier to manage.
But one of the most important changes is in safety and environmental awareness. When I started, things were very different – no safety shoes, no dedicated workwear, and chemicals were handled much more casually.
Today, safety and sustainability are at the core of everything we do. That progress really reflects our commitment to performance, but also to responsibility.
How would you describe your team and the way you work together?
If I had to choose three words: warm-hearted, adaptable, and reliable.
There’s a good atmosphere – we look out for each other and support one another, both professionally and personally. At the same time, we’re very solution-oriented. When something changes – and it often does – we adapt quickly and creatively.
And reliability… that’s something we take pride in. Whether it’s quality or safety, we know how important consistency is. It’s part of our daily mindset.
What are your hopes for the future – personally and professionally?
Personally, I’d love to live even closer to nature. And maybe get a dog – something tells me it would be a great hiking companion.
Professionally, I want to keep learning, take on new challenges, and continue contributing to development work, especially in quality and environmental areas. Those topics are becoming more and more important, and it’s exciting to be part of that journey.
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