Jaakko Lohjansalo is heading to new adventures
Jaakko Lohjansalo, better know as Jaska, the founder of Tamlans is leaving the company. We are going to miss him when he’s starting his new journey after the summer holidays. This story is written with respect and thanks to Jaska for his significant work at Tamlans.
Tamlans’ story begins in 1998, when Jaska founded an ambulance equipment company along with three other shareholders. The first Tamlans ambulance in history was made on the chassis of a Volkswagen Transporter. In the beginning Tamlans converted ambulances such as Mercedes-Benz’s Lang and Sprinter in addition to Transporter. Customers mainly were private ambulance companies, which at the time was typical in the industry in Finland. Ambulance businesses were often family based and transactions were often made at the customer’s home. Jaska became familiar to the whole family and could, as agreed, wait for his customers at their homes with freshly brewed coffee when the ambulance returned back to base. Trading has changed a lot since those times, today with procurement being public tenders and customers being large hospital districts.
In 2000, Tamlans began to equip also vehicles for personnel transport. The upholstery of Tamlans minibuses is designed by Jaska. During his career in Tamlans, Jaska has been able to practise his artistic side and workmates have named him the best ambulance designer in the world.
Today, Tamlans has the most comprehensive range of brands in Finland on the passenger transport side and the Amarok modular ambulance production line plays the largest part in the rescue vehicle department. In addition, we equip a wide variety of special vehicles. The Amarok modular ambulance has gained tremendous interest around the world and the most significant export market is Norway. There are also Amarok ambulances in a few places in Finland, and Finnish experience from experts in the field has been utilized in product development along the way. The cooperation with customers has been valuable so that the modular ambulance is as safe and as ergonomic work environment as possible. One American ambulance professional, Scott Cravens, praised the Volkswagen Amarok Tamlans modular ambulance as the most efficient and ergonomic ambulance on this planet.
Jaska had already decided in time to dedicate himself to Tamlans for 20 years and eventually now after two extra years it is time to move on to new adventures. From the beginning of August, you can find Jaska working as a founder and CEO of the towing and transport company Autoambulance Oy in Helsinki.
Jaska’s greetings to customers, partners and colleagues:
“Thank you all for the years that have passed! Even though the journey with Tamlans ends, the friendships that have developed over the years will continue as before! ”