With vibrant colours, staff dressed like in a masquerade, and the message “Peace, Love and Performance”, Chemigate Oy’s booth at the Pulp & Beyond 2026 trade fair at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre stood out unmistakably. Such a bold presentation is far from common at a relatively small industrial trade fair, even one with such a strong international presence as Pulp & Beyond 2026.
Visitors passing the colourful, music-filled stand were naturally drawn in by curiosity. Chemigate’s booth was arguably one of the most visited at the event. Compared to it, many other stands appeared more traditional and subdued, reflecting the conventional image of heavy industry.
“We want to be different and express a more relaxed attitude,” said Maisa Kantola, Sales Director at Chemigate Oy, noting that standing out was a clear objective. And stand out they certainly did.
Chemigate, based in Finland, produces and sells bio-based technical products derived from starch and other polysaccharides. Photo: Simon Matthis
On a more serious note, she emphasised that their presence at the fair was primarily about “meeting people and connecting face-to-face”, as trade fairs are meant to do. However, F2F interaction is no longer as self-evident as it once was, she added.
“We are still very professional, but we want to create an atmosphere where it is easy to connect and feel relaxed,” Kantola added with a smile.
Since 2021, the Finnish family-owned company Berner Oy has been the largest owner of Chemigate.
Chemigate, based in Finland, produces and sells bio-based technical products derived from starch and other polysaccharides. Its main customers are in the Nordic paper and board industries, although the company also exports specialty chemicals to markets as far away as Asia.
