Sauna Stove Manufacturers History
This summary shows the founding dates and first sauna stove production dates of the oldest known manufacturers in the sauna stove industry. It highlights both company longevity and the legacy of sauna stove manufacturing.
By Company Founding (Oldest to Youngest)
1. Hogfors Ironworks (Finland) - Founded 1823
• General cast-iron stoves, used in saunas from late 1800s.
• No longer makes stoves.
2. Kastor Oy (Finland) - Founded 1916
• Finland's first dedicated sauna stove company.
• Still producing wood-burning sauna stoves
• Now a Sauna360 Brand – Watkins / Masco
3. Helo (Karjalan Sahko) (Finland) - Founded 1919
• Started as an electrical contractor.
• First sauna heater in 1949.
• Now a Sauna360 brand – Watkins / Masco
4. Nippa Sauna Stoves (USA) - Founded 1930
• The oldest North American sauna stove maker
• Producing wood-burning sauna stoves from the start.
By First Sauna Stove Production (Earliest to Latest)
1. Hogfors Ironworks - 1880s (cast-iron stoves used in early smoke saunas)
2. Kastor Oy - 1916 (sauna stove manufacturing since inception)
3. Nippa Sauna Stoves - 1930 (sauna stove manufacturing since inception)
4. Helo - 1949 (electric sauna heater)
By First Sauna Stove Production & Still Producing Today
1. Kastor Oy - 1916 (continuous production, still operating under Sauna360)
2. Nippa Sauna Stoves - 1930 (continuous production, oldest in North America)
3. Helo - 1949 (continuous production, major global electric sauna heater brand)