An Olympian challenge

An Olympian challenge

More than 80 years later, maintaining the massive Helsinki Olympic Stadium still feels like a sport of its own – powered by Bosch Professional.

A massive job

Maintaining a huge sports building is almost like a sport of its own. Since it first opened in 1938, the Helsinki Olympic Stadium has played host to all of Finland's major sporting events and millions of visitors from around the world. The stadium covers over 90,000 sqm and is so large that walking around it daily requires a basic fitness level – the fence line is over 1.3 km long and every section is 800 m apart. Today, even after four years of basic renovation starting in 2016, maintaining the stadium still poses an Olympian challenge for its site managers. So much so, that Bosch Professional tools have become a "must have" for the stadium's managers.

Maintaining the largest stadium in Finland is an Olympian challenge – but it's easier with Bosch Professional.

Kari Partanen, Estate Manager of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium
There are 36,000 seats in the stadium. It is almost impossible to run extension cords to the stands. We need completely cordless tools like the GSR 18V-60 to move between benches smoothly.

Kari Partanen, Estate Manager of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium

At the tool warehouse of the Olympic Stadium, there are lots of Bosch Professional tools and a charging station for batteries. (PRO Stories)

Choosing Bosch

HELSINKI – When you're in charge of renovating and maintaining a sports arena as old and massive as the Helsinki Olympic Stadium, you're constantly on the run. Ilkka Rautakivi and Kari Partanen are responsible for keeping the massive estate in shape and making it presentable for the public. From fixing any of the 36,000 benches to building major events, Rautakivi and Partanen zip around the 90,000sqm-large property multiple times a day – often in a golf-cart to save time. Unsurprisingly, when they decided to choose a power tool partner, they opted to go completely cordless with Bosch Professional for maximum freedom.


The Stadium Association has an official partnership with Bosch Professional (PRO Story)

Completely cordless

Bosch Professional was a natural choice for the partnership, say Rautakivi and Partanen, because the tools and services meet certain requirements that are important for a massive venue such as the Helsinki Olympic Stadium. “It is almost impossible to run extension cords to the stands," explains Partanen. "For this reason, every tool needs to be cordless. So very early on, we decided that we are going to go completely cordless." The wide range of cordless tools in the Professional 18V System and Professional 12V System made Bosch an attractive choice: "Also, the fact that the batteries are compatible across all devices makes our work much easier”.


Kari Partanen, Estate Manager of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium
Bosch Professional offers a wide range of cordless tools. The fact that the batteries are compatible across all devices makes our work much easier.

Kari Partanen, Estate Manager of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium

Ilkka Rautakivi oversees the maintenance of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium, which has 36,000 seats. (Bosch Professional PRO Story)

Safety requirements

When Rautakivi and Partanen were considering their choice of power tool brands, safety was top of their minds. "Bosch Professional machines are committed to safety and durability," says Partanen. He particularly appreciates the high user-protection features developed by Bosch Professional: "Drop Control is highly important for us when we're using the angle grinder. If the machine happens to drop, it stops immediately and doesn’t start spinning around." According to accident statistics, one of the most common causes of injury on jobsites is due to angle grinder accidents. The team is therefore equally grateful for protective features such as X-LOCK, KickBack Control and X-Brake.


Partanen and Rautakivi use Bosch Professional tools to make work at the Helsinki Stadium go faster – like this golf-cart! (PRO Story)

Dust-free working

But safety features aren't the only way Bosch Professional tools watch out for their physical health on the job. When asked what his favourite tools are, Partanen immediately thinks of the SDS plus rotary hammer GBH 18V-26 Professional and the dust extractor GAS 18V-10 L Professional. "The rotary hammer is really handy when you need to drill concrete, which is what the stadium's underground interior is mostly made of," he explains. By attaching the dust extractor, they are able to keep their lungs and jobsite clean. "It enables dust-free working and saves a lot of time, as we don’t need to do any cleaning after the work is done. It is a highly appreciated add-on."


Kari Partanen, Estate Master of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium
Bosch machines are committed to safety and durability. For example, Drop Control is highly important while using the angle grinder. If the machine happens to drop, it stops immediately and doesn’t start spinning around.

Kari Partanen, Estate Master of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium

The GLM 120 C Professional helps Partanen take measurements quickly at the massive Helsinki Olympic Stadium (PRO Story)

Pocket power

Even the smaller Bosch Professional tools make tough work easier. Because the Helsinki Olympic Stadium is so huge, the team relies heavily on wheeled machines such as golf carts and sweepers. To switch out tyres, Partanen uses the GDX 18V-200 C Professional impact driver/wrench: "We work so quickly because this machine is cordless yet powerful." Another tool in constant use is the GLM 120 C Professional laser measure, which fits neatly in Partanen's pocket. "It is a great help when we're building for the many, many events that happen here," he explains. "For example, we often need to measure the stage, gateway, or height of a room... Having the tool in my pocket is much faster than digging up the info from a blueprint."


The GDX 18V-200 C Professional is indispensable for maintaining multiple vehicles at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium (PRO Story)

A dream to maintain

As maintaining the stadium is tough enough, the last thing Rautakivi and Partanen need is to worry about maintaining their power tools. For that reason, they prize the lifecycle and durability of Bosch power tools. "Things run smoothly with Bosch," say the duo. "Machine maintenance works well, spare parts are easy to get, and maintenance only takes a couple of days." The partnership with Bosch Professional ensures they will be the first to know about new tools, keeping their toolkit updated. Even better: Retailers ocassionally do partner giveaways, such as free chargers, through a benefits programme that helps lower costs. All in all, Rautakivi looks proud: "We certainly have the finest tool room in Finland."


Ilkka Rautakivi, Estate & Security Manager of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium
Partnerships make our work easier. Bosch Professional was a natural choice for us as there are countless special requirements in a massive venue such as the Olympic Stadium.

Ilkka Rautakivi, Estate & Security Manager of the Helsinki Olympic Stadium

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