HISTORY<\/h1><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"http:\/\/leoko.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Perustaja.jpg\")
<\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div>Leo Koivunen<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Founder<\/p>\n
<\/p><\/h3><\/div>
Leo Koivunen, from Tampere, founded the company that specializes in manufacturing weightlifting and powerlifting equipment in 1976.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"http:\/\/leoko.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Leo_suunnittelijana_Valtion_Lentokonetehtaalla_1948_300x469.jpg\")
<\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div>Leo in the development department at Valmet.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>First discs<\/p>\n
<\/p><\/h3><\/div>
Leoko’s story started already in the 1950s and 1960s when major championship medalist Juhani Vellamo worked in the development department at Valmet with Leo Koivunen. Juhani asked Leo whether discs could be casted in his Leo’s father’s foundry for weightlifters.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"http:\/\/leoko.fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Leo_valimohommissa_421x300-300x214.jpg\")
<\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div>Leo working in the foundry<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Test discs made of cement<\/h3><\/div>First test discs were made of cement into which medal powder was added. Word got around and weightlifters started asking Leo also for bars.<\/p>\n
The foundry was sold in the 1970s and Leo concentrated on developing lifting equipment with the people from sports club Tampereen Pyrint\u00f6. Champion lifters Eino M\u00e4kinen and Jaakko Kailaj\u00e4rvi were actively involved in development, and lifters at the gym in Ratina tested the bars and discs. Leo used to joke that it was his job to develop equipment that the customers were trying to break.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div>Leo Koivunen<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Founder<\/p>\n <\/p><\/h3><\/div> Leo Koivunen, from Tampere, founded the company that specializes in manufacturing weightlifting and powerlifting equipment in 1976.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Leo in the development department at Valmet.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> First discs<\/p>\n <\/p><\/h3><\/div> Leoko’s story started already in the 1950s and 1960s when major championship medalist Juhani Vellamo worked in the development department at Valmet with Leo Koivunen. Juhani asked Leo whether discs could be casted in his Leo’s father’s foundry for weightlifters.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Leo working in the foundry<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> First test discs were made of cement into which medal powder was added. Word got around and weightlifters started asking Leo also for bars.<\/p>\n The foundry was sold in the 1970s and Leo concentrated on developing lifting equipment with the people from sports club Tampereen Pyrint\u00f6. Champion lifters Eino M\u00e4kinen and Jaakko Kailaj\u00e4rvi were actively involved in development, and lifters at the gym in Ratina tested the bars and discs. Leo used to joke that it was his job to develop equipment that the customers were trying to break.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/a><\/span><\/div><\/div>Test discs made of cement<\/h3><\/div>