Aniara awnings use ForMi natural fiber composite.
UPM ForMi, a natural fiber composite made from cellulose and polymers, has many uses. In addition to furniture and household goods, the material has also found its way into Finnish Aurelian's Aniara speakers.
The Aniara mini speaker is small in size, but its sound quality is comparable to larger speaker cabinets. Aniara is suitable not only for traditional stands, but also naturally for TV stands, for example, to improve the sound of flat-screen TVs. When mounted on the wall, it blends in discreetly with the interior.
“In families, wives dictate what can be decorated in the living room. In the industry, they talk about the WAF effect, the wife acceptance factor. Women appreciate speakers that are not noticeable,” says Antti Louhivaara, CEO of ASL Technosystems Oy, which manufactures Aurelia speakers.
"Aniara is a stylishly designed speaker that takes up little space. Bachelors drag phone booth-sized gadgets into their living rooms – and that's why they're bachelors," laughs Louhivaara.
The idea of using natural fiber composite in speakers arose when Louhivaara's former partner Peter Koljonen introduced him to new material.
“I was immediately excited about the material. It is very uniform in quality, and its acoustic properties are excellent. The material allows for many times the strength compared to regular plastics, and at the same time the sound spectrum is more even.”
Louhivaara looked at the available materials and found that UPM ForM was best suited for making speaker enclosures.
“It flows more smoothly in the mold and has better technical properties. It is also competitively priced.”
Think boldly
The collaboration between Aurelia and UPM is a great example of a partnership that is born from the bold clash of unconventional ideas.
“Louhivaara called us and asked about the material. We were surprised, as we would not have thought that a natural fiber composite would also be suitable for the production of speaker enclosures. We thought that the material would mainly replace engineering plastics,” UPM ForMi Business Director Stefan Fors says.
"The material's properties, recyclability and lower carbon footprint make ForM attractive. Its use can replace up to half of the non-renewable raw material for plastic. We already have over a hundred interested partners. Through international trade fair presentations, we have found new partnerships that we would not have otherwise considered," says Fors.
Louhivaara describes UPM as a reliable and safe partner, with whom cooperation has progressed smoothly.
“Our speakers, which are highly regarded in audio circles, serve as references for them for new partnerships, and our speakers, in turn, gain visibility at international trade fairs through UPM,” says Louhivaara.
Antti Louhivaara is responsible for the appearance and sound of the Aurelia speakers.
Soft voice
Louhivaara estimates that around a thousand pairs of Aniara speakers will be sold this year. In addition to the white and black colors, Aurelia is also bringing a surface-treated model to the international market, which increases the attractiveness of the design.
“Audio industry tests are an important selling point. Our speakers have won every comparison test we have participated in.”
According to Louhivaara, Aurelia speakers stand out from their competitors not only in design but also in their sound, which is softer and more immersive than that of their competitors.
"When designing the acoustic soundscape of the speakers, I sought liveliness in the sound, not just flawless and boringly repetitive coolness."
You can read the full article in the print issue of Paperi ja Puu magazine, 1/2013.
Text: Olli Manninen
Photos: Juuso Noronkoski
