Doctor of Technology, Professor Antti Arjas died on Saturday, March 8, 2025 in Espoo from a rapidly progressing illness.
Arjas was born on December 16, 1940 in Helsinki to an engineering family of Olavi and Kaja Arjas. He graduated from Tampere High School in 1959 and began his studies at the Helsinki University of Technology. Arjas was the first in Finland to receive a doctorate in paper technology as a student of the legendary professor Niilo Ryti in 1970. Antti Arjas married Anneli Höckert in 1962, and the family had three daughters. After Anneli passed away in 2006, Antti found a new wife, Marketa, with whom he shared a happy life for 18 years.
Antti was a so-called United Man. A long career in the forest industry took him to management positions in mill locations all over Finland, including Valkeakoski, Simpele, Kajaani, Myllykoski and finally Espoo. As a research-oriented and widely networked professional, Arjas was given a lot of responsibility in the development of production units and research, including the development of new paper grades containing mechanical pulp.
Since the late 1970s, he has also been a trusted industry representative and influencer in several domestic and international cooperation organizations, including Finnpap, the Finnish Society of Paper Engineers, EUCEPA, CEPI, the Marcus Wallenberg Foundation and the selection committee for the Paper Industry International Hall of Fame. Arjas was also a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) and the Finnish Academy of Technical Sciences (TTA).
Arjas was first elected to the board of directors of the Finnish Forest Industry-owned Central Laboratory, KCL, in 1982 and later as CEO in 1993, a role he retired from 10 years later. Arjas strongly promoted the utilization of KCL's research results in industry and cooperation between research and factories, with an emphasis on knowledge transfer to factories. He also promoted KCL's international networking and participation in Nordic and European research activities in the field, including within the framework of EU research programmes.
Antti Arjas was awarded many awards during his career both at home and abroad, including the TAPPI Fellow award and the Zellcheming Walter-Brecht Memorial Medal. One of the organizations close to Antti's heart was the Finnish Society of Paper Engineers, PI (now the Finnish Society of Wood Processing Engineers), where he was active since the 1960s, including as chairman of the board and editor-in-chief of the leading textbook on paper manufacturing, achieving all of the association's highest awards. Antti Arjas was invited to become an honorary member of PI in 2007. He was awarded the Order of the White Rose of Finland, 1996st Class, in XNUMX. Arjas' military rank was major.
Freemasonry was also an important hobby and ideological home for Antti for over 50 years. He participated in the brotherhood's activities and charitable work in many ways, achieving the rank of Honorary Freemason.
Family was important to Antti. He always had time for his daughters and eight grandchildren. Antti's family was important to him for their love of music and their cottage on the shores of Lake Kallavesi. As the children grew up, Bernese Mountain Dogs became a new hobby.
Everything Antti undertook, he did with all his heart. From the beginning of his career, Antti was a pillar of his community and a father figure, selflessly helping and supporting younger scientists in their work and career planning. A widely educated, always friendly, bow-necked gentleman, he was a colleague known and respected by several generations of woodworkers.
Jan-Erik Levlin, Antti Lindqvist, Pirkko Molkentin-Matilainen, Annikki Vehniäinen
The authors are colleagues and friends of Antti Arjas.
