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Rapala is a global household name, synonymous with premium-quality, high-performance fishing lures. With a 90-year heritage, the company now produces over 12 million lures annually at its European facilities and operates in 38 countries. However, the heart of lure manufacturing remains in Finland. Most of the plastic components for the world’s leading lures are shipped from Muottituote’s Korpilahti factory.

The foundation of this long-standing collaboration lies in reliability, partnership, and precision. The Korpilahti site in Central Finland was originally established in 1973 as KL-Teho Oy,  manufacturing plastic ice fishing rods. Over time, the production of lure components was introduced, and in 1988, Rapala’s factory produced its first fully plastic lure.

In 1994, Rapala acquired the company and managed lure production in-house until 2024. At that point, Muottituote – a long-term supplier of high-precision moulds to the factory – acquired the plant and its operations. Today, the partnership remains seamless, with over 90 percent of the factory’s production dedicated to Rapala products.

Technical Precision in Every Component

The factory produces lure bodies and components using both plastic injection moulding and zinc die-casting. In addition to lures, the facility manufactures various other Rapala equipment, such as ice drill components and tackle boxes, as well as parts for Marttiini knives and Peltonen skis.

Lure manufacturing is a high-precision process in which the compatibility of even the smallest components is critical. Muottituote ensures quality by managing the finest details of production.

“Lure bodies consist of two halves. To ensure a perfect fit, these halves are produced simultaneously and travel together through the entire manufacturing chain – from the injection moulding cell to the customer’s assembly line. This minimises the impact of material batch variations and guarantees component compatibility,” explains Kimmo Kurkinen, Plant Manager at Korpilahti.

Rapala Relies on Finnish Expertise

While Rapala’s operations are global, the brand is deeply rooted in Finnish expertise. Design, R&D, and the manufacturing of proprietary machinery and equipment are all based in Finland.

Furthermore, Rapala’s European lure production units are under Finnish management. When it comes to subcontracting, Rapala prioritises Finnish partners as a hallmark of quality and reliability. Having long supplied the majority of the injection moulds for Rapala’s plastic parts, Muottituote now also provides the finished moulded products.

“We demand exceptional quality in both products and service from our subcontractors. Throughout our long history, Muottituote has proven its reliability and robust technical expertise. Therefore, they were the natural choice to take over and develop our injection moulding operations,” says Arto Nygren, Director of Lure Business at Rapala.

“The collaboration is highly efficient. Repairs or engineering changes to production are easy to implement because Muottituote both manufactures the moulds and runs the production. Despite significant investments in the facility, Muottituote has maintained its cost-competitiveness,” Nygren adds.

Building Shared Success Through Investment

For Muottituote, working with a premier brand like Rapala is a cornerstone of its operations. The company has invested heavily in the Korpilahti factory’s facilities and production technology to further enhance quality, speed, and delivery reliability.

“Taking over Rapala’s injection moulding production was a strategic step in the type of long-term partnership we strive for. We can now offer more comprehensive solutions, creating a win-win situation where the customer can focus on their core business while we handle production development,” says Tero Vanninen, CEO of Muottituote.

Muottituote is involved in the development of new plastic lure components from the Early Supplier Involvement (ESI) phase, providing vital design-for-manufacturability (DFM) insights. The company possesses “tacit knowledge” of Rapala’s production dating back to 1979 – expertise that is invaluable in modern manufacturing and design.

“Rapala is a large, stable company with iconic brands, providing us with continuity and security. We want to grow alongside Rapala and serve as a reliable backbone for their production. We are committed to further investments and deepening this partnership,” Vanninen concludes.

Contact Information:
Tero Vanninen
CEO
Muottituote Oy
tero.vanninen@muottituote.fi
+358 40 751 7821

Rapala VMC Oyj: Founded in 1938 in Asikkala, Finland. Today, the company operates in 38 countries and employs approximately 2,000 people. Its brand portfolio includes Rapala, Okuma, Sufix, VMC, StrikeMaster, Marttiini, and Peltonen.