Our Story
Born out of will to do better
Each IKI Kiuas is hand made in Finland with uncompromising quality. We strive to unite past with present; traditional smooth steam with stylish design.
Revolution in sauna heating
A durable and simple round form. Copious amount of stones encased in a mesh frame that allows air to circulate freely. These characteristics set off the biggest revolution in sauna since the invention of continuously warm heaters.
The potency of the IKI sauna is based on the age-old tradition of using a large mass of stones to store and emit heat. Tapping into this ancient wisdom, IKI brings the smooth and moist steam, robust heat and air rich with oxygen to modern day sauna-bathers.
Thanks to IKI sauna stoves and heaters, this exquisite sauna-bathing experience can be recaptured and replicated in any sauna of any size in cities as in the countryside on weekdays and holidays alike.
Every IKI sauna stove and heater is manufactured by hand in Finland from high-quality materials with uncompromising skill and devotion to detail.
Going against established norms meant that IKI was initially greeted with reservation and resistance. It took a while to break through, but it has been well worth the effort.
As a result, the legendary IKI sauna experience was born.
Milestones
Our journey so far.
2021 IKI innovates the Hybridsauna stove, KIVI-IKI SL
The KIVI-IKI SL fireplace sauna stove, with its large glass-fronted hatch, is a real eyecatcher. The stove is operated through the fireplace on the other side of the sauna wall, which means the sauna stays free of wood chips and scatter. The glass hatch functions as a great source of light, illuminating the dressing room with a lively glow. Inside the sauna KIVI-IKI SL provides the usual best ”löyly” in the market.
IKI Pro Series Launch
One of the latest developments was the launch of IKI Pro Series, a heater model specifically designed for professional use. These are heavy-duty heaters for shared and public saunas, such as apartment buildings, swimming and sports halls, spas and other facilities where heaters must endure heavy daily use.
IKI Float by Eero Aarnio
A newcomer in the IKI Designer Series, the Float is designed by Eero Aarnio, and manufactured by IKI Kiuas Ltd in collaboration with Ilkka Harju and Cariitti Ltd. The futuristic design and innovative lighting create an illusion of the heater being slightly airborne.
Having designed his first sauna heater in the 1960s, the circle was symbolically closed by Aarnio during Finland’s 100 jubilee year.
IKI Corner and Wall Mounts
The corner and wall mounted IKI electric heaters were brought out in 2015. Both are miraculous space savers for smaller sauna rooms as they can be installed right next to the wall. Taking up less space than other models they allow for more freedom in designing the sauna benches that go around the heater.
All parts of the heater are made from stainless steel with stainless-steel mesh in the front face. This allows the sauna bather to utilise maximum stone surface to create the steam.
IKI World Tour
During 2014, IKI Kiuas went on a world tour with a tent sauna to spread the gospel of IKI sauna bathing. The tent was pitched up in a variety of events, such as the Metallica concert during the Sonisphere festival in the UK, the Sauna World Cup event in Austria, and the Slush start up and tech event in Helsinki, Finland. This was also the year when IKI-Kiuas Ltd., J K Roster Ltd. and Kajosauna Ltd. merged. The joint business continues under the name IKI-Kiuas Ltd.
IKI Monolith Launch
The 2013 Habitare fair saw yet another grand launch: The Monolith electric heater, co-designed by dSign Vertti Kivi & Co, and a new addition to the IKI Designer Series.
Shanghai World Expo
IKI-Kiuas was invited to manufacture a custom-made electric heater for the Shanghai World Expo. A 28 kW IKI CUBE was installed in the VIP area of the Finnish pavilion, “Kirnu” or the giant’s kettle. The CUBE was formed by ten individual cubes and had the internal volume for 500 kilogrammes of stones.
KIVI-IKI Launch
A new wood-burning sauna stove, the KIVI-IKI, was launched during the 2009 Habitare interior, design and furniture fair. It was co-designed with the interior design agency dSign Vertti Kivi & Co.
IKI’s success was also reflected in the market behaviour and other manufacturers started bringing out their versions of open structured, mesh framed stoves and heaters.
Rising demand
Between 2006 and 2008 IKI stoves and heaters shot to fame when architects and interior designers took a fancy to the new model that simply looked different from any others. As demand for the stoves and heaters grew, the manufacturing plant in Pieksämäki was operating around the clock to deliver the goods.
Even to this day, all IKI heaters and sauna stoves are manufactured by hand to the highest standards in Pieksämäki, Finland.
IKI Pillars
The first IKI electric heaters were launched to the market between 2002 and 2004. The legendary “seven-and-a-half”, meaning the 7.5 kW Electric IKI was our very first model, closely followed by the tiny giant from the Pillar Series: 6 kW IKI Pillar. The Pillar Series has since grown all the way up to a 30-kW behemoth.
Even larger, more powerful heaters are made to order. So far, the largest one is an 80 kW Pillar IKI ordered by a Dutch spa. Its circumference is so great that the doorframes needed to be temporarily removed from the sauna room, in order for the heater to be brought inside.
The birth of the IKI
The story of IKI Kiuas dates back to the mid-1990s, when heat transfer engineer Jouni Kerrman started to develop sauna stoves as a hobby. Fed up with the standard models ruling the market, Jouni decided he wanted to develop a sauna stove that was not only durable but also delivered the very highest quality bathing experience. The core idea was to completely surround the source of heat with stones. The stones got the lead role and sheet metal casings were discarded.
A completely new kind of sauna stove was born. The secret to the IKI steam is in the open mesh-framed structure and the ample stone mass. The very first wood burning IKI sauna stove (as shown in the picture) is from 1996. IKI Kiuas, the company, was established in 1997.
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