Five Decades of Nordic Boatbuilding
Juha Snell Oy was founded on 1 December 1974 in Kellokoski, Finland — initially as a subcontractor for local industry. Within four years, the company had developed its first aluminium boat.
Today, over 1,200 professional workboats later, Faster vessels serve authorities, rescue services, and industrial operators across Europe. The same family. The same factory. The same commitment to building boats that professionals can rely on.
Timeline
Built on Experience
1974
Juha Snell Oy founded in Kellokoski, Finland
1978
First Faster aluminium boat launched: the Faster 440
1982
Factory moves to Rajalinna industrial area; purpose-built manufacturing facility
1999
Breakthrough into Central Europe: Faster 650 CAT developed for THW (Germany)
2017
Fourth production hall completed: current manufacturing capacity reached
2024
50th anniversary. Over 1,200 professional workboats delivered worldwide
Reference — Central Europe
Vessels for German Civil Protection
In 1999, Faster developed a dedicated catamaran workboat for THW — Technisches Hilfswerk, Germany’s Federal Agency for Technical Relief. The Faster 650 CAT was purpose-engineered to meet THW’s operational requirements.
Between 1999 and 2016, 188 vessels were delivered, the majority to Germany. This programme established Faster as a trusted supplier to European civil protection authorities and remains one of the largest single workboat programmes in the company’s history.
Made in Finland. Every Hull.
All Faster workboats are designed and built at the company’s facility in Kellokoski, north of Helsinki. Hull design uses 3D modelling software. Sheet metal components are cut with laser precision and formed on CNC-controlled machinery. Every hull is hand-welded from untreated marine-grade aluminium — heavier gauge than industry standard, chosen for professional durability rather than weight reduction.
Aluminium was the founding material choice in 1978 and remains unchanged. It does not rot, rust, or require painting. It withstands ice contact, hard landings, and decades of operational use. And at end of life, it is fully recyclable.
Heritage
Third Generation. Same Standards.
Juha Snell Oy is still owned and operated by the family. The company has never been sold, never been part of a conglomerate, and has maintained continuous production since 1974.
In 2024, the company celebrated its 50th anniversary — half a century during which it has never laid off a single employee, even through recessions.
That kind of stability matters when you are buying a vessel expected to serve for 20 or 30 years.
Faster 440 — the first aluminium boat, 1978
“We build every boat as if we will be responsible for its performance for the next twenty years — because in practice, we are.”
— Jani Snell, CEO, Juha Snell Oy