Saunasampo

Saunasampo Oy makes the Älykiuas, an electric sauna heater with a large stone mass of 160 to 300 kg. The stones act as heat storage and as a heat exchanger: with the lid closed the heater stores energy, and with the lid open it transfers heat from the stones into the sauna. The company states that the heater uses about 50% less energy during the heating phase than conventional continuously heated models. Models range from 10.5 kW to 21 kW, with digital or internet-based control.

The heaters are aimed at saunas with high usage or many users through the day, such as rescue stations, golf courses, police stations, hotels, gyms and sports centres, housing companies and workplaces. The website lists list prices excluding VAT from 8,500 to 13,500 euros, and offers installation, operation and maintenance guides and wiring diagrams for download.

Saunasampo Oy was founded in 1997 and is based in Hämeenlinna, Finland. The Älykiuas design was patented by Tapio Yli-Kovero, who filed it in 1987 and presented it at the Tampere invention fair in 1990. The first units were installed in 1994, including one at Hotel & Resort Vanajanlinna in Hämeenlinna, and the heater is also used in the Finnish Parliament's saunas.

Product: Älykiuas electric sauna heater (GL, GM, GXL, EL, EM and EXL models) with a heat-storing stone mass and digital or internet control.