Wartsila Logo PNG
Marine engines and power plants are used in the maritime industry and at power plants, where equipment operates for long periods under heavy loads. These systems power ships and generate energy under various operating conditions. The Wärtsilä logo is associated with a Finnish company that develops and manufactures engines and power solutions for the shipping and energy sectors.
The history of Wärtsilä dates back to April 12, 1834, when a sawmill was established in Tohmajärvi in the Grand Duchy of Finland. In 1851, industrialist Nils Ludvig Arppe built a metallurgical plant on the site. This enterprise served as the foundation for the future corporation. At the beginning of the 20th century, the company developed into a modern steel foundry. In 1926, under the leadership of Wilhelm Wahlforss, large-scale modernization began.
In 1935, the company acquired shipyards in Helsinki and Turku. This move made it a notable participant in the shipbuilding industry. In 1938, Wärtsilä began producing diesel engines under license from Krupp Germania Werft. In 1959, the company introduced its first in-house developed engine, the Wärtsilä Vasa 14.
Since the 1960s, Wärtsilä has been active in the energy market. In 1973, the first power plant was built in Tanzania. In the 1980s, the company became an international corporation. Production was launched abroad, and the development of autonomous power plant solutions began. In 1990, Wärtsilä merged with Lohja and was renamed Metra Oy Ab. In 2000, the company returned to the name Wärtsilä Corporation.
In the 2000s, the organization expanded its service and engineering divisions. Joint ventures were established in Asia, and the British company Hamworthy plc was acquired.
In 2015, the company introduced the Wärtsilä 31 engine. It was listed in the Guinness World Records as the world’s most efficient diesel engine. In 2022, models running on methanol and ammonia were introduced. In 2024, projects for developing local power generation and renewable energy began.
The company’s net sales grew by 7 percent and reached 4.9 billion euros. Operating profit increased by 20 percent to 582 million euros. The order backlog reached 8.6 billion euros, confirming the company’s position in the global marine and energy technology market.
Meaning and History
What is Wartsila?
A Finnish engineering corporation from Helsinki that holds leading positions in the production of marine power plants and power stations. Its equipment is installed on 34,000 ships, and its power plants account for about 1 percent of global energy generation. The company specializes in four-stroke engines, ranking first in the world, and produces two-stroke engines under a Sulzer license. Operations are divided into three areas: marine power, energy solutions, and services. The first includes engines, propulsion, propellers, automation, and power distribution systems. The second covers gas and multi-fuel solutions, and the third concerns equipment maintenance.
1834 – today
By the end of the 20th century, Wärtsilä had again become the main name of the industrial group. Following a merger with Lohja in 1990, the group adopted the name Metra Oy Ab, while Wärtsilä Diesel, the division producing diesel engines, continued to use the Wärtsilä name. In 1997, the division merged with New Sulzer Diesel and Diesel Ricerche. The new company became Wärtsilä NSD. The Wave emblem appeared during the same period and later became common across the entire group. In September 2000, the group restored its historic Wärtsilä name, and the previously created logo became part of the corporate identity.
The name comes from the place where the company originated. On April 12, 1834, the governor of Karelia approved the construction of a sawmill beside river rapids in the village of Wärtsilä, then part of the Grand Duchy of Finland. The business later passed to Nils Ludvig Arppe and grew from a sawmill into an ironworks. The company adopted the name Wärtsilä Ab in 1898 and registered as Ab Wärtsilä Oy in 1907. After World War II, the site of the original plant became part of the Soviet Union. By then, the company’s headquarters were in Helsinki, and the historic name remained in use. For most of the 20th century, the company operated as a major industrial group.
The Wave symbol combined the marine and energy businesses. The blue oval refers to the sea, shipbuilding, and marine engines. The orange curved stripe represents energy. In one version, the stripe runs inside the blue oval, follows part of its contour, extends beyond it, and ends in a thin upward-pointing tip. Another version contains a light wavy line inside the oval. The overall silhouette resembles the marine horizon, flowing water, and the transfer of energy.
The wordmark contains the name WÄRTSILÄ. In the horizontal version, it appears to the right of the emblem in dark blue letters. In the vertical version, the emblem is above the name, which appears in black uppercase letters. The heavy serif typeface gives the letters “Ä” two slanted rectangular dots. Both versions combine the company name with the emblem.
After 2000, the logo was applied to marine engines, power plants, digital services, and decarbonization technologies. The One Wärtsilä Brand principle brought all divisions under one name. According to the company, the identity introduced in 1997 has retained its original structure. It continues to represent the marine industry, energy, and operations at sea and on land.
