
Our History
From a blacksmith’s workshop to a professional military business practice
The very beginning of Frestems was in 1918, when Toivo Vuorenoja started as a blacksmith’s apprentice. This young man was highly skilled and productive, and being a blacksmith wasn’t enough for him – so he began inventing and developing many kinds of tools and products, which later led him to make stretchers.
After decades, Toivo retired and his sons Timo and Eero continued with the family business. Closing 2000’s the company vas divided into two separate, yet closely linked companies: Eero concentrated on making stretchers under the name Pensi Rescue Oy, while Timo started his own development of stretcher loading systems. Timo’s product was made for the military markets, under the name of Frestems Oy.
The company still runs by the family, now by Toivo’s grandchildren. Frestems has grown into the leading military-focused company in Europe, mainly for it’s stretcher loading systems. The strong know-how in ambulance systems has its roots in civilian markets, but the products and services has been provided mainly for military customers now for over 15 years.