It was a pleasure to catch up with Picote’s CEO, Katja Lindy-Wilkinson, and Senior Director Dawn Greig ahead of the company’s recent open house at their UK training centre in Sandhurst, Berkshire.
I began by asking Katja about her journey with Picote and how she came to be involved in the trenchless technology sector. She responded with her trademark honesty and humour, saying, “When I was a little girl, I definitely didn’t see myself working in this industry!” Her pathway to leading one of the most highly regarded brands in the sector began after the birth of her youngest daughter. Having recently moved to the UK from the US and still building her professional network, Katja reached out to Jutta Ehder-Lokkinen, co-founder of Picote and an old friend, who along with her husband Mika, had started a contracting business using new pipe coating technology in southern Finland. Katja joined the business as marketing manager in 2008, shortly after their first pipe coating project.
The Picote Katja joined, and has been instrumental in growing, was vastly different from the company we know today. Back then, Picote was solely a contractor in Southern Finland, innovating machinery and tools to allow them to renovate entire piping systems inside buildings. The company’s move into in-house CIPP lining and its strong partnership with Brawoliner marked a turning point, igniting rapid growth with the introduction of a manufacturing business and shaping Picote into the global brand it is today.
Both Katja and Dawn admit that it was never the original intention to develop tools beyond Picote’s own contracting needs. However, recognising the efficiency and usefulness of Mika’s innovations for their own customers, Brawoliner approached them to act as a reseller for the newly formed Picote Solutions, the sales and manufacturing arm of Picote. This led to the launch of Picote’s international sales division at IFAT on the Brawoliner booth in 2012.
Dawn highlights that this combination of contractor and manufacturer is still sets them apart. Not only do they have an active R&D division, but they also test and refine their products using feedback from their own contracting teams in the field. This direct, honest information loop helps them continuously develop and improve their offerings.
One example of early innovation was the Picote Smart Cutter™. Mika, a true problem solver, identified the need for an affordable, easy-to-use in-building cutter that was available in multiple sizes, with simple parts replacement. The Smart Cutter™ gained prominence when Picote entered it into the ISTT awards and won the Innovation Award in 2012. This recognition spurred further international expansion. Katja recalls how rewarding it was to return to Finland for the No-Dig Helsinki only 10 years later in 2022 and showcase “Picote Land,” marvelling at how far the company had come in such a short space of time.
Expanding into the US market was another significant milestone. For Katja, the US is almost a home market, she lives there and is married to an American. Despite advice warning them against entering the US, Katja’s deep understanding of the market convinced her that their products could meet a real need. Today, the US is one of their largest markets.
When asked what she enjoys most about the industry, Katja replied, “Constant innovation and the potential to do things better and more safely.” She goes on to say when she asks the same question to her team, they feel they are, “lucky to be in a position where we can solve problems for customers.”
Dawn shares that she always feels motivated by a recognition that they are really still only “scratching the surface of what’s possible with these products” and can see the difference Picote makes, both environmentally and practically on a daily basis. “It is about making a real impact on the industry,” she says, emphasising their openness to collaboration. Picote recognises the opportunity for the sector to work more closely together, to share knowledge, raise awareness, and drive product development, while respecting commercial sensitivities.
Picote’s unique selling proposition (USP) lies in its relentless focus on innovation, combined with a strong commitment to its people and a positive, collaborative attitude. The company is genuinely open, aiming to support the sector’s growth and success rather than engaging in aggressive competition. Their approach emphasises collaborating closely with contractors, prioritising practical solutions that “just work” safe, reliable, and efficient. Picote understands that contractors need equipment they can trust to perform their job with minimal fuss, which is at the core of their product design and company ethos. This combination of innovative technology, collaborative mindset, technical expertise, and practical, customer-focused solutions is what sets Picote apart in the industry.
When discussing the biggest challenge for the sector, which also presents a significant opportunity, both Katja and Dawn highlight information sharing within the sector. Picote addresses this through the Picote Institute, an educational resource designed to make it easy for users to access information and practical training. With a highly skilled and knowledgeable team with decades of experience in the field, the company operates three training centres aimed at helping contractors and clients use their products effectively. There is a strong sense of support, if someone picks up the phone to Picote, they can be confident that help will be forthcoming. This commitment to sharing knowledge and providing accessible training is a key part of Picote’s approach, fostering a collaborative environment that benefits the entire industry.
Following on from this, I asked Katja and Dawn what be the one that they would change overnight to help Picote, and the sector grow. As Past Chair and active Council member of UKSTT and Trsutee of ISTT, Dawn is passionate about the Trenchless sector and responded that she would like to see a shift in mindset and an increased openness to adopting new technologies. She believes this change is particularly needed at the government level, where encouraging or even requiring the use of environmentally sustainable technologies could make a significant difference. Both Katja and Dawn see a real opportunity to educate policymakers about the available solutions and their benefits. They also recognise that sector representative bodies could do more to inform and lobby the appropriate departments. Currently, trenchless technology can sometimes be perceived as a bit niche, and expanding awareness is crucial to moving it further into the mainstream.
Next, we discussed what the future holds for Picote and what customers can expect over the coming years. Katja described the outlook as ‘very exciting,’ with the company continuing to innovate in areas such as brush coating, CIPP lining, and high-speed drain cleaning. She also highlighted several recent product launches unveiled at Ro-Ka-Tec, where the Picote team showcased a range of new offerings, including the innovative Mini Multi-Cutter developed in conjunction with BZ BOTS.
This revolutionary mechanical multi-use cutter is designed for reinstatements, removing failed linings, and even concrete from mainline or stack pipes. Powered by the Picote Mini Miller +C, it boasts impressive rotational speeds of up to 2900 rpm! Picote also unveiled a new Lining Drum, thoughtfully engineered to include all the essential features their own lining crews rely on—while keeping it at an accessible price point. Beyond developing new innovations, Picote remains dedicated to enhancing its proven equipment and tools. A prime example is the introduction of a Spray Coating Head for the Xpress Coating System, which streamlines the process, making it even faster and more user-friendly for operators. These latest additions reflect Picote’s ongoing commitment to pushing technological boundaries and delivering advanced, reliable, and easy-to-use solutions for contractors.
Finally, I asked Katja what she is most proud of in her career with Picote to date. She responded, “For me, it is the fact that despite our rapid growth, we remain the same team of passionate experts. Despite its size, it still feels like the same business I joined back in 2008.” She added, “It is hard to believe we started with most of the team working from a shed in southern Finland, with Dawn and me first demoing products to people in our back gardens here in the UK. It is amazing to see where we are today, with a strong market position and great brand recognition. We are always a contractor at our heart and the Picote team sees the many untapped opportunities trenchless technology offers the world. We remain committed to innovation to meet these evolving needs, and we are excited to announce a new high-speed machine coming soon!”
