The Rento sauna bucket is a timelessly stylish design classic in the Rento collection. The handle is made of heat-treated bamboo, shaped to fit comfortably in the hand. The metal parts are color-anodized aluminum, which enhances the product’s durability and gives it a refined finish. The Rento sauna bucket is available in many different colors, and it has charmed its way onto sauna benches in Finland and abroad. But what’s the story behind the Rento sauna bucket before it ends up being used in the warm embrace of the sauna steam?
Rento Product Manager Anu Nevalainen visited the origins of the Rento sauna bucket’s production at a factory in China and shared insights about how this classic was born:
“In September, I visited two different factories in China that manufacture Rento products. Part of our work involves regularly visiting our suppliers and partners in China. During factory visits, we can see the production and check the conditions in the factory and the production process. It is always very interesting to see our products being made and to understand the different stages of production. It’s also important to observe in person that, for example, workplace safety is in order, even though our factories are regularly audited by third parties as well.”
Following handicrafts and quality
At the factory, it’s possible to see how Rento products come to life in practice—step by step. Many stages are still entirely handmade. This not only ensures the uniqueness of each product but also requires special skill and precision from the makers.
“During the factory visit, I got to see all the different steps involved in producing the bucket. It was fascinating to see how many different work stages there are, and how much handcrafting—without machines or devices—goes into making a single bucket. Many stages are purely manual work and require precise expertise,” explains Anu Nevalainen.
In addition to its unique design, Rento promises quality. That’s why it’s important that product quality is checked several times already during production.
“For example, the bamboo handle of the bucket is inspected three times at different stages of the production process to ensure that no color defect, dent, or other flaw ends up in the final product. The work steps also differ slightly between light and dark bamboo due to the properties of the material,” Nevalainen adds.
Collaboration and new ideas
The significance of the visits isn’t limited to just monitoring production. They deepen collaboration with suppliers, help solve potential challenges quickly, and generate new ideas.
“Factory visits are important not only to understand the production process but also because they deepen and improve collaboration with our suppliers. Often, many product-related issues move forward during these visits, and possible problems are easier to solve face-to-face. New product ideas also often emerge on-site, which we can immediately start developing further.”
Do you already own a Rento sauna bucket?
