Fredriksons investing to promote a more sustainable future


Investments that promote sustainable business and long-term collaborations with customers are highly prioritised within the Group. Our aggressive measures must contribute to sustainable social development, strengthen the individual company and create the conditions for positive development within sister companies.

Challenging assignment
System deliveries of customer-specific products with a global market as a starting point form part of Fredriksons’ operations. One of their existing customers works with environmentally and financially sustainable solutions for storing energy from renewable sources, that is available where and when it is required.

Fredriksons’ profile, with wide-ranging expertise in the manufacture of stainless-steel products that satisfy stringent demands, corresponded closely with the customer’s fundamental needs. Fredriksons also offers a quality assurance system and the management of the entire manufacturing chain, which appealed to the customer. Linus Elf, Project Manager at Fredriksons in Vadstena, explains that it was not certain that the company would take on the assignment, however.

“We actually declined when we were first asked. The reasons for this were the physical size of the product as well as the complexity of the project. Even though the product itself is well suited to our operations, a considerable amount of deliberation was required before we finally came to an agreement.”

Collaboration and commitment
The collaboration with the customer was initiated and a production base was developed in line with the requirement specification. Various solutions were discussed, and the details were fine-tuned jointly in order to arrive at both a successful production process and good functionality. For example, issues were explored regarding how the product should be put together rationally and paced optimally in a production line. Prototypes were developed and preproduction series were launched.

“Following the initial work, we experimented with the dynamic elements in the project group,” explains Linus. “Working on the basis of our differing perspectives and areas of expertise, we came to an agreement on what we considered was the best way of executing the project. We have constantly maintained a close dialogue with the customer, which has provided us with a good understanding of each other’s challenges. Working together to resolve such a complex task has also generated a high level of commitment within our respective companies.”

Lessons from XANO Academy
During the time that the project has been running, Linus has taken part in a management programme within XANO Academy. Converting the theory he has learned directly into practice has created better conditions for building a well-functioning team at Fredriksons, for example. 

“In XANO Academy, we have been provided with tools that have benefited me greatly in my day-to-day work,” considers Linus. “For example, new insights have helped me to see how different skills can match each other in a progressive manner. I am proud of the project group that has emerged. Both in terms of the way we have identified a working method that works for this unique project, and the way we have done this together.”

Producing ripples
During 2022, Fredriksons has carried out extensive investments and other preparations for effective production. Changes have been made to the layout in existing operations, and new factory space has been completed and equipped with robots and production lines. Skills levels have also been strengthened in various ways, for example in the form of training in new welding technology.

  

“We have invested in a robotic welding technology, forceTig, which delivers both high quality and a rapid process,” says Linus. “The technology is fairly unusual, yet is of interest in areas such as foodtech and medtech, where there are stringent demands as regards finish. When it comes to physically large products requiring a large amount of welding, as in this case, speed is also crucial.” 

January 2023 saw the start of production for the project, which the parties involved view as being one step closer to accessible renewable energy.

“The soft parameters for the project, such as knowledge and experience, will produce ripples far into the future,” continues Linus. “Along with new technology, these are factors that we can apply in future assignments. Our entire operation has been positively impacted, making this a sustainable investment in many ways.”