BEIJER ALMA
More qualified students
Teach for Sweden trains teachers in new ways. The initiative – whose objective is to train motivated teachers to help more students achieve their upper-secondary school qualification requirements – has grown significantly. A full 20 percent of all math, technology and natural science teachers (grades 7–9) are recruited from Teach for Sweden’s leadership program. Beijer Alma supports this work. More of the Group’s managers have become mentors for future teachers. School classes are also invited to visit the Group’s facilities.
LESJÖFORS
Focus on expertise
Employees at the German company Velleuer are being given opportunities for self-improvement and to take new steps in their careers. Study visits to other industrial companies are one way to strengthen their expertise. Other employees advance their careers by studying at university for a master’s or technical degree, often at the local engineering college with whom Velleuer has a close relationship. The final result is employees who develop their own expertise as well as the company’s products and processes.
HABIA CABLE
Less scrapping
A review of processes has reduced the amount of plastic and metal waste at the cable manufacturing plant in China. Wastage occurs when changing between products. The implementation of new production start-up procedures has halved the amount of waste.
BEIJER TECH
More electrical power
To reduce their environmental impact, a growing number of Beijer Tech companies are phasing out fossil-fuel company cars. The Norwegian company Norspray now has four fully electric vehicles, while Lundgrens has purchased more plug-in hybrids for its vehicle fleet and is building charging stations at its major branches.
BEIJER ALMA
Soccer Without Borders
Beijer Alma sponsors the “Gränslös fotboll” (Soccer Without Borders) project, an initiative started by the Sirius Soccer Club in Uppsala to provide meaningful leisure time for young people in socially disadvantaged areas. One of the initiatives is “Nattfotboll” (night soccer), during which sports halls in the city remain open on Saturday evenings. The program attracts 300 young people aged 8 to 25 every weekend. Other related activities are also organized, including visits to Sirius’s home games.
LESJÖFORS
Saving energy
The UK company European Springs & Pressings reduced its electricity consumption by converting to LED lighting. Lesjöfors Stockholms Fjäder reduced the entire company’s electricity consumption by approximately 8 percent through improvement measures. In Germany, Velleuer reduced its energy consumption and noise level by further insulating its premises. Meanwhile, its sister company Stumpp+Schüle invested in new air compressors, which reduced its energy consumption by 5 percent.
HABIA CABLE
Joint research
Habia Cable is participating in a research collaboration being carried out by the Norwegian industrial research institute SINTEF. The institute works with development projects in areas like offshore. Some ten companies are participating in the collaboration, including oil companies and plastics manufacturers. One of the goals is to investigate how insulation material in Habia’s heating cables is affected by high temperatures and voltages.
BEIJER TECH
More automation
With help from a robot, Svebab is now able to pack hoses more efficiently and safely. Automated packing saves a great deal of space while also significantly increasing warehouse capacity. The work environment is also better since automation frees up space, improves orderliness and enables fire hoses and other goods to be handled systematically.
BEIJER ALMA
Solar energy
Beijer Alma plans to install solar panels and begin producing its own electricity at several of the Group’s facilities. Investments in green energy are expected to result in energy savings of at least 15 percent per facility.
LESJÖFORS
Reduced emissions
Lesjöfors has installed new technology at its facility in Changzhuo, China that cleans exhaust gases, and reduces dust and particles. Similar improvements have been made at Lesjöfors Springs in Slovakia. Habia Cable also has manufacturing operations in Changzhuo and improved its treatment of emissions at the facility during the year.
HABIA CABLE
Seaguard lightweight cable
Habia Cable has delivered another cable in the Seaguard product family. The cable, which is halogen-free and thus does not emit toxic gases in the event of a fire, is used in diesel engines and other marine technology. It is a lightweight cable that weighs 35 percent less than the cables usually used in such applications. The low weight contributes to reduced fuel consumption.
BEIJER TECH
Better work environment
An investment in a new 3D printer has had a positive impact on the work environment at Karlebo’s facilities. The binding agent used in the manufacturing process is an important input material. The new printer uses a binding agent with fewer chemical components, leading to a better work environment.