Teamwork drives Siwertell technology success

2 Dec 2024

This year marks an important milestone for Bruks Siwertell Group’s Bjuv-based business unit in Sweden, Bruks Siwertell AB; the birthplace of Siwertell technology. It is celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of Siwertell ship unloaders and the Siwertell brand.

Few technologies have done as much as Siwertell ship unloaders to transform the dry bulk handling landscape. This is not just in terms of environmental capabilities, such as eliminating spillage and minimizing dust emissions, but extends to setting market-leading through-ship efficiencies, which have revolutionized jetty utilization rates, vessel turnarounds and the profitability of port terminals. 

There is a lot to be proud of, and none are more so than Bruks Siwertell AB’s nine company directors; each head-up key activities within the business unit, from human resources, technical development, sales, service, and purchasing, to finance, with Jonas Fack, Managing Director and President of Bruks Siwertell AB, overseeing the company as a whole.

Strength of a team

Fack has served the company for over three decades, starting in 1994 as a product manager, and notes how his decision making is informed by many factors. “Military service as a paratrooper taught me the importance of teamwork; nothing is stronger than the weakest link, and a team’s ability is always larger than the sum of its individuals. A university degree in industrial engineering and management has given me analytical strengths, and competing in individual sports, such as sailing and golf when growing up, has taught me to trust in my own abilities. 

“The combination of these gave me a solid platform from which to grow, along with the influence of ‘good’ leaders at the start of my professional career. All have proved their worth when changing screw conveyors in the jungle, unloading ships in the middle of the night, as well as negotiating challenging multimillion-dollar contracts.”

Fack is not alone in his decades of service. At forty years, Katarina Åkesson, Human Resources (HR) Director, is Bruks Siwertell AB’s longest-serving board member, always seeing its capacity for teamwork and the inspiration of individual people as two of Bruks Siwertell’s greatest assets.

“Although I do not work on the technical side of the business, we all have an understanding of the technology that we offer. We work as a team, and this is no different in the boardroom. It is important that we have different experiences and backgrounds, from engineering, to finance and strategy, so that together we can find the best solution,” says Åkesson.

“As for the future, it is vital for the company that we maintain our high levels of competence with regard to mechanical and electrical engineering, wear parts, as well as in automation and digitalization. Our personnel need to be at the forefront of dry bulk handling technology, so that we can continue to serve the global industry in the decades to come. The right recruitment policies and the wellbeing of our personnel are central to this,” she adds.

Pioneering in new markets

Also noting the company’s pioneering spirit is Jens Lindell-Frantz, Purchasing Director, Bruks Siwertell AB, who started his Bruks Siwertell career as project purchaser in 1993. “We pioneered screw-conveyor unloaders and its key technology, the counter-rotating inlet feeder, which is the basis for an efficient Siwertell ship unloader. Our technology is still the market leader; Siwertell is the original screw-type unloader. 

“If I had to highlight three reasons why an operator should invest in Siwertell technology, I would nominate: efficiency, environmental protection and safety,” he continues. “My hope is that we move the industry success that we have had in coal handling to others, and continue to pioneer in more sustainable energy markets, such as biomass handling.”

Knowledge builds confidence

Understanding the nuts-and-bolts of the technology is Per Hansson, Sales Director, Bruks Siwertell AB, who started work within the service department as a key account manager in 2006. He notes that this was a pivotal learning experience.  

“Working in the field means that you are continually thrust into numerous, often new, challenges, that provide a spectrum of experiences, which span from triumphant achievements to monumental obstacles, each contributing and building on your individual knowledge and character. 

“To take the lead, and make a decision, is all about being confident, whether it is an idea, problem-solving or an emergency situation that requires a split-second decision,” Hansson says. “This confidence comes through experience, listening and discussing, and trust in your colleagues. Decisions are rarely a one-person show, they are based on a collective effort.”

Overseeing some of the company’s largest customer projects during his 33 years working with Siwertell products is Lars Melander, Finance Director and Deputy Managing Director, Bruks Siwertell AB. 

“More than three decades of working with Siwertell products and the company has shown me the depth of dedication of all our personnel and their wish to achieve the best solution for a customer; we never walk away from challenging situations, we fix any issues that our customers face, and work hard for resolutions. We keep our promises,” Melander says proudly.

Pivotal commercial success

Also sharing pivotal moments in the company’s history is Jan Karlsson, Sales Director APAC, Bruks Siwertell AB, including the sale and installation of the very first mobile Siwertell unloader in 1991. 

“It was an incredibly proud moment for us all to see it up and running. The installation represented the true commercial start of our successful range of road-mobile ship unloading technology. I believe that its introduction has been a notable moment in the company’s development.

“Given my long experience with Siwertell technology, I can see how our customers pretty quickly benefit from installing our technology after start up, and those benefits have extended to the communities they serve as well,” says Karlsson.

Promises to deliver

Jonas Andersson, Technical Director, Bruks Siwertell AB, has dedicated his entire working career to screw conveyor technology, and developing advances that promise to deliver operational and efficiency benefits to dry bulk handling customers worldwide. He started working with Siwertell products in 2004.

“The past fifty years has seen significant changes,” notes Andersson. “There has been a large expansion of our product portfolio not only in size and capacity, but also in the development of new types of equipment such as road-mobile and port-mobile ship unloading systems, ship loaders, and terminal equipment. 

“I feel that it is important to note that all the mechanical design work is carried out in-house, so we have a real sense of ownership of these developments and enormous pride in seeing their successful application in industry. We have always been a front-runner. I hope that digitalization will help maintain this position and enable us to create even better machines,” says Andersson.

Customers are everything

A company is nothing without its customers. Daniel Frostberg, Service Director, Bruks Siwertell AB, understands the meaning of good customer support, working his way from a purchasing engineer in 1996 to leading the company’s aftersales business. 

“The delivery of long-term, through-life equipment support is a humbling experience. Our service business is built on trust and partnerships to ensure lasting stability for our customers. We do this with passion and integrity, and we know that we are nothing without our customers.

“As a company, we feel a collective responsibility for making sure that our technology performs to the best of its potential throughout its service life. I am passionate about ensuring that the Siwertell equipment that we deliver in one decade, continues to meet our customers’ needs in decades to come,” notes Frostberg.

Inspiring new voices

Business leaders not only drive the success of a company, but also preserve its spirit; company directors have often worked their way through various roles, invested their careers into a business, and are crucial for inspiring new personnel and leading with confidence. 

More about the stories and legacy of Bruks Siwertell AB and its directors are being published on the Bruks Siwertell Group website, acknowledging the pivotal roles that so many have played in the success of Siwertell technology.