One of El-Björn's larger industrial customers over the years is OKG AB and their nuclear power plant on the Simpevarp Peninsula outside Oskarshamn. OKG – originally Oskarshamnsverkets Kraftgrupp – operates here with approximately 900 employees under extremely stringent safety requirements. This is something El-Björn's sales representative Thomas Palmqvist knows well, having visited the site many times.

"The demands for order and structure are extremely high, and you notice it as soon as you arrive," Thomas explains. "From the very first meter on the premises, you can see that everything has its designated place."

Thomas is visiting to meet Magnus Helleblad and Jan "Svasse" Svensson, who work with electrical maintenance at the facility. In other words, they are responsible for the maintenance of a plant that produces much of the electricity we use daily at home and in everyday life. We take it for granted, but here, the responsibility is very tangible.

"All equipment must work perfectly during our maintenance operations; there really are no alternatives," says Magnus. "We must have high-quality products, and if something does go wrong, support must be readily available."

Despite the demanding nature of their work, the atmosphere is relaxed in the clean and well-organized electrical workshop at OKG, where most people seem quick to smile. The trust built from knowing and relying on each other plays a significant role, and from a Lean perspective, the close exchange of knowledge and experience is something El-Björn actively promotes. One way they build this is through El-Björn Academy, a training program that both Magnus and Jan have attended.

"It has definitely made us feel more confident in using El-Björn's products," says Jan. "It gave us the opportunity to gain both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience working on the equipment alongside El-Björn's own technicians."

This trust has led to a close collaboration involving multiple parties. Often, the wholesaler Selga in Kalmar, represented by Göran Thornberg—who has also completed the El-Björn Academy training—is part of the process. Typically, the collaboration starts with an idea from the electrical department at OKG, leading to a conversation with Thomas, who then contacts El-Björn's designer, Claes Gustavsson. Sometimes, OKG contacts Claes directly to discuss ideas.

"Magnus, I, or other team members in the workshop then discuss these ideas with El-Björn until we arrive at a good solution," says Svasse. "Selga then facilitates the transaction, ensuring we receive our customized products directly at the nuclear power plant."

According to Thomas, the process works flawlessly. He highlights the collaboration between Göran at Selga, the team at OKG, and El-Björn as an incredibly efficient way to handle business.

"El-Björn's presence in the market with their wide range of products gives them a significant bank of ideas for how these products can be used," continues Svasse. "Not everyone realizes this, but it’s one of the reasons why direct contact between us is so important."

The product range for temporary solutions is primarily aimed at the construction sector but is naturally also suitable for other maintenance departments in industrial and property sectors. Thomas mentions, for example, the power distribution units typically used on construction sites but which work excellently during annual planned maintenance stops as well as ongoing maintenance at a site like OKG.

This particular visit involved electrical panels placed in a culvert on the factory grounds to control heaters. The meeting resulted in customized stainless steel panels being installed. Additionally, a new type of electric heater was introduced, designed to "throw" heated air as far as possible. This also had a positive environmental effect, as they were able to switch from 9kW or 6kW heaters to 3kW units—quite significant when dealing with 20–25 units.

"It’s not like OKG is short on electricity," Thomas says with a smile, "but it’s important to consider environmental aspects in everything we do."

The final result was not only energy savings but also heaters with a longer lifespan and lower maintenance requirements. As everyone present concluded: It’s through collaboration and close partnerships that the best solutions are created!