Focus Industry driving the industrial transformation

The industry is of great importance for growth and development in North-Middle Sweden’s three regions, Dalarna, Gävleborg and Värmland. Here there is a strong and socially important industry which today employs over 50,000 employees. Focus Industry is a joint effort to collect and highlight the work being done around the transformation of industry in our regions.

The Way Forward

In North-Middle Sweden, Dalarna, Värmland and Gävleborg are collaborating as are their innovation and business promoters for the sustainable development of the industry.

What is Focus Industry?

More focused work is needed to promote sustainable, enduring and viable development in small and medium-sized enterprises in North-Middle Sweden. The regions therefore collaborate under the name Focus Industry. Based on the industry sector’s challenges and need for transformation, we see six prioritised action areas.

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Success stories

Competencies, Innovation

Värmland at the forefront of forest innovation

Värmland has extensive and wide-ranging expertise in refining forest raw materials. Biobased materials are vital in achieving climate goals, but there are also challenges that can slow down development.

Competencies, Innovation

“We need to think differently”

Holmen is currently exploring the potential of demand-driven, local 3D manufacturing of critical spare parts and components. "We believe in this concept. Not having to transport spare parts across half the globe is not only good for the environment but also creates local jobs," says Rune Jonsson, purchaser at Holmen.

Innovation

3D printing – a promising method for the future

In northern Central Sweden, new manufacturing methods are being tested to create cost-effective and sustainable products. One successful example is SSAB, which has developed 3D-printed tools with laser hardening.

Competencies, Innovation

Service delivery creates sustainable competitiveness for small- and medium-sized enterprises

To secure North-Middle Sweden’s competitiveness for the future, business promoters in Värmland, Dalarna and Gävleborg have organised training courses in service-driven business development. In simple terms, it is about increasing companies’ profitability by developing value-adding offers with the customer’s needs in focus. “This training opened up the mind to how you can work with services,” says Lina Bylund, who completed the training.

Competencies

How North-Middle Sweden is investing in the development of industry skills

The industry in Dalarna, Värmland and Gävleborg have similar challenges and opportunities when it comes to securing the industry’s needs for skills and manpower. Collaboration can help to create an attractive industrial region, and several initiatives are underway in North-Middle Sweden to move forward. “It is important to meet the existing need for competence,” says Christer Rosén, who is involved in a new adult training programme to train sawmill operators.

Internationalisation

Export giant with global impact

In North-Middle Sweden, where steel, paper and wood products meet ground-breaking innovation, international collaboration is more than just a strategy, it is a vital factor for the region’s economic future. Here we explain how players in Värmland, Dalarna and Gävleborg not only adapt to the global market, but also shape it.