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FeedsHome: Issue 2 2010 › The road to success
The road to success
02/03/2010 | Channel: Business, Logistics
Svevia AB focuses on growing fromj its domestic market in Sweden into neighbouring countries
On the 1st January 2009, Svevia was established as an independent company. Formerly it had been known as SRA Production, the manufacturing arm of the Swedish Road Authority (SRA). The department was itself first established in 1990, becoming fully operational in 1992. From 1996 the Swedish Government began looking at converting SRA Production into an independent subsidiary company, alighting on a decision in 2008 that the company had great potential as an independent business. The name Svevia was decided upon, and the company has just completed its first year as an independent Government-owned company.
Per-Olof Wedin, appointed CEO of Svevia, further describes the reasoning behind turning Svevia into an independent operation: “Previously I worked for SRA Production, and we saw the opportunities that Svevia could seize as an independent company. After a lot of investigation into the market we became a public company. Previously, as a state-run business, we were not allowed to operate outside of Sweden, so any business opportunities in neighbouring countries passed us by. However the SRA Production arm has been in global competition with other companies for business in Sweden since 1992, so we have previously had to focus on business in this country alone. Now we can begin to compete globally and look at acquiring other businesses to expand the company, as well as continuing to increase our market share in Sweden.”
Holding the top position when it comes to road management and maintenance, Svevia is Sweden’s fourth largest construction company. Unlike the three larger Swedish companies, Svevia does not focus solely on road construction. Svevia understands that maintaining Sweden’s roads and infrastructure is just as important as construction work. In this way, Svevia is one of Sweden’s leading specialists in the field. Specialising in everything related to roads and infrastructure, from huge construction projects to the daily management of roads and other infrastructure throughout Sweden, Svevia operates all year round to ensure that Sweden’s roads are in the best condition.
Based on its history as a state-run road authority, the company understands that a successfully functioning road network is an essential part of the day-to-day running of the country and its upkeep is essential to keep everything running smoothly. Svevia is still responsible for 60 per cent of the maintenance of state road network, and so its experience is a huge advantage in its daily operations. The general public can be affected greatly by the state of the roads and the vast majority of the population uses them everyday. There are many different aspects to the Swedish road system, which Svevia can deal with, including strategic planning, road signs and road design specifications. Sweden’s roads are already safer than those in most other countries and international surveys have shown that Sweden has a comparatively low traffic accident rate. However, the government is aiming to further improve safety levels; the SRA works alongside many other organisations to make it even safer to travel on the Swedish road network.
Alongside building and maintaining road systems, Svevia also provides excavation and building work for railways, airports, construction sites, and ports as well as the management of parks, squares, car parks, pavements and cycle paths among other public spaces. Responsible also for the maintenance of public utility services, Svevia also provides support for water supply and sewage networks, district heating plants, hydropower plants and wind turbines.
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With so many services on offer, the company is hopeful that it has lots of scope for growth now that it is an independent company. Per-Olof describes its current achievements: “One of our major successes at the moment is the launch of our intelligent traffic systems (ITS). These are traffic signal control systems, container management systems; variable message signs; automatic number plate recognition or speed cameras to monitor applications, such as security CCTV systems.” Svevia recently launched the E-Road Safety project, which is the development of a new product under the ITS division. The device is a vibrating bracelet worn by road workers that warns them with a vibration, when a vehicle is approaching at high speed. The product has been nominated for Nordbygg’s Gold Medal for the best innovation of 2010.
Since infrastructure projects affect the environment, the green measures implemented by Svevia have a major impact. Therefore, environmental considerations are an integral part of all projects, as well as in production and materials planning. This allows the company to increase its efficiency and is further enhanced when Svevia uses its expertise in project planning. Optimising its current projects means that they run as efficiently as possible, and the company can minimise resource consumption and emissions of carbon dioxide.
The company is also developing new environmentally friendly methods and working procedures for road construction and maintenance, and is working in co-operation with municipal authorities, companies and associations to reduce the environmental problems caused by traffic. To determine what can be done to create a sustainable transport system, Svevia also conducts surveys to explore new developments, which could improve the national road network.
Looking to the future, Per-Olof describes the conditions of the market in Sweden at present: “As in all other European countries, the Government has increased its spend on infrastructure, so there’s a good supply of resources for us. Unfortunately the housing construction business is down, and so our competitors are stepping up their focus on infrastructure support. Whilst this signifies great opportunities for us in the market, it also means competition is tough, so we have to be the best.”
This year, Svevia will expand its operations into the rest of the Nordic countries. The growth will take place mainly through acquisitions, as Svevia has an aggressive growth plan. Per-Olof concludes: “We have a positive view on our future as we are very much focused on our infrastructure business and see lots of potential here. Ultimately we will focus on Svevia’s long-term development, starting with increasing the value of the company.”
Svevia
Employees 2800
Services Road management and maintenance
Per-Olof Wedin, appointed CEO of Svevia, further describes the reasoning behind turning Svevia into an independent operation: “Previously I worked for SRA Production, and we saw the opportunities that Svevia could seize as an independent company. After a lot of investigation into the market we became a public company. Previously, as a state-run business, we were not allowed to operate outside of Sweden, so any business opportunities in neighbouring countries passed us by. However the SRA Production arm has been in global competition with other companies for business in Sweden since 1992, so we have previously had to focus on business in this country alone. Now we can begin to compete globally and look at acquiring other businesses to expand the company, as well as continuing to increase our market share in Sweden.”
Holding the top position when it comes to road management and maintenance, Svevia is Sweden’s fourth largest construction company. Unlike the three larger Swedish companies, Svevia does not focus solely on road construction. Svevia understands that maintaining Sweden’s roads and infrastructure is just as important as construction work. In this way, Svevia is one of Sweden’s leading specialists in the field. Specialising in everything related to roads and infrastructure, from huge construction projects to the daily management of roads and other infrastructure throughout Sweden, Svevia operates all year round to ensure that Sweden’s roads are in the best condition.
Based on its history as a state-run road authority, the company understands that a successfully functioning road network is an essential part of the day-to-day running of the country and its upkeep is essential to keep everything running smoothly. Svevia is still responsible for 60 per cent of the maintenance of state road network, and so its experience is a huge advantage in its daily operations. The general public can be affected greatly by the state of the roads and the vast majority of the population uses them everyday. There are many different aspects to the Swedish road system, which Svevia can deal with, including strategic planning, road signs and road design specifications. Sweden’s roads are already safer than those in most other countries and international surveys have shown that Sweden has a comparatively low traffic accident rate. However, the government is aiming to further improve safety levels; the SRA works alongside many other organisations to make it even safer to travel on the Swedish road network.
Alongside building and maintaining road systems, Svevia also provides excavation and building work for railways, airports, construction sites, and ports as well as the management of parks, squares, car parks, pavements and cycle paths among other public spaces. Responsible also for the maintenance of public utility services, Svevia also provides support for water supply and sewage networks, district heating plants, hydropower plants and wind turbines.
')";>With so many services on offer, the company is hopeful that it has lots of scope for growth now that it is an independent company. Per-Olof describes its current achievements: “One of our major successes at the moment is the launch of our intelligent traffic systems (ITS). These are traffic signal control systems, container management systems; variable message signs; automatic number plate recognition or speed cameras to monitor applications, such as security CCTV systems.” Svevia recently launched the E-Road Safety project, which is the development of a new product under the ITS division. The device is a vibrating bracelet worn by road workers that warns them with a vibration, when a vehicle is approaching at high speed. The product has been nominated for Nordbygg’s Gold Medal for the best innovation of 2010.
Since infrastructure projects affect the environment, the green measures implemented by Svevia have a major impact. Therefore, environmental considerations are an integral part of all projects, as well as in production and materials planning. This allows the company to increase its efficiency and is further enhanced when Svevia uses its expertise in project planning. Optimising its current projects means that they run as efficiently as possible, and the company can minimise resource consumption and emissions of carbon dioxide.
The company is also developing new environmentally friendly methods and working procedures for road construction and maintenance, and is working in co-operation with municipal authorities, companies and associations to reduce the environmental problems caused by traffic. To determine what can be done to create a sustainable transport system, Svevia also conducts surveys to explore new developments, which could improve the national road network.
Looking to the future, Per-Olof describes the conditions of the market in Sweden at present: “As in all other European countries, the Government has increased its spend on infrastructure, so there’s a good supply of resources for us. Unfortunately the housing construction business is down, and so our competitors are stepping up their focus on infrastructure support. Whilst this signifies great opportunities for us in the market, it also means competition is tough, so we have to be the best.”
This year, Svevia will expand its operations into the rest of the Nordic countries. The growth will take place mainly through acquisitions, as Svevia has an aggressive growth plan. Per-Olof concludes: “We have a positive view on our future as we are very much focused on our infrastructure business and see lots of potential here. Ultimately we will focus on Svevia’s long-term development, starting with increasing the value of the company.”
Svevia
Employees 2800
Services Road management and maintenance
