Region Skåne interviews key stakeholder on innovation
Meet Linda Fransson, CEO of Gnosjö Automatsvarvning, key green Industry stakeholder for Region Skåne and IUC Syd
In an interview for the Interreg Europe project SKYLA, where Region Skåne and IUC Syd are partners, Linda Fransson, CEO of Gnosjö Automatsvarvning, explains how different skills need to interact and how the Småland concept of "förveten" (being annoyingly curious and inquisitive) has been a driving force for early investments in their sustainable production. Gnosjö Automatsvarvning is a key industry stakeholder for the region in the project.
"Being förveten," Linda laughs, "is not always positive… but in Småland, and for us, it means being curious and updated. This was a driving force that led us to invest in machinery, technology, and skills that contributed to us being able to measure the purity and quality of our products in the early 2000s. With a biologist’s skills in the team, we were able to extend the life of our end products," says Linda. This is part of the company's sustainability work and efforts which have been ongoing since its inception in 1974.
Today the company’s electricity supply is largely self-sufficient through solar- and wind power. The company invests in everything from dog kennels, to attract skilled workers, to technologies that separate and purify fluids in turning machines. Warm oils from the cutting machines are used for under-floor heating and the water from water-based washes is cleaned and treated to then be used for scrubbing and cleaning floors.
Social and green innovation
In the “förveten” method of working and the philosophy of being curious, lies the interest in using the latest technology to produce high-quality, in-demand products. Therefore, it is obvious for Gnosjö Automatsvarvning to work with developing current employees' skills, while at the same time recruiting new talents. Linda and her colleagues engage themselves fully when it comes to this.
"We can not just do one thing and be satisfied. To grow, we need the right skills and competences. Therefore, we also need to be a really good employer. Gnosjö Automatsvarvning welcomes groups of school children who come for study visits and since 2019 I have been lifting the issue of skills needs in the manufacturing industry matched against the course portfolio at Jönköping's university as a member of the board", explains Linda.
To give young people a better picture of what it might be like to work at Gnosjö Automatsvarvning, the company decided to showcase itself at Dreamhack. .By meeting the youth through their interests and in a known format - through a VR game - they had the opportunity to show their production floor to gaming-interested youths. Investing in being visible and building a strong brand for future labour, have paid off. Gnosjö Automatsvarvning has recruited master’s students from Jönköping University and VET-students from Campus Ljungby.
When Linda ponders over Sweden being a “manufacturing” country - she highlights the difficulties of competing with engineering giants like China and India.
Inspiration for addressing the twin transition through investing in green skills
"Sweden needs to compete through having a good balance between problem-solving engineers and well skilled operators. Engineers are needed for their ability to solve difficult problems. Operators need to both understand the engineers' thoughts and simultaneously be able to run and use advanced machines that bring ideas from paper to physical products and solutions," Linda Fransson reflects.
The company works closely with the region and is a source of inspiration for partners in the SKYLA project.
About Gnosjö Automatsvarvning:
• Products & Services: Turning and lathing precision components for the automotive and engineering industries, industrial controls, fasteners and interior design.
• Customers: Mainly Swedish engineering companies, more than half of which are connected to the automotive industry.
• Number of Employees: 65.
• Revenue: 169 million SEK (2023).
• Export Share: More than 60 percent.
• Founded: 1974 by the Fransson family.
The SKYLA Project: SKYLA is an Interreg Europe project with 11 regional cooperation partners in Europe, led by the Agency for the development of the Empolese Valdelsa in Italy. Representing the Skåne region are Region Skåne and IUC Syd, who are working to place future skills at the centre of the green and digital transition by strengthening and adapting the role of vocational training in the innovation ecosystem and the region's smart specialization strategy.