››
Eva Schelin, Vinnova
She takes over as FFI’s
automotive strategist
/7
››
Anders Ekdahl, AutomaTHINK
The Vehicle Component 2 / 2014
Automation is critical
for competitiveness / 22
1
VEHICLE
COMPONENT
THE
2/2014
The magazine from FKG – the Scandinavian
Automotive Supplier Association
LOCALLY PRODUCED
– new possibilities for
Swedish suppliers
Feature:
N
O
I
T
A
OM
T
U
A
e
r
o
m
Robots to
the rescue
– AH Automation in Kungshamn flexes its muscles
CLEPA-STUDY: The supplier chain takes on larger portion of R&D
Mer kraft
och utrymme
att växa
tillsammans.
I vårt Steel Service Center i Arendal utanför
Göteborg finns all produktion under ett och
samma tak. Det ökar kapaciteten och effektiviteten i varuflödet rejält, vilket betyder mer
kraft och större möjligheter att snabbt hjälpa
dig. Hör av dig så pratar vi framtid, nya affärer
och vad vi kan göra för dig.
SIDAHL april 2014
Fredrik Sidahl is CEO for FKG. He can be reached at fredrik.sidahl@fkg.se
Industry 4.0 – even
Germany is up
I
HAVE PREVIOUSLY written about the United Kingdom and
its Automotive Council that was launched with considerable
parliamentary support a few years ago with the result being that
the UK, today, posts good growth in our industry.
I’m currently sitting and writing my editorial at the VDA’s (the
German automotive industry association) office in Germany and am
inspired by our discussions where the concept ”collective grip” continuously recurs. The VDA’s suppliers’ organisation is FKG’s equivalent
with its head office in Berlin.
Take note that the Germans are not far behind the English with
respect to further reinforcing the importance of the industry for the
country through its launch of ”Industry 4.0”, which for them is the
next step in their industry political agenda where there is talk of the
integrated industry.
You get it? The Germans are
gearing up again from step 3,
where IT was the reason behind
the increase in productivity.
"Just the fact that
one christens a
political effort
bears witness to
the engagement,
this is something
that we are lacking
in our country"
IT ALL STARTED WITH the
steam engine, with the English
being the first.
Later came electricity
and Sweden jumped on the
bandwagon with great access
to cheap domestic fuel and at
a time when our country had
not been bombed to pieces.
We were reasonably in the mix
when IT further revolutionised
manufacturing.
The goal is the Smart Factory, which is characterised by
flexibility, resource efficiency and ergonomics as well as integration of
customers and business partners in business and value processes.
To this I would like to add knowledge and transfer of technology
from the often times technology leading automotive industry to
other industrial sectors in our country. Experts in Germany believe
that Industry 4.0 or the fourth industrial revolution could be reality in
approximately 10 to 20 years.
The Vehicle Component 2 / 2014
Produced
by Gnotec
Straps for fixation of fuel tank.
Produced using automatic pressing
and special purpose machinery.
More at gnotec.com
Tänk.
SIMULTANEOUSLY IN THE UNITED STATES: They have started an initiative that is called Smart Manufacturing Leadership Coalition, SMLC,
which works for the future of their manufacturing industry and I ask
myself, what are we doing in Sweden?
I am certain that if I google I will find similar initiatives around the
world like the ones in the United Kingdom, Germany and the USA.
Our country also needs to gear up.
Just the fact that one christens a political effort bears witness to the
engagement, this is something that we are lacking in our country.
We are talking about a super election year 2014.
I personally do not understand what is super…
It would have been better to talk about a super industry and give
the industry all the focus and support that it requires in order for us as
a nation to be able to preserve and develop our welfare.
tibnor.se
www.ewes.com
View our video
3
S
N
E
R
R
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N
O
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K
S
I
T
A
M
O
T
V
AU
A
A
T
S
Ä
B
N
E
D
R
KRAFT Ä
!
R
A
G
N
I
N
ANLED
The Vehicle Component 2 / 2014
IN
SH
OR
T
4
Maastricht to host
the FISITA congress
CONGRESS It is predicted that the heavyweights of the automotive industry will take
part in this year’s FISITA congress in Maastricht,
Holland from June 2nd – 6th. This year’s theme
is intelligent and sustainable transport that can
take us into the future.
FISITA is the global organisation for automotive
engineers and is directed by Dr. Li Jun.
nom
mati
nskap ge
Elmia Auto
ka din ku
ö
tt
a
ra
r
d
fö
före g!
formen
arier och
in
m
e
s
e
d
spännan
N
AUTOMATIO roduktivitet och lägre
IA
M
L
E
K
Ö
BES
Elmia
ökad p
ering. På
ns kräver
OPINION 83 percent of all supplier companies
Zero emission taxis
become reality in London
TECHNOLOGY London’s classic black cabs,
Metrocab, will emit zero emissions. The first
full scale test model REE (Range
extended electric) Metrocab
was rolled out. Production is
expected to start this summer.
“A masterpiece within the
area of British engineering", stated the Mayor
of London Boris Johnson as he took his maiden
journey in the taxi.
The taxi is also equipped with a gas engine in
order to increase the range if so required.
Launch of new fast
drying car lacquer
LAUNCH Given that the section of the colour
industry that is focused on automotive is going
through a consolidation phase, there have
never been so many colours and lacquers to
choose from. Spies Hecker, which increasingly
operates under its own brand is launching
the car lacquer Permasolid HS Clearcoat
8800. The lacquer reportedly has a lot
of shine, but above all, dries rapidly. According to reports the lacquer dries in
five minutes in a 60-degree lacquer box.
Automechanika now
in twelve countries
EXPANSION The aftermarket trade show
Automechanika is growing at the same pace
as India. Thirteen shows are being arranged in
twelve countries! Kiev, Ukraine will, however, not
take place this year. The show will be arranged
in June next year instead. The Nordic equivalent
to Automechanika is the Auto show. The next
time it will be held in Göteborg in 2017.
UNSKAP
KONKRET K on är den perfekta platt-
8 of 10 would like
legislated payment periods
would like to have binding legislation with respect
to payment periods in business. This was the result
of a survey conducted by FKG.
For over one year the question of payment periods has been roaming around the corridors of
power. FKG is in favour of explicit legislation with
outer limits and propose ”implementation steps”.
At the time of writing a majority in the Parliamentary Committee on Civil Affairs are in favour of
binding legislation with a maximum of 30 days.
The Vehicle Component 2 / 2014
Wood. The renewable fuel is a mix of 80 percent wood-based diesel and 20 percent fossilbased diesel. Photo: Pressbild UPM
Successful test with wood-based diesel
ENVIRONMENT There is a lot of discussion
about compulsory quotas with respect to car
fuel. For those who drive diesel the Finnish
company UPM’s renewable Bio Verno could be
an interesting solution. According to UPM the
tests that have been conducted on the woodbased diesel so far have proven satisfactory.
The mix consists of 80 percent wood-based
diesel and 20 percent fossil-based diesel.
“According to our tests UPM’s renewable
diesel works as good as normal diesel,” says
Petri Kukkonen, Vice President at UPM.
He does not, however, reveal if and when
we will see a commercial product on the
market. The next step is tests with buses in
Helsinki’s public transportation this summer.
Mässan arrangeras för och av branschen – Svenska
Automationsgruppen, SAG, som samlar de ledande
leverantörerna i landet är en viktig samarbetspartner.
“Emli” leaves and Bella arrives
@elmiaautomation
After 15 years service at FKG Else-Marie “Emli” Lindegårdh
will retire on June 30th. Bella Banehag will assume the role
as FKG’s assistant/girl Friday after Else-Marie Lindegårdh.
She is already well up to speed on FKG.
“The most fun job I’ve
had,” says Else-Marie.
Her satisfaction is
due to the considerable
variation. When the previous CEO, Svenåke Berglie
employed her he said, “it
is a small office job”.
Else-Marie "Emli"
“An understatement… Linde­gårdh
It became much more
than that! Especially as it is just the CEO and
I,” says Else-Marie.
Some examples are seminars, conferences, trade shows, Go Global, several member
registers and different websites.
During Else-Marie’s 15 years FKG has
developed positively.
“We have expanded tremendously. We
are much more recognized now, very much
because of Fredrik Sidahl’s lobbying.
As a retiree, hobbies will play a bigger role.
“I do glass blowing in the Tiffany style,
like guardian angels, in my workshop at
home.”
Else-Marie won’t be totally free however.
“I have been a project
manager for the Annual
Suppliers Forum as part
of my assignment for
Chalmers Conference &
Restaurants,” says Bella
Banehag.
Bella Banehag
She has, therewith,
already met several
member companies.
“When I start in May I will become
even more involved in FKG’s activities.”
She has worked with conferences,
bigger events and marketing at Chalmers and Lindholmen Science Park for 10
years.
“It will be a flying start in the fall
with the Hannover trade show, the
Annual Suppliers­Forum and Elmia
Subcontractor­.”
Bella hopes to increase the number of
members and make if even more attractive to be an FKG member.
“Then we can perhaps employ more
and work even harder for FKG’s members.
Mats Ekendahl
Mats Ekendahl
INDUSTRIMÄSSOR PÅ ELMIA
elmia.se/automation
ation
ed Au
Boka tid m spiration och inform e
s
, in
a kundca
rådgivning
och nyttig
ta
n
a
s
s
e
om intr
gheten!
från verkli
FÖLJ OSS PÅ TWITTER!
För konkurrenskraft i tillverkande industri
Changes at FKG’s office:
THJÄLPEN för
R
E
P
X
E
A
J
T
UTNYT
centralen
tomations
nkurre
strin
utomatis
Tuffare ko
ningsindu
n stavas a
rk
e
e
v
g
ll
in
ti
n
r
s
fö
ö
.
ar
r. L
t är enkelt
kostnade
etslösning
växt. Måle
visas helh
ll
kt
n
ti
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o
ti
h
ti
a
c
a
o
m
m
t
Auto
llt auto
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a
e
r
fl
fö
e
d
m
å
a
b
fr
h
ar
mhet. Oc
som skap
i maj!
och lönsa
t
e
önköping
it
J
v
i
ti
k
s
u
e
s
i
V
Prod
.
ft
kurrenskra
stärkt kon
elmia.se/svets
Använd
kod
A10076
8
för att s
kriv
a ut
gratis en
trék
våra hem ort på
sidor
FYRA
DAGAR
SVETS.
Elmia Svets och Fogningsteknik är mässan för
dig som vill se nyheter och veta vad som händer i
branschen. Ingen annanstans kan du så enkelt se
dagens och morgondagens utbud av utrustning
och tillbehör. Här serveras dessutom den senaste
forskningen och framtidens tekniker.
JÖNKÖPING 6–9 MAJ 2014
MÄ
S SA
DE MO
VIS NIN
GAR
KONFERENSPROGR
A
EDR AG
ÖPPNA FÖR
Välkommen till årets viktigaste mässa.
Samarbetspartner:
FÖLJ OSS PÅ TWITTER!
@elmiasvets
I partnerskap med Svetskommissionen, 6−9 maj 2014, Jönköping
M
5
The Vehicle Component 2 / 2014
Photo: Region Gotland
6
Important to create
opinion during
election year 2014
The ramp up prior to the political week in Gotland has now
begun. It is, however, not as
yet clear whether FKG will be
attending Almedalen June
29th – July 6th.
“Almedalen is an important meeting place,
but the problem is that there are too many
transmitters and not enough receivers.
This is especially true this year,” says Chief
Editor of The Vehicle Component, Göran
Björklund.
He does, however, add:
“For those who wish to follow the Swedish public debate then Almedal week is a
packed smorgasbord.”
2014 is “the super election year” with
the EU election (May 25th), parliamentary, county and municipal elections,
and one in Göteborg regarding car and
automotive industry where an important
referendum regarding congestion tax
(September 14th) will take place.
Leif Simonsson
Vision: Fossil free car fleet
“FKG positive but would like to see increased research subsidies from the State.”
FKG takes a positive position
to the State report concerning a fossil free car fleet 2030,
popularly referred to as Fossil
freedom on the road.
W
e see both industrial and not
the least research possibilities in
the vision,” says Fredrik Sidahl
who together with FKG’s senior advisor
Stephen Wallman has responded to the
report.
This also means that the State must
increase it’s subsidies within research and
development (R&D) within the supplier
chain, according to FKG in its response
to the Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and
Communications.
FKG presents the work with zero vision
within traffic
safety and what
it has meant
to the supplier industry
in its referral
response.
“The vision to
reduce dependency on fossil
fuels and to create a society with climate neutral transport is unique in the world. If the political
decision to realize the vision were made
this would mean that extensive research
and development work must be carried
out. All in all it is our assessment that the
Swedish automotive industry can become
a global leader,” says Fredrik Sidahl.
In its response to the report FKG men-
Eva Schelin new manager for FFI
Eva Schelin, Vinnova, is the
new programme director for
the strategic initiative within
FFI’s programme for automotive strategic research and
innovation.
E
Last year FKG chose to pursue working
with opinion prior to and subsequent to
the week in Almedal. Previously the work
focused on the rules and regulations concerning payment periods, and subsequent
to the political week the main question
was reindustrialisation and the need of a
coherent strategy for the Swedish automotive industry. The activities brought good
response both among politicians as well as
in the media.
“The Swedish
automotive
industry can
become a
global leader”
The Vehicle Component 2 / 2014
va Schelin will replace The Swedish
Transport Administration’s Torbjörn
Biding as head of strategic investments from February. Eva previously
worked with transport and environment
with special focus on transport efficiency at
Vinnova.
To start with, the new job will entail gaining a picture of the present situation of the
research programme’s various interested
parties. Eva Schelin will furthermore review
with the parties the programme so that it is
well set up for the needs of society and commercial players.
Demand for better processes
“So far I have met with all the board members and have had discussions with Stephen
Wallman from FKG concerning the future
development for the programme and the
supplier industry,” says Eva Schelin when we
meet her during her tour among partners.
“We are in agreement for the most part. It
is very clear that better processes are needed
before the applications are forwarded to the
programme council.”
FKG has highlighted that increasingly
more development and innovation work will
take place in the supplier chain. According to
assessments from the subcontractor organisation Clepa, suppliers will be responsible
for two thirds of the investments in product
development and innovation 2020.
More and more in common
This will take place in a situation, as
increasingly more will be common within
the automotive industry as a result of further
strategic collaborations surrounding common architecture, vehicle platforms and
more.
“This means that it will not only be the
three automakers Volvo Trucks, Volvo Cars
and Scania that will be the locomotives out
front but also supplier companies. How do
we do it?” says Eva Schelin.
Another question is management of Nevs.
Today there are ongoing projects where
Nevs is participating as a supplier company.
The future will reveal if Nevs will be able
to enter the FFI programme as a carmaker,
OEM.
Göran Björk lund
Joint financing
FFI is a collaboration between the State
and the automotive industry to jointly
finance research, innovation and development activities with focus on the environment, safety and competitiveness.
The background is that development
within road transport and the Swedish
automotive industry is of great importance
for Swedish growth.
The initiative corresponds to just over
SEK 1 billion per year whereof public funds
make up half for research and innovation
activities.
There are currently five partial programmes as well as strategic investments.
Partners are Vinnova, The Swedish Transport Administration, The Swedish Energy
Agency, AB Volvo, Volvo Cars, Scania and
FKG.
Within FKG Stephen Wallman, Kurt
Myhr and Leif Olsson work with the FFI
programme. They have further inforamtion regarding all the possibilities that FFI
has to offer within R&D even for supplier
companies.
FACTS
Eva Schelin
Age: 48.
Resides: Stockholm.
Education:
Master of
Engineering,
Machine.
Background:
Research and
consultancy
Manager within
the area of ITS
at The Swedish
Road Administration, The Swedish Transport
Administration,
Sweco and
Vinnova.
Vi förser tillverkande industri med
nyckelfärdiga robotceller för lasersvetsning
PERMAFLEX
samlad kunskap i en robotcell
Vision. The State report Fossilfrihet på väg (Fossil
Freedom on the Road) is divided into two parts.
tions, among other things, SåNätt, the
successful weight reduction project and
the EU’s initiative on Graphene research
with Chalmers Technical University as a
hub.
Göran Björklund
Kvalitet. Produktivitet. Lönsamhet.
www.permanova.se
Vi ses i monter D01:98,
Elmia Automation/Svets
6-9 maj 2014 i Jönköping
7
8
The Vehicle Component 2 / 2014
Stacked program at the
Annual Suppliers Forum 2014
On Thursday, October 16 the Annual Suppliers Forum will be held
in Göteborg. Volvo Cars CEO Håkan Samuelsson, Scania’s CEO Martin Lundstedt and Nevs CEO Mattias Bergman are all on the roster.
t
he theme for this year is “The Automotive Industry: the engine in
Swedish Engineering Industry”.
Three of four CEOs for the Swedish
carmakers are once again on the roster as
speakers along with the General Director of Vinnova Charlotte Brogren, EU
Parliament member Olle Ludvigsson, IF
Metall’s Chairman Anders Ferbe, JaguarLandRover’s Purchasing Manager Ian
Harnett and returning as usual Anders
Rune, Chief Economist, Teknikföretagen.
The Annual Suppliers Forum will jump
start on Wednesday, October 15th with
four seminars: “Autonomous vehicles:
new trend in technology”, ”Horizon
2020”, ”Work Together: Domestic and
International Clusters” and ”EIB, European Investment Bank: Not just for the
Giants”. A branch dinner with mingle and
entertainment will follow.
The Annual Suppliers Forum on October 16th will be held at Chalmers in the
Runan conference room In Göteborg
while the seminars and dinner on October 15th will be held at the Elite Park
Avenue Hotel.
FKG’s Annual Suppliers Forum is Scandinavia’s largest annual meeting place
for the automotive and supplier industry.
There is, of course, a small chance that
there may occur changes to the program
due to circumstances beyond the control
of FKG.
Utvecklas
Utvecklasmed
medFKG.
FKG.
Göran Björk lund
Well attended. The theme of last year’s
Annual Suppliers Forum was new markets.
This year the theme is “The Automotive
Industry: the Engine in Swedish Engineering Industry”. Photo: Jeanette Larsson
Nu kanNu
du kan
bli prova-på-medlem
du bli prova-på-medlem
i FKG, helt
i FKG,
gratis
helti gratis
6 mån.i 6 mån.
Starta utvecklingen
Starta utvecklingen
på fkg.se/blimedlem
på fkg.se/blimedlem
Utvecklas med FKG.
Nu kan du bli prova-på-medlem i FKG, helt gratis i 6 mån.
Starta utvecklingen på fkg.se/blimedlem
Swedish manufacturing is the future
Mekonomen and Orio to purchase from Swedish suppliers
”Locally produced” was the
theme of FKG’s aftermarket
seminar in connection to Rally
Sweden in Karlstad. The seminar’s speaker painted a picture
of new business opportunities
for the automotive suppliers.
T
he Swedish aftermarket alone has
an annual turnover of SEK 25 billion within reserve parts, accessories, tires and rims not including VAT.
Within the EU that figure is closer to SEK
1000 billion.
“Toss that around and add a margin that
you are not accustomed to with supplying
OEMs/carmakers! More suppliers should
take the opportunity to dig in their own
backyard, in the Swedish aftermarket,”
says Fredrik Sidahl, CEO of FKG.
With support from The Swedish Agency
for Economic and Regional Growth, FKG
runs the so-called supplier programme, a
programme with the purpose to develop
new markets for Swedish supplier companies. This year there is approximately SEK
20 million of capital to apply for internationalisation, product development and/
or strategic development.
“As a rule one instinctively would like
to equate similarities between new markets and export. However, the closest new
market is the Swedish aftermarket,” says
Fredrik Sidahl.
The seminar in Karlstad was opened
by Göran Björklund, the chief editor of
The Vehicle Component, who described
the current situation in the Swedish and
European aftermarket and brought up
threats and opportunities within the
entire service market.
“The online store Skruvat.se and the
workshop site, Autobutler are just the
beginning of something new,” he said.
"Less and less is brand unique”
Vi på FKG utvecklar
Vi påfordonsbranschen
FKG utvecklar fordonsbranschen
och våra över 300
och
medlemmar
våra över 300
– varje
medlemmar
dag.
– varje dag.
Det gör vi bland Det
annat
görgenom
vi bland
attannat
föra branschens
genom att föra
talanbranschens
mot industri,
talan
politiker,
mot industri,
myndigheter
politiker, myndigheter
Språkrör
Språkrör
Juridisk hjälp JuridiskBättre
hjälp avtal
Språkrör
Juridisk hjälp
BättreExperthjälp
avtal
Bättre avtal
Experthjälp
Experthjälp
BranschregisterBranschregister
Kontaktnät
Branschregister
Kontaktnät
Analyser
Kontaktnät
Analyser
och media. Menoch
vi skapar
media.också
Men vi
mötesplatser
skapar också
och
mötesplatser
ger möjlighet
och
förger
svenska
möjlighet
företag
för svenska
att
företag att
Vi på FKGetablera
utvecklarsig
fordonsbranschen
och
våra
över
300
medlemmar
– varje
dag.
Analyser
etableraoch
sig
utomlands
och
att sökahär
forskningsstöd
här på
hemmaplan. www.fkg.se
utomlands
att
söka
forskningsstöd
på hemmaplan.
www.fkg.se
Det gör vi bland annat genom att föra branschens talan mot industri, politiker, myndigheter
och media. Men vi skapar också mötesplatser och ger möjlighet för svenska företag att
etablera sig utomlands och att söka forskningsstöd här på hemmaplan. www.fkg.se
The Vehicle Component 2 / 2014
The collaborative partner SBF’s chairman,
Christer Liljenberg, presented a more
detailed picture of the Swedish aftermarket
from a car part perspective and division
between OE/original parts and IAM/the
independent aftermarket.
Sees new Swedish business opportunities. Seminar speakers, from the left Göran Björklund, the
Vehicle Component, Thomas Kjellberg, Orio, Wolfgang Meyer, Clepa, Agnes Andersson-Hammarstrand,
Setterwalls, Marcus Larsson, Mekonomen, Mikael Åström, Setterwalls,and Christer Liljenberg, SBF.
Clepa’s aftermarket specialist, Wolfgang
Meyer, depicted the context of the huge
European aftermarket and emphasised
green reserve parts, telematics and our
future research and where development will
take place. It is clear that more and more
will shift to the suppliers at the same time as
increasingly more will rest on joint, crossbrand, technical platforms at carmakers.
“There will be less and less that is brand
unique, something that will affect the
suppliers’ role in the future,” said Wolfgang Meyer and added that this opens up
for more developed business opportunities for the supplier industry.
terwalls, collaborative partner with FKG,
explained the legal prerequisites for the
aftermarket. Both state that as a supplier
there is no need to be afraid to sell to
other channels than those that are controlled by the carmakers.
Peter Bryntesson, who has been the
operative project manager for the FKG
seminar, says that the work to increase
the supplier industry’s distribution to the
independent market will continue. Next
year’s seminar is already being discussed
now as is the possibility to develop a marketplace for suppliers and wholesalers.
Orio want to buy Swedish
The conference was visited by two legends
of rally, Per Eklund, winner of the 1976 rally
and Rally Sweden’s CEO, Glenn Olsson.
“We are working with developing
Swedish Rally into a meeting place for the
automotive industry and the rest of the
automotive industry. In this year’s rally
alone there are four leading carmakers
competing with their own factory teams,
VW, Citroen, Ford and the returning
Hyundai,” says Glenn Olsson.
Per Eklund, who drove the honorary lap in
the rally, presented an updated report about
the conditions of the race. The FKG seminar
concluded with a dinner at Färjestad’s horse
race track and moreover the World Championship’s first special route.
Thomas Kjellberg, Head of Technology
at Orio, previously Saab Parts, presented
their future plans and explained that they
want to buy from Swedish suppliers. In the
future it is likely that not only Saab parts
will be distributed in their channels but
also other brand parts.
Mekonomen’s Group Vice President,
Marcus Larsson had the same clear invitation to the supplier industry. He spoke
about reserve parts assortment, among
other things, their own brand ProMeister
that is carried in Mekonomen’s reserve
parts stores and in Meca’s workshop
assortment.
Agnes Andersson-Hammarstrand and
Mikael Åström from the law firm Set-
A visit from Rally legends
Leif Simonsson
9
10
The Vehicle Component 2 / 2014
The Vehicle Component 2 / 2014
11
N
O
I
T
A
OM
T
U
A
E
R
MO
Feature:
s
s
e
n
e
v
i
t
i
t
e
p
m
o
c
s
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– Innovation
Innovation and automation.
Two important ingredients to
regain competitiveness and once
again turn Europe into a leading
industrial part of the world. The
same medicine is naturally prescribed for Sweden and Swedish
industry.
A
Industry is the heart of building community. As
in the past and now in the present innovations and
rationalisations propel development and create welfare.
The picture, from Surte Glasbruk, is almost one hundred
years old. Today we need reindustrialisation.
Photo: Kamerareportage
little more than one year ago the EU Commission discussed how Europe could
increase growth and the number of people employed at the so-called European Summit
where environment, climate/sustainability and an
industrial renaissance for Europe was on the agenda.
In January this year the EU Commission’s
speaker, the Dane, Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen presented an industrial political action programme
for Europe. It is maintained here that industry is
the heart of European growth.
“Without a strong industry we will not achieve
our goal in terms of international competitiveness, growth and job creation,” says Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen during the subsequent question
period, where she also points out the importance
of emphasising the role of small and medium
size companies in Europe.
Innovation, research and development within
products as well as services are areas of priority.
EU’s frame programme within innovation and
research, Horizon 2020, works with this mind to
create growth and jobs.
Also in the wake of it all the European and North
American manufacturing companies are beginning
to bring production home again. It has nothing to
do with any employment political reasons, but rather that people are doing more – through increased
automation and a general method of working “lean”.
Efficient and useful on all levels.
Automation creates jobs is
therefore not a totally unexpected theme for Elmia’s Automation exhibition taking place in
Jönköping from May 6th – 9th.
»
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Robot plant expands
horizontally
AH Automation manages even as the economy wavers
A technology driven company,
packed with engineers and
with 70 years experience.
AH Automation marches on
in good and bad times.
“Since the middle of the
1990s we have doubled turnover and the number of employees,” says CEO Peter Lundin.
T
hey deliver robot systems to,
among others, the economic sensitive automotive industry, but in
order to make it unscathed through the
fluctuations in the orderbook, AH Automation has spread its risks.
“The automotive industry constitutes
approximately 30 percent of our customer base,” says the Marketing Manager,
Stefan Berntsson.
FACTS
FROM FISHING BOATS TO ROBOTS
AH Automation was founded in 1944.
From the start our business was focused
on electric installations on fishing boats,
the founders Andor Andersson and
Karl-Erik Hansson invested in installing
post-war modern equipment like sonar
and navigational instruments in Bohuslän’s
fishing boats.
Today the company has approximately 80
employees and has a turnover of SEK 130
million. AH Automation has the majority of
its business in premises in Kungshamn, but
also has smaller offices for service and sales
in Göteborg.
According to Peter Lundin and Stefan
Berntsson the need for automation is on
the rise in the country. The increased
pace of production with machines are,
among other things, a way for many
manufacturers to resist outsourcing to
low-cost countries and simultaneously
achieve more direct quality control over
their production.
Assignment in the harbour
Service is another branch for AH Automation. They have, among others things,
personnel more or less stationed at the
food provisions company Abbas’ production plant a stones-throw from the head
office in Kungshamn.
The company even has assignments in
the harbour working with electric guidance and programming for bulk solutions,
among other things. Marine electricity for
the shipbuilding industry and direct to the
ship-owners is a further part of the business. The company has employees who
travel in order to manage work in different
harbours around the world.
“Our strength is our employees, that
we have a great deal of competence,” says
Peter Lundin.
The majority of their 70 employees are
well-educated engineers. Recruiting the
right personnel to a company that is 90 minutes
journey by car from the
closest big city? Sound
problematic?
“One would certainly
think so, but it has never
been a problem,” says
Peter Lundin.
In the pipeline. Bo Noresson, fitter at AH-automation puts together a system with three robots that will assemble doorsteps to Volvo cars.
The nature around Kungs­hamn is unique
and a total dream for anyone who is the least
bit interested in boating.
Connecting the systems
They also conduct preliminary studies and
anything similar that is required in order
to connect the robot lines. Otherwise,
most of the components arrive readymade
from various suppliers. AH Automation
connects the products
into a complete system.
They complete around
200 projects per year.
According to Stefan
Berntsson the biggest
jobs are in the SEK 20
million range.
“But we do a lot of
“We have never
had so many
pending quotes
as we do now”
smaller projects also,” he says.
The financial crises after the Lehman
Brothers crash in 2008 left its traces.
Turnover plummeted 10 percent, and for a
supplier to the automotive industry events
like Saabs closure played a major role, as
AH Automation was also a supplier.
“We did not, however, have major loses as a
result of the bankruptcy,” says Peter Lundin.
They now have the new entrepreneur at
Stallback as a customer. AH Automation has
built a welding robot cell for tin fuel tanks for
Techroi Fuel Systems, which supplies SAAB’s
successor. They have supplied an electrolytic
burr machine that burns away microscopic
burrs with the help of high currency on, for
example, ball bearings to Volvo Powertrain
in Köping. When The Vehicle Component
pays a visit in Kungshamn they are just in
Photo: Jeanette Larsson
the process of putting together a robot cell
for Plastal that will mount clips to doorsteps
of the Volvo XC 90.
How is it going for Swedish industry?
So far, a bit into 2014, AH Automation is
looking at an economic outlook that is
gently on the rise.
“We have never had so many pending
quotes as we do now,” says Peter Lundin.
Thomas Drakenfors
Gear for trucks. AH Automation’s CEO
Peter Lundin (right) and Marketing Manager
Stefan Berntsson down in the production hall,
by hundreds of towing-hooks for trucks. AH
Automation has borrowed them from VBG
Truck Equipment. They will now build a solution
for distribution of the hooks to a lathe that will
be used in the customer’s production.
Stefan Berntsson
Age: 47.
Profession: Marketing Manager.
Lives: Smögen.
Family: Married,
two children.
Hobbies: Biking and
cross country skiing.
Listens to: Metallica.
Drives: Volvo V70.
Peter Lundin
Age: 57.
Profession: CEO.
Lives: Smögen.
Family: Married,
three children.
Hobbies: Downhill skiing and motor sport.
Listens to:
Rolling Stones.
Drives: Volvo V60.
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Let the computer optimise the total flow
☑ Do not build static production lines in series
One way to build a production line is to start with operation A and
add operation B and then C etc. etc. until the ”line” is complete.
”This is, however, often not optimal to create simplicity for
operators respective flexibility to be able to make changes,”
says Bengt Lennartsson, researcher within Wingquist laboratory
and Professor in Automation at Chalmers, the Institute for Signals and Systems.
R
egardless if it applies to manual or
mechanical work in a production
plant it is about bringing together
all operations to a functioning and as efficient whole as
possible. It is, however, difficult to build production lines
that are both simple to handle for those working in them,
respectively flexible so that
production engineers can easily make changes if the products change etc.
This applies first and
foremost to smaller manufacturing companies. New
methods of help are on the
way. At Chalmers researchers
are developing a modelling
and optimisation tool that is
called Sequence Planner.
“It is thought of as a support for production engineers.
With the help of Sequence
Planner the operations that
form part of the manufacturing respectively the logic connection
between stages are specified. One simply
sets requirements on each individual
operation separately and then a computer
calculates the optimal sequential flow
with the help of algorithms,” says Kristofer Bengtsson Doctor of Engineering
in Automation at Chalmers. It means, in
fact, that it is, for example, easier to find
different operations that can occur in
parallel operations that at a first manual
appearance seem illogical to place in any
other way than in the series.
Reduce complexity
“I visited General Motors in
the United States and discovered that the company limited the plant flow in an unnecessary way. Everything was in
a straight series and there was
no possibility whatsoever to
optimise the sequences,” says
Kristofer Bengtsson.
GM chose to avoid too
many parallel activities in
order to reduce the complexity. Volvo has a similar setup.
“If, for example, they wish
to optimise a production
section with robots then
subsequently discover that
there is not much that is
possible to improve since
a certain order between
operations has already been
decided at a previous stage.
To change the order at a later stage would
furthermore cost way too much with
today’s technological solutions and method of working,” says Bengt Lennartsson.
“I visited
General
Motors in
the United
States and
discovered
that the
company
limited the
plant flow in
an unnecessary way.”
Leads to problems
He compares with construction,
where a so-called Gantt-schedule is
often used for planning. It means,
however, that right from the beginning operations are put together
»
☑ Formulate logical requirements for each operation
Creates efficient totality.
Kristofer Bengtsson, Doctor of
Engineering in automation and
Bengt Lennartsson, Professor in
automation have taken part in and
developed a simulation method
that is called Sequence Planner.
Photo: Jeanette Larsson
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"All the parts
integrate in
a way that
previously was
not able to be
studied"
»
into sequences, i.e. they are
described in a certain order
from the beginning. Along the
way when one later discovers
that a certain stage contains requirements that
disrupt the envisioned order of priority there
will be a problem in the project.
To facilitate for the engineers who, after the
operations are specified and requirements set,
will optimise the entire flow, the Chalmers
researchers have worked considerably to visualise the functions in Sequence Planner. The
system can also be applied to businesses other
than production plants, for example planning
in healthcare emergency departments.
Another important factor for plants to function well from the start is that the PLC system
is correctly programmed/developed.
“We have therefore modelled virtual plants
that the PLC system can be tested in. Then the
computer checks a tremendously large number of situations and 90 percent of possible
errors are eliminated at an early stage,” says
Bengt Lennartsson.
Reduce the need
With the help of computer simulation and
analysis of complex connections the need
is radically reduced to test the PLC system
”hands on” in the real production, which
takes both time and can generate physical
crashes/problems.
“The production system, the simulation
model and the steering system are gathered
together. All the parts integrate in an exciting and new way, which was previously not
possible to study in a virtual environment,”
says Bengt Lennartsson.
Both Chalmers researchers make a
comparison to a car lock-alarm system.
The electronics and the different mechanical components in it can together form
approximately one billion different combi-
Volvo optimises the value chain
"With help
of virtual
simulation
the computer
can calculate
the erroneous
states.”
nations/positions. Some of these combined
states can also be wrong so that the system
is suspended in the same way as a computer does from time to time. This type of
undesired state may not arise in production
or a lock-alarm system.
“With help of the systematic calculations
the computer can calculate the erroneous
states and the right ones are retained in the
steering system,” says Kristofer Bengtsson.
Faster restart
Another research project at Chalmers at
the Institution for Signals and Systems
has resulted in a solution in order to more
securely, simpler and faster restart an automated production line with, for example, robots when an unforeseen error has
occurred due to, for example, the emergency stop being activated.
Machines and robots have then been
interrupted in the middle of an activity
and the steering system’s status does not
match the system’s physical status.
When restarted the steering system and
the physical system needs to be resynchronized. Chalmers’ adjustment method is
built, exactly as with the other mentioned
systems, on testing many conceivable
states in the line to, in this manner, obtain
a correct idea of what is required to restart
everything in the most efficient way.
Since the operations cannot be run in
arbitrary order it can indicate situations
like collisions or locking, i.e. robots cannot act since they wait for each other. In
the worst case such situations can cause
total stops that are difficult or impossible
to resume automatic operations.
Calculate movement patterns
Another interesting production research
project at Chalmers, which resulted in a
17
successful outcome, is the production of a
simulation and visualisation tool that is a
virtual model of a human. When there is a
person working in the assembly line, there
have never previously been any simple
tools to calculate patterns of movement.
Assessments concerning ergonomics
and assembly solutions have been handled
late in the development process of a new
product. At this point most of the prerequisites are often set and adjustment to the
assembly line take place afterwards. This
leads to high costs for both quality problems
with the product as well as strain injuries
with assemblers. But there are now good
tools that provide a useful base for decision
already at the drawing stage.
Within the framework for Wingquist
Laboratory the researchers from Chalmers,
the network VEC and Fraunhofter Chalmers Centre (FCC) have collaborated with the
Swedish automotive industry and produced
a simulation and visualisation tool that is a
virtual model of a human.
The model is called IMMA, which stands
for intelligent Moving Mannequin.
The model includes general human prerequisites and even takes into consideration
that humans are individuals. With this
model engineers at a very early stage can:
• Find a collision free way for both people and the product when manually
assembling,
• Take into consideration the human
diversity and minimize the biomechanical load,
• Increase both quality and efficiency in
assembly,
• Reduce the time to carry out simulation
and analysis.
Mats Ekendahl
Efficient automation is a competitive advantage for EU companies
Volvo Cars is working hard to
keep Landed Cost down.
”We are currently focusing on optimising the value
chain,” says Geert Bruyneel,
Vice President Supplier Quality & Logistics, Purchasing &
Manufacturing, Volvo Cars.
I
t is about transforming the supplier chain/value chain in a smart way.
A decision, therefore, must be made
whether Volvo Cars will purchase components or self-manufacture, and whether in
or outsourcing is best.
“Insourcing is on the rise. For example,
we are taking increasing care of transports and material management. This
results in overall control, better understanding of costs and we make better
logistics decisions,” says Geert Bruyneel.
Volvo Cars also tries to create as fixed
production plan as possible based on
customer’s orders to increase efficiency of
material management.
Geert Bruyneel
“Increasing deliveries that take place
Just In Sequence (JIS) is also important.
Among others things we examine if it
works with longer distances and how
much material we can have on trailers in
’rolling stocks”.
With respect to logistics, Volvo Cars
has increased efforts to reduce capital and
management costs.
As a supplier to Volvo Cars one must fulfil
certain basic demands such as technology
and cost requirements, but also demands
with respect to quality and environment. The
fulfilment of requirements in combination
with Landed Cost calculations determines
which suppliers receive the business. Efficiency automation can then be a competitive way
for the supplier to keep article prices down,
especially for suppliers in the EU compared
with those in low-cost countries.
“It is about the EU companies using
their, for the time being, greater competence when it comes to streamlining in
order to manage complicated production.”
Volvo Cars lives according to the principle ”produce where we sell and provide
for where we produce”.
“European suppliers therefore have the
possibility to sell to us in China if they are
located there in their own right or in collaboration with others, otherwise the duty
and logistic costs will be too great,” says
Geert Bruyneel.
Mats Ekendahl
Business checks for company development
Increased internationalisation of businesses is a major
business possibility for many
Swedish small and medium
size companies, SME. According to Stefan Nordin at The
Swedish Agency for Regional
and Economic Growth.
I
n his role as coordinator, project manager at the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth, Stefan
Nordin would like more SMEs to think
about internationalisation.
“Above all one contemplates export
when the question has been raised, but it
could also be about finding collaboration
partners beyond the country’s borders
so that one can become stronger, grow
together,” says Stefan Nordin when we
discuss supplier development.
Demand for self-investment
Stefan along with Lars-Håkan Jansson,
among others, works with The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth’s supplier development programme for the automotive industry with
focus on SME companies.
He reveals that the grant available
from the supplier programme and other
programmes like internationalisation is
extensive.
Business check
The grant that is called business or internationalisation check should be applied to
company development according to the
conditions of the programme.
“In general we can say that there is
enormous interest. I cannot answer for
the automotive industry’s suppliers on a
detailed level, but I know that the supplier programme is very successful.
That is why it has been extended,”
explains Stefan and points out the effort to
promote export delegation trips, like FKG’s
GoGlobal, as a good example of efforts that
develop companies and business.
Internationalisation
Stefan talks about building competitiveness to be equipped for internationalisation. It can be about anything from business development, marketing surveys,
partner searches, the law and to prepare
and adapt products and/or production to
produce for the international market.
“If we take the supplier programme it
is very much about thinking ”lean” and
efficiently towards customers and within
production.
We also know that there is substantial
development potential among Swedish small and medium size companies,”
concludes Stefan Nordin at The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional
Growth.
Göran Björk lund
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FACTS
Automatic steering manages
complicated production
IAC Group’s production plant is located door-to-door with Volvo
Car’s plant in Torslanda. Traditional production planning does not
exist there.
“The customer and an electronic Kanban-system plans hour-by-hour
directly for the operators,” says the Site Manager Magnus­Enarsson.
P
lastic granules enter the plant from
one end and finished components
come out the other end that are
sequence assembled to complete instrument
panels, door panels and glove compartments
that are installed in cars in the production
line at Volvo.
“We have invested in vertical integration
as much as possible and inserted all processes and elements required in the Låssby
plant. It is our strategy to be profitable in a
high-cost country like Sweden,” says Magnus Enarsson.
IAC has, therewith, cut down on transport, reduced stock, shortened lead times
and increased flexibility. Automated operations with a major impact on costs are now
side-by-side and in close proximity to the
customer.
The right variety at the right time
At IAC Lean Production applies to the highest degree. The plant should be able to handle hundreds of thousands of possible varieties, which will subsequently be delivered
Just in Time (JIT). It is the main reason that
IAC is located so close to Volvo. In order
to build the correct variety with short supply times an extremely customer oriented
organisation is also required.
“It is exactly the ability to be able to handle many varieties with high complexity that
defines our purpose.”
Consequently the customer Volvo steers
IAC directly hour for hour. Products in
process (PIP) are minimised and the production does not tie up a lot of capital. It is
also easier to manage any possible deviations, mostly because everyone knows everyone in the plant.
The Låssby plant purchases everything
itself: airbags, stereos, electronics, displayers,
navigations systems, which will be installed
in, for example, instrument panels and then
sells complete units to Volvo.
This puts considerable demand on logistics.
“We accept approximately 40 trailers per
day. We have, for example, air conditioning
systems in stock for maximum one shift. So
if Volvo’s assembly stops we have to close the
door for in transports since we simply do
not have space for more parts,” says Magnus
Enarsson.
Employees in the plant are a part of the
team with its own targets. The production
team is responsible for supplying a certain
key ratio and they have clear routines for
problem management. They also work with
continuous improvements.
Volvo has set very high quality targets
which, when broken down correspond to a
maximum of four errors from production
per week.
“In practice zero errors apply. However,
just a little dirt, a scratch or only one incorrectly assembled article can cause problems.”
Visual steering
In order for the assemblers to be able to
attain the high demands on quality and keep
order on how all the varieties of interior
components should be built, IAC uses a lot
of visual guidance.
“It is impossible to learn all the combinations so we use a support system built
on the poka-yoke principle, i.e. errors in
the processes and installation operations
are discovered immediately. We also have
quality audits that support the operators in
various way,” says Magnus Enarsson.
There is also an electronic Kanban system, which demonstrates Volvo’s contemplated plan of the products they would like
from IAC. The plan is converted into inventory balances for the incoming components
that are required to build complete units.
This method enables the operators to see, at
an early stage in the manufacturing chain,
what needs to be produced.
And when Volvo receives complete units
the stock levels decrease, etc.
“The kanban system keeps precise check
on what we produce, the amount of inventory and what we deliver. Therewith the
self-production planning stage is elimi-
Electronic support. Richard Agaeus works within
the entire foam process. Here he is at the station where
leather for the instrument panels is being unpacked.
The display seen in the background is part of the plant’s
electronic Kanban system. It shows the finished products
Volvo would like from IAC and therewith also which
incoming components the operators should use to build
the correct varieties.
IAC Group
• Has approximately 80 production plants around the
world.
• IAC is strong in the USA and northern Europa, expanding in Asia and taking market share in South Africa.
• Manufacture “all types of interiors for cars except
seats”.
• In principle all OEMs are customers of IAC.
• In Sweden IAC is located in Färgelanda, Skara and in
Låssby/Torslanda, Göteborg.
• The Låssby plant has 350 employees, whereof 6-7 percent are temporary.
• Production takes place in two shifts.
• Låssby manufactures cockpits (instrument panels with
air conditioning systems, stereos, displays and more),
door panels, glove compartments and air channels for
close to 200 000 cars per year.
• In the plant fully automatic injection moulding, foam
spraying, laminating, laser cutting and other mechanization with manual assembly of high complexity are
shared.
Advanced production. The plant that IAC Group AB operates in Torslanda is probably unique in the
world with respect to its large volume of complex products that are supplied Just In Time in combination with very advanced integration processes. Site Manager Magnus Enarsson is responsible for IAC’s
Låssby plant. Photo: Mats Ekendahl
Precision. Samira Heouaine and Hürü Tekcan
assemble cable networks that come in 150 varieties. They must be attached completely right
so that there will not be noise in the finished car,
and so that the cables are accessible for the final
assemblers at Volvo.
nated since the customer and the electronics do it for the operators who then take
responsibility and manage everything. We
can never over produce and the expense
buffer is minimized.”
Right person in the right place
The tough demands on employees mean
that it is incredibly important to find the
right person for the right position.
“It is, in principle, more difficult to
become an assembler at IAC than to get
a job as white-collar employees. Out of
one hundred applicants approximately
20 make it to the interview process and
of those perhaps two - five applicants are
employed,” says Magnus Enarsson.
The company and its employees attend
to its obligations to Volvo so well that the
company has received an extended supplier agreement for the new models to be
launched in the coming years.
“It is extremely nice. We must now start
to install new processes for Volvo’s future
models here in the plant.”
Streamlining and quality efforts are
constantly being carried out. Proof of this
is that the Production Engineer Leif Sandvik won the Swedish Assembly prize that
was awarded by the Swedish Assembly
Forum.
Leif Sandvik worked with the problem of
balance losses that arise in a production line.
“He calculated that the operators were
almost always ahead of the pace time that
they are given and that the few times they
exceed the time should not matter. So we
rebalanced the production system and
allowed some time violations. There is
now more flexibility and the system compensates itself for lost time. At the same
time as the pressure on the assemblers is
reduced we still receive more products per
hour,” says Magnus Enarsson.
The production line calculates its status
“It is, in principle, more difficult to become an assembler
at IAC than to get a job as a
white-collar employee"
based on the product mix that will be
manufactured, the operators’ positions,
problems that arise, etc. It is only when
the system itself is not capable of compensating for loss of time that the red light
comes on.
“We do not send people out on a socalled ghost hunt unnecessarily but rather
the system steers where our efforts should
be place in order to achieve maximum
efficiency.”
The system has generated a considerable
statistic base.
“With the system’s help we can also see
in advance what the output will be based
on who is operating what station in the
line,” says Magnus Enarsson.
Mats Ekendahl
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21
EU programme challenges
the Swedish supplier industry
SEK 60 billion in research subsidies on the line
EU’s framework programme
for research and innovation,
Horizon 2020, has earmarked
SEK 60 billion for research
within the framework for the
transport challenge.
Swedish carmakers and suppliers as well as universities
can apply.
A shift in the chain. In five years the suppliers’ share of responsibility for R&D increased from 33 to 50 percent. A new study indicates that the development will continue.
Photo: Jeanette Larsson
Increasing responsibility for
R&D is shifted to suppliers
Research and innovation is one of three prioritised areas for
the European collaborative organisation for the automotive
industry’s suppliers, Clepa. The others are supplying of competence respectively an intelligent set of rules and regulations, legislation.
C
lepa has conducted a special study
of where our industry spends and
distributes its money with respect
to research and innovation.
“We see how more and more within
research and development is being shifted to the suppler chain,” says Wolfgang
Meyer, aftermarket specialist at Clepa in
Brussels.
In 2007 the automotive industry/
OEMs accounted for two thirds of
investments in research and innovation,
while the remaining third was made up
by the automotive industry.
The new study clearly shows how more
is being shifted from the carmakers to
the supplier chain. In 2012 the condi-
tions were equivalent
between OEMs and
suppliers i.e. 50 percent
each.
Clepa’s forecast indicates that by 2020 two
thirds of all research
Wolfgang Meyer
and innovation expenses
will be attributed to the supplier chain.
“Future challenges like global localisation, volume dependency and modular
thinking among the carmakers will
mean that more moves over to the supplier chain,” says Wolfgang Meyer.
This is how the investments in R&D changed
(share in percent)
= the supplier industry
= the carmakers/OEM
33 %
2007
50 %
50%
2012
67 %
2020
Göran Björklund
67%
(forecast)
33%
Research
areas
Prioritised
research goals for
Clepa are:
- Traffic safety
- Green house
gases, CO2
- Intelligent transport systems
- Lightweight materials and design
- Manufacturing
technology and
competitiveness.
Together with
EUCAR, the pan
European collaborative organisation
within research
and development
connected to car
manufacturing
and road transport,
Clepa has adopted
three different
roadmaps for the
following areas:
- Traffic safety
- Green house gases
- Intelligent transport
systems, ITS
I
f everyone is diligent in applying for
research funds as usual, Swedish companies and universities can be awarded
approximately SEK 300 million in funds.
“The possibilities must be considered
quite good if Swedish industry achieves the
same level as during the last framework
programme FP7 (7th Framework Programme), says Esa Stenberg.
He is the contact person for Horizon
2020 at Vinnova, which administers the
Swedish portion of the programme, which
consists of “challenges” within various
areas including therewith transport.
The purpose is to create growth, competitiveness and therewith, social progress,
in the EU, EEC and associated countries.
“If we look back at FP7, 4.9 percent of
funds were allocated within the transport
challenge to Swedish organisations, and
a little over 44 percent went to companies
within the Swedish transport sector. It
was a considerably higher share compared
with the average for industry as a whole,
which was 27 percent within the
entire collaborative section,” says
Esa Stenberg.
On the side-lines the current transport challenge within Horizon 2020
there are other possibilities because of
other challenges for the Swedish automotive industry, for example within ICT
(information and communications) and
NMP (nano, material and production).
SME companies prioritised
A prioritized group within Horizon 2020
is the so-called SME companies, i.e. small
and medium size, which one hopes represents the future growth.
“20 percent of the funds will go to SME
companies within industrial management
and social challenges,” says Esa Stenberg.
The chances of receiving a grant from
Horizon 2020 cannot be predicted, but in
FP7 successful applications from Swedish
applicants was somewhat higher than the
European average: 22 percent compared
with around 20 for other countries.
Swedish representatives
The process behind the EU programme’s
publication texts i.e. the prerequisites that
apply are iterative and are based on, in
other words, repetition. The Commission
The transport challenge consists of three parts,
whereof one is environmentally friendly vehicles.
produces proposals that are discussed
in the programme committee where the
Member States have the possibility to
influence the content. Prioritisation takes
place during these discussions and two
people represent each Member State or
associated country.
In Sweden’s case there is one member
from a government agency and one expert,
who is appointed by the Department of
Education.
Each individual challenge has a reference
group connected to it, which functions like
a referral organisation to the members and
experts. Within the transport challenge
in Horizon 2020 Sweden is represented by
member Åsa Vagland from the Ministry of
Enterprise, Energy and Communications
and expert Inger Gustavsson, Vinnova.
Göran Björk lund
FACTS
Horizon 2020
The transport challenge
The purpose with Horizon 2020 is that
with a more independent view and
method of approach compared with
previous framework programmes, turn
research and innovative breakthroughs
into complete products and services that
can lead to business opportunities that
change people’s lives for the better.
Horizon 2020 will run from 2014 until
2020 and is the biggest collaborative
research and development programme
to date.
Horizon 2020 includes a number of
“challenges” where the transport
sector is one. Within the transport
challenge funds will be allocated to
applications that are/have:
• System perspective with a holistic
approach
• Encompassing of diverse transport
• Challenge driven
• More focus on urban transport
(For example by way of a so-called
lighthouse publication concerning
Smart Cities & Communities)
Manages the Swedish
section. Esa Sandberg,
Vinnova is the contact
person for EU’s framework
programme Horizon 2020.
The transport challenge’s
catchwords are smart, green
and integrated transport and
consists of three parts:
• Mobility of Growth
• Green vehicles
• Small Business and Fast Track
Innovation for Transport
22
The Vehicle Component 2 / 2014
Anders ekdahl
CEO Svensk Industriförening Sinf, Chairman AutomaTHINK
THE
THE FINAL
FINAL WORD
WORD
A
few years ago I was asked to
lead a think-tank for the industry
by the name of Automa-THINK.
At first I was somewhat questioning,
mostly because I believed that someone
wanted to reinvent the wheel.
Of course industrial country Sweden
must have an overabundance of think
tanks for industry? But that was not the
case. No one I asked knew of any. That
alone made it urgent to help out.
The possibility to discuss the industry freely in a think tank is not as easy
as one may think. It is about something
that affects all of society. Everything from
schooling to financing of the country’s
welfare, and somewhere in the middle is
the backbone, the heart and circulatory
system – industry.
As soon as the group was gathered it
became clear that two question were more
central than any others. First is to continue to work for increased competitiveness
and the other to attract the best employees to industry. A common denominator
for both parts is automation.
When the think tank gather we
spend a great deal of time reasoning
about the depiction of the industry.
A common understanding with the
public and unfortunately among youth
is that Sweden is in the midst of dismantling its industry.
This is based on the public information in, for example, the media, where
much is written about lay offs but not
about investments.
It is possible that monotonous tasks
that are replaced by automation will
increase competitiveness as well as
develop employees or attract new talent
to the industry.
Increased automation can also be the
solution to competitiveness from lowcost countries. A machine is not able to
run more than 24 hours a day anywhere.
It then becomes about management,
optimising production, quality, ability to
supply, entrepreneurship and proximity
to customers.
All of a sudden we have competitive
advantages that must be connected
with the term industry. Not just dirty,
boring and lay offs etc.
Those who must convey the message
about industry’s possibilities is you and
“Those who have to convey the message about
industry’s possibilities is you and me i.e. industry
itself because no one else is going to ’sell’ us."
VEHICLE
THE
COMPONENT
The Vehicle Component
is issued four times
a year in Swedish
and English. FKG is the
Scandinavian automotive
supplier association
Head quarters:
Bror Nilssons gata 4,
SE-417 55 Göteborg, Sweden
Tel: +46-31-711 89 01.
website: www.fkg.se
E-mail: info@fkg.se
Copyright: CFKG 2010
– Try our POLYfill HC!”
me i.e. industry itself because no one
else is going to “sell” us.
How then do we become sufficiently
creative to find future solutions? You have
most likely heard the term “think outside
of the box”. That provides a picture that
the solution is new and is elsewhere.
I come to think of the classic Swedish
children’s program “ 5 ants are more
than 4 elephants” and Brasse’s “Lattjolajban-låda”. A box with four things
and one of the things did not belong.
His friends Magnus and Eva had quite
complicated solutions, but Brasse
always had an ingenious solution. Often
simple and obvious.
What can we do in order to put
industry back on the map now when it
is an election year?
The answer is simple: it doesn’t matter who disappears, just as long as there
is a place for what we really need: a
Minister of Industry!
Publisher:
Reporter:
Advertising:
Fredrik Sidahl,
Managing Director, FKG.
Phone:+46 31-711 8901
+46 706 805953
E-mail: fredrik.sidahl@fkg.se
MATS EKENDAHL,
Newsroom
Phone: 031-712 40 12
E-mail: mats.ekendahl@
newsroom.se
Alexander Moreno
Ad 4 You Media
Krukmakargatan 22,
SE-118 51 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: 08-556 960 18
Fax: 08-556 960 19
E-mail: alexander.moreno@ad4you.se
Editor-in-Chief:
Göran Björklund,
Newsroom, Mässans gata 8, SE412 51 Göteborg, Sweden
Phone: +46-31-712 40 06, +46705-28 17 51
E-mail: goran.bjorklund@newsroom.se
Fax: +46-31-712 40 01
Project Manager
LEIF SIMONSSON, Newsroom,
Mässans gata 8, SE-412 51 Göteborg, Sweden
Phone: +46-31-712 40 11, +46-70-607 43 08
E-mail: leif.simonsson@newsroom.se
23
”Interested in lower
weight plastic parts,
which you can produce
with reduced costs?
How we can compete with low-cost countries
The Vehicle Component 2 / 2014
Photo:
JEANETTE LARSSON,
Newsroom
Phone: 031-712 40 16
E-mail: jeanette.larsson@
newsroom.se
Layout:
Tommy Apelqvist, Newsroom
Phone: +46-31-712 40 15
E-mail: tommy.apelqvist@
newsroom.se
Print:
Henrik Eriksson – R&D Manager
Det bästa!
Mechatronic Motion Solutions:
Elektriskt, pneumatiskt, servopneumatiskt eller en kompatibel kombination
www.polykemi.se.pdf
22:32
http://www.polykemi.se
Festo AB
www.festo.se/automotive
020383840
www.ruukki.se
Anz_MMS_92x130_dk_Q2ID.indd 1
Polykemi AB | Box 14, 271 21 Ystad, SWEDEN
Phone: +46(0)411-170 30 | E-mail: polykemi@polykemi.se
www.polykemi.se
16.05.2013 16:41:24
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2012-02-23
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