Experienced Production Manager builds up operations in Huddig Custom Solutions

It smells freshly painted. Facade signs are being put up, the floors are getting a new finish, and craftsmen are working on freshening up offices, changing rooms, and cleaning the large production area. The Production manager, Thomas Ekman, has been in place since June 1. With extensive experience building production facilities in Sweden and abroad, he is calmness itself. The plan is to roll in the first tracked vehicles for upgrading during the fall.

"This is an exciting phase where a lot is happening on the premises and other fronts. We are establishing contacts with suppliers and planning the production flow," Thomas says.

Project Manager Lars Lindahl, a board member and former CEO of Huddig, was pleased with the recruitment of an experienced Production Manager when this record order was secured. He will also remain active and support Thomas. As former colleagues, they are used to working together.

"Thomas is the perfect fit for this job. He knows what it takes to build a business from scratch and can combine quality, delivery reliability, and sustainability. Above all, he is a people person who can build teams and create a positive work environment."

The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration's (FMV) basic order for renovating and modifying 800 BV206/208 tracked vehicles has been placed with the jointly owned company Nordic Terrain Solutions. Huddig Custom Solutions is responsible for upgrading 600 of these.

Thomas is looking forward to taking on the assignment with his staff. The business is expected to employ about 25 people, most of whom will be assemblers or mechanics. The production area in the hangar will consist of an assembly hall, pre-assembly stations, a warehouse, and an inspection station.

"Thanks to the support of Huddig and Staffare, we can focus on staffing the production. It is a great advantage to have support functions such as finance, IT, purchasing, and supplier contacts in place from the start. Huddig's expertise in construction and production is crucial to ensure a good flow in the production line."

Sustainability is central to the business's planning, and great emphasis is placed on resource efficiency and transportation. Thomas sees this as an obviousness when starting from scratch and believes they now have the chance to plan right from the start.

"FMV decided to extend the life of the tracked vehicles and switch the fuel to diesel. "That in itself is a wise and sustainable choice, and of course, we want to carry out the assignment in the same spirit. Like all companies, we must take responsibility and act in the long term - environmentally, socially, and commercially."

The companies behind Nordic Terrain Solutions work closely together and contribute different skills to the project. Offices are prepared for visiting companies and temporary staff from Huddig and Staffare. In the conference room, a large screen sits on a Huddig red wall, ready for remote meetings.

The upgrade involves replacing the engine and gearbox, tools and spare parts, training drivers and technicians, and updating existing documentation.

"There will be many team meetings in the future, and since we are spread across Sweden, it will be efficient to meet digitally," Thomas says.