The team behind the construction
Building construction:
- Luleå: David Hagbo
- Överkalix: David Forsman
Mechanical engineering:
- Luleå: Petrus Esberg, Anton Hjalmarsson
- Överkalix: Andreas Larsson
- Gällivare: Ted Ekström
- Kiruna: Daniel Esberg, Henrik Esberg, Erik Esberg
We sat down for an interview with Petrus Esberg, Anton Hjalmarsson and David Hagbo to get an insight into how the design department works and what makes the job so unique.
“We are proud of our proximity to the workshop”
Petrus Esberg, a mechanical engineer and one of the designers in Luleå, describes the role of the department:
- Our department works on everything from small to medium-sized projects, often directly with industry. We work closely with project managers, which means that design becomes a natural part of manufacturing and assembly. When we work on consultancy projects, they can end up in manufacturing and assembly – sometimes in our own workshops, sometimes with others. We are proud that we get the positive pressure of having the workshops close to us. It means that we get direct feedback on drawings and calculations,” says Petrus.
“The best thing is to see your design become reality”
Anton Hjalmarsson has been working at VINAB for a year and a half and came straight from a mechanical engineering course in Trollhättan. He ended up in Norrbotten thanks to ice hockey and quickly became part of VINAB’s design department.
- We design, calculate, dimension and problem-solve. Sometimes you have to be creative to find the best solutions. One of the most fun parts is to see something we have designed come into the workshop and become a reality,” says Anton.
Cooperation and short decision-making paths
Despite the fact that the design department is located in several places, they work closely together.
- We have short meetings with each other every day via teams where we plan the weeks together, even though you work very independently, the team is always there when you need to bounce ideas and find solutions. Teams are also a great tool that makes us available wherever we sit to show and work with our customers, says Petrus.
David Hagbo, who has a background as a carpenter and self-employed, brings construction expertise to the department.
- I work more on building structures, but we work closely together. There are natural collaborations between the mechanical and construction sides, for example when it comes to foundations and platforms around machines. The shell and foundation are on the construction side, while machines and structures fall into the mechanical side,” says David.
The VINAB feeling
The Vinab feeling is also familiar in the construction department. There is a high ceiling and a familiar atmosphere throughout the construction group.
- We are a mixed group, some have civil engineering degrees while others have learned to draw within the company. Part of the teamwork is to ensure that everyone continues to learn. In a way, we have a nursery, but the best thing is when they stay and “take root” here and continue to develop with us, Petrus concludes.
VINAB’s design department is a strong engine of the company, where innovation, proximity to industry and team spirit create smart and sustainable solutions for the future.
