Flexibility and quality
While many hardware parts are produced in low labour cost countries, relocation is not on the agenda at Rutgerson, the Swedish manufacturer of marine equipment. "We see many advantages in keeping our production here in Sweden," explains Carl-William Rutgerson, production manager in the family business. "By keeping production in-house, we have complete quality control throughout the manufacturing process. It also saves transportation costs and allows us to have lower inventory than our competitors. This makes us more flexible and allows us to adapt quickly to our customers' demands."
High-tech machines
To remain competitive, Rutgerson has made significant investments in robotics and automation in recent years. The latest acquisition is a Mazak Integrex e-410 5-axis multi-function machining tool, which allows production to be maintained 24/7, even when no operator is in the factory. The Swedish fittings specialist has also equipped itself with a UR Robot and an Illig vacuum forming machine, which transforms 1x1.5m thermoplastic sheets into any shape.
Training
To keep up with the evolution of the business, Rutgerson must recruit ever more qualified personnel. In order to ensure a potential hiring pool at the local level, the company is involved in numerous training projects in schools to improve students' technical and industrial education.
