Be-Ge NEWS number 2 2023

News Nr 2 2023

STAFF MAGAZINE FOR THE BE-GE GROUP

Be-Ge C Logo & © 2009 June 20

EARLY ADOPTER OF NEW BUSINESS MODEL TEST ENGINEER WITH PLENTY OF INTERESTS RESPECTED SALES AGENT WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE

Successful diversion to the truck industry

PAGE 2 BE-GE NEWS

Record figures ahead of anniversary year Strong resilience and expectations exceeded. 2023 looks set to be another good year for the Be-Ge Group.

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efore the holiday period, the general view was that the second half of 2023 would also be a good one. And with just over a month of the financial year left, it is clear that this has been the case.

“The Group will once more present record-breaking figures in terms of both turnover and profit,” confirms CEO Håkan Hjalmarsson.

Strong corporate group The segments in which the Group’s companies operate have shown resilience in the face of the downturn in the economy that certain industries have suffered.

The Seating Division has performed very well in 2023, but the Component and Vehicle Divisions are also exceeding expectations. This means that Be-Ge will move into the special year of 2024, when the Group celebrates its 90th ­anniversary, as a strong group of companies with tremendous faith in the future.

It was nevertheless possible to discern a slight fall in demand during the ­autumn,

“The Group ­presents record-­ breaking figures in terms of both turnover and ­profit.” even within the segments where Be-Ge operates. But this decline is from high levels, so it has not been necessary so far to take any special measures to address this. If order intake and demand continue to decline, it is believed that the Be-Ge Group will be able to deal with the challenges this entails, and will therefore be able to meet increased demand from customers when the economy recovers.

“The fact that Be-Ge is still a strong, vital Group after 90 years would not have been possible without the engagement of all employees, which is why I would like to thank them for the efforts they make every day for Be-Ge and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,” says Håkan Hjalmarsson. n

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Karl-Henrik Eriksson at 100

Loyal employee Karl-Henrik Eriksson was congratulated by Be-Ge on his 100th birthday.

In the first issue of Be-Ge News in 2021, we told the story of Karl-Henrik Eriksson and his son Per-Olof, who between them had worked at Be-Ge for more than 100 years. Karl-Henrik reached his 100th birthday on 8 November, and Be-Ge naturally celebrated him on this special occasion.

Per-Erik Persson, son of founder BrorGöthe Persson, has known Karl-Henrik for most of his life, and writes: “Of all Be-Ge employees, Karl-Henrik is the one I have known the longest. We met back in the 1930s, and I was there on Whitsun Eve in 1937 when my father

PAGE 10 BE-GE NEWS

Faithful servants for just over a century

from scratch.

They both learned their profession Peo can now After almost 50 years at Be-Ge cars, Karl Henrik

father call himself Master Mechanic, while "Dad definitely than 50 years mostly worked with trucks for more within the Group. didn't pressure me into starting at Be-Ge. It just happened naturally".

involved in the production of Be-Ge’s “Snabb” gas unit. When the truck workshop moved out to the newly built premises on Södra Fabriksgatan in of 1961, he joined the company as Head Operations.

"I was also responsible for all our truck workshops, paint shop, rubber workshop and Be-Ge’s branches here.

That was a lot of work. But at the same time very fun and educational,"

Father and son Eriksson have been faithful to Be-Ge throughout their entire working life and have a total of over 100 years of employment together.

"It’s always been great to go to work," confirms Karl Henrik, 97, and his son Per-Olof "Peo", soon 65.

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emphasises Karl Henrik.

There was no real surprise when Peo followed his father's footsteps.

He was happy to accompany him to the workshop as a child when the opportunity arose. He was also a beater for the hunting club from an early age.

"Dad definitely didn't pressure me into starting at Be-Ge. It just happened naturally. I’d had a summer job before I got and as a 15-year-old on 3 July 1972, on a permanent job in the car workshop Köpmangatan," he explains.

he two faithful servants quickly add that it is not just the job that has contributed to their long service within the Be-Ge

sphere. Cohesion and the community have also been important. Not least the through the hunting club, based on

Persson family’s property in Ramnebo, north of Oskarshamn.

"From the elk hunt through to February, almost every weekend and much of our other free time was spent hunting. They were wonderful times," recalls Karl Henrik, who over the years has downed over 30 elks.

Recruited by the founder He was recruited to Be-Ge by founder Bror Göthe Persson immediately after confirmation. They were already familiar with each other through Karl Henrik’s by father Axel, who was also employed Be-Ge for 24 years.

“On 18 May 1937, I took my bike the from the parental home in Århult to factory on Köpmangatan, where I started as a at the petrol station and eventually boy in the workshop,” he says smiling.

For a while, Karl Henrik was also

Master Mechanic Initially, Peo walked next to the more the experienced mechanics and learned profession from scratch. Over the years, he has taken a lot of in-house training courses and now has the title of Master Mechanic.

"That means that I’m trained in most of the repairs we carry out in the workshop. There has been huge technological development and it's been fascinating to be involved in that journey,” he says and explains that he has also driven a tow truck under the auspices of Be-Ge for more than 20 years.

has The community in the hunting club been a contributing factor to their long-standing Group. joint employment within the Be-Ge father Together, Per-Olof “Peo” Eriksson and 100 years.

Karl Henrik have worked here for over

Between 1976, when the car workshop also moved out to the current premises, and up to when Karl-Henrik retired in 1988, father and son Eriksson

worked under the same roof.

"It worked really well. We’ve been able to distinguish between work and private

life," they confirm in agreement.

For almost 40 years, they have also had the hunting club, where a number of employees from Be-Ge’s various departments and divisions have been involved over the years, as a common denominator. Karl Henrik is still involved, even though he is not active in the forest.

On the other hand, Peo is.

“It’s still just as much fun to get out into the forest and socialise in a completely different way than in far everyday life,” says Peo, who has so downed six elks.

In the autumn, he turns 65 and plans he to start winding down at work. But doesn't yet know if he’s ready to retire completely. a "I like the job. So I still need to work little more," he explains, and his father

Karl Henrik nods in agreement.

"Even though it’s been a long time since I left, I still visit Be-Ge occasionally.

There aren't many left that I know anymore.

But it’s always nice to be there. n

1972

1934

Bror Göthe Persson (Be-Ge) founded the Group by taking over a petrol station on Köpmangatan in Oskarshamn.

1937

Karl Henrik Eriksson started at Be-Ge’s petrol station on Köpmangatan.

1940s

Over the years, many new businesses have come and gone within the Group. In the 1940s Be-Ge produced a gas generator for cars and trucks under the name "Snabb".

1961

The current plant in Oskarshamn was built where the truck workshop first moved.

Since 1976, car sales and workshops have also been housed in the premises.

Founder Bror Göthe at a 1957 truck cab.

Persson

Per-Olof Eriksson was permanently employed at Be-Ge’s car workshop on Köpmangatan.

1988

Karl Henrik Eriksson retired after 51 years with the same employer.

­ ired him. Karl-Henrik started as an h ­errand boy and left as workshop manager after 52 years of employment. It’s a great pleasure for me to celebrate his 100th birthday. It’s thanks to employees like Karl-Erik that we can celebrate 90 years as a successful Group.” n

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New business model for VW One single price – regardless of sales agent.

On November 1st, Volkswagen introduced a new business model, which sees all electric vehicles and company vehicles for larger companies being sold at fixed prices.

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Fixed prices The business model means that all electrified vehicles from Volkswagen (this also includes cars from Skoda and transport vehicles) are sold at fixed prices.

Company vehicles where a company has more than eleven company vehicles are also included in the model. The vehicles are sold directly from the general agent to the end customer, without first being purchased by dealers.

“It will be an easier process for us and a more streamlined sale, receiving fixed remuneration for every vehicle delivered.

For the customer, there’s no bargaining room like they’re used to, but on the other hand there’s peace of mind with the vehicle costing the same, wherever you buy it,” says Peter Ek. Selling VW since 1951 Since the business model does not yet apply to all vehicles, staff will have to

Peter Ek, MD of Be-Ge Personbilar in Oskarshamn, talks about the new business model from Volkswagen that came into force on 1 November.

work in parallel in different systems for the foreseeable future.

“Apart from that, there’s no big difference. We’ll continue to offer the same range of vehicles and services as before, and demo vehicles will continue to be available from us. The used vehicle business is becoming even more important than before, because it’s something we control ourselves, just like accessories and service,” says Peter Ek. Be-Ge Personbilar AB is an authorised dealer for Volkswagen cars, Volkswagen transport vehicles and Skoda cars. The

company has facilities in both Oskarshamn and Vetlanda. The company is privately owned and part of the Be-Ge Group.

“We’ve been selling Volkswagen cars since 1951 and have always ­endeavoured to offer customers a secure car ­purchase, also a secure car ownership through an effective ­service ­organisation. We have well-­trained employees, adapted equipment and ­modern premises,” says Peter Ek. n

The new Volkswagen ID.7 is the latest member of the ID family with a range of up to 700 kilometres. The first vehicles will be delivered to customers at the end of the year. An estate version will also be launched next summer.

Photo: Volkswagen

olkswagen is quite an early adopter of this business model.

Only Mercedes has adopted the same approach, and it’s working well for them. More brands will ­certainly follow, it’s just a matter of time," says Peter Ek, MD of Be-Ge ­Personbilar AB in Oskarshamn.

PAGE 4 BE-GE NEWS

Recharging batteries in the workshop She’s had a varied working life, to put it mildly. But now Emily Saxon has found where she belongs.

Since the beginning of October, the newly qualified mechanic has been employed at Be-Ge Lastbilar in Oskarshamn.

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he initial question asked to ­Emily Saxon by Workshop Manager Viktor Zander during her first visit to Be-Ge Lastbilar was whether she knew what a wrench was. An extremely relevant question, as her previous work experience hardly involved tinkering with trucks.

“I’ve done quite a lot of things before.

But being a truck mechanic was totally new to me,” says Emily.

The way she found her way into the industry was pure chance. After a long period of sick leave followed by parental leave, Emily felt ready for work again.

On the Platsbanken job portal, she saw that Be-Ge Lastbilar was looking for ­mechanics.

“It struck a chord right away. Without any previous experience at all, I felt that being a truck mechanic would be a job for me. Good working hours and a suitable wage for a single mother of three.”

“Even though I’m half-British, it was difficult studying in English at college.”

Back to Sweden Emily is originally from Stockholm. In her early teens, she moved to Målilla with her family. After upper secondary school, she started working in the hospitality ­industry, and also in healthcare and nursing. She ended up in England and started to study marine biology.

“Even though I’m half-British, my dad is from Manchester, it was a bit d ­ ifficult studying in English at college. So I

Personal facts Emily Saxon Age: 38 Home: Town house in Fårbo Family: Children James (5), Kelly (3) and Lindsey (1 year and 9 months) Job: Mechanic at Be-Ge Lastbilar since October 9th Hobbies: Spending time and having fun with my children. I used to love horses, and dream of buying a small horse farm in the future.

Favourite places: Fårbosjön lake, Stensjö By heritage village and Fallebo Gård together with my children.

­ ropped out of the course after a while,” d says Emily.

After returning to Sweden, she had set her sights on becoming a teacher and began a teacher training course at Lin­köping University. But fate was to intervene, and instead she moved to Norway, where she alternated between restaurant jobs and work as a petrol station assistant. In 2015, the course of love took her back to Sweden and Köping. After the first two children were born, the family decided to move to Småland, where ­Emily’s mother still lived.

Soon after moving to Fårbo, almost three years ago, Emily realised that she was pregnant again.

“It wasn’t really planned,” says the mother of three, explaining that some time after the youngest daughter was born, she separated from the children’s father and started looking for a new job at the same time.

Training via Lernia Through a collaboration between Be-Ge Lastbilar and the Swedish Public Employ-

ment Service, Emily received an enquiry about future jobs in the workshop and an offer of training via Lernia. An offer that suited her down to the ground.

After completing her parental leave in ­February this year, Emily started on ­Lernia’s course for mechanics. At the same time, she had the opportunity to start practising in the truck workshop, and one thing led to another.

“I really enjoyed it from day one. With the help of my amazing colleagues, I was able to start making myself useful right away. It’s also largely thanks to them that

BE-GE NEWS PAGE 5

“It’s thanks to my amazing colleagues that I feel that I’ve ­finally found the right job for me.”

After previous jobs including the restaurant industry, Emily Saxon has found her niche in Be-Ge Lastbilar’s workshop in Oskarshamn.

“It struck a chord right away,” says the newly qualified mechanic happily.

I feel that I’ve finally found the right job for me. I feel good here and can recharge my batteries,” confirms a happy Emily.

In addition to a fast track through the course and a keen interest in the job, Emily believes that her previous knowledge of wrenches also contributed to her getting a job at Be-Ge Lastbilar.

“Of course, I knew what a wrench was.

I grew up with brothers who enjoyed tinkering with machines, and I’ve had to get under the bonnet of a few old cars that had broken down over the years,” says the new truck mechanic with a smile. n

PAGE 6 BE-GE NEWS

Cross-border company An already hard-to-beat starting point has become even better.

From the Dutch city of Zaltbommel, Be-Ge Seating B.V. is ­operating in newly renovated, adapted premises.

“The conversion gives us faster communication and more ­efficient work methods,” confirms Managing Director Paul van der Westen.

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e-Ge Seating B.V. has its ­business premises in the heart of the Netherlands, right next to the busy A2 motorway and the River Waal. The proximity to not just one, but two logistical arteries gives the ­company advantages in terms of both service and sales.

“We can easily reach our customers and our customers can easily reach us. Since we carry out installations in ­vehicles both in our own workshop and on site at customers’ premises, short distances are a good thing. Belgium is close by, and it’s not far to the Ruhr area in Germany either,” explains Paul van der Westen, who has been in charge of the company since 2020.

Strong relationships Before being acquired by the Be-Ge Group in 2014, the business was known as Savas Seating and was one of the oldest independent dealers of the Be-Ge brand in Central Europe. In addition to the 27 employees in Zaltbommel, there are two employees based in France and a subsidiary in Germany with two ­employees.

“The phasing out of Savas products held us back somewhat in the first few years, but we compensated for this through increased sales of Be-Ge seats.

To a large extent, we’ve m ­ anaged to retain the same customers, so the relations-

Facts Be-Ge Seating B.V Be-Ge Seating B.V. in the Netherlands, together with the subsidiary Be-Ge Seating GmbH in Germany, sells and represents all Be-Ge Seating Division’s seat products and brand names. In addition to the Netherlands and Germany, the companies operate in the French and Belgian markets. Be-Ge ­Seating B.V. has turnover of SEK 65 to 70 million outside the Division, and 31 employees.

All staff areas have been totally renovated.

Paul van der Westen confirms that the future looks bright for Be-Ge Seating B.V.

Newly renovated, adapted premises provide an improved work environment for staff.

hip was stronger than the products themselves. At the same time, we’ve moved into new markets, including the Port of Antwerp, which we’ve been actively targeting, and where we’ll now be replacing seats in the large cranes, to name just one example,” says Paul van de Westen, adding that the future looks bright.

“The order situation for next year is very good. In the railway sector, which accounts for about half of our turnover, orders extend over a long period of time, with seats to be delivered over several years. So we can already see that next year will be a good one for us.”

A long-term approach is also the key to customer relationships, in true ­Be-Ge spirit. Paul van der Westen sees clear similarities between the ­business climate

and the traditions in the ­Netherlands and Scandinavia.

“Our customers include many ­family businesses, but also large global companies that require a different kind of relationship. What both have in ­common is that the relationship is built up and ­becomes stronger over time. For ­example, we’ve been supplying products and services to the railway industry for more than 20 years, not only in the Netherlands, but also in France. Then there’s the small company that comes to our showroom and buys one seat a year for one of their forklift trucks or cranes.

In other words, we have a very diverse customer base, just like the businesses in Sweden and Denmark.”

Be-Ge Seating B.V. recently signed

BE-GE NEWS PAGE 7

Photo: Peter Honcoop

strengthens its position

Managing Director Paul van der Westen and CEO Håkan Hjalmarsson cut the ribbon to declare the newly renovated premises in Zaltbommel, Netherlands officially open.

Delighted staff at the official opening.

Having warehouse and workshop in one place contributes to more efficient workflows.

a new long-term rental contract for its business premises in Zaltbommel. As a result, the business was concentrated to one building instead of two, which has meant that both floor space and rental

costs have been halved. A total renovation was initiated at the beginning of 2023, the move took place on 1 July, and the premises were officially declared open in August.

The relocation means that all 18 office workspaces are now in the same place, and staff have modern workstations with adapted lighting and ventilation to ensure a good work environment. One floor down, there is a complete spare parts warehouse and workshop offering installation service, maintenance and repairs.

“Thanks to the move, we can work much more efficiently. We’re closer to each other and don’t have to transport goods and materials over long distances.

This solution has enabled us to maintain our excellent location in Zaltbommel, while the premises are better adapted to the company we are today,” says a satisfied Paul van der Westen. n

Photo: Suna Borgaard

PAGE 8 BE-GE NEWS

one Shooting and historic weapons are His now. right ests inter of Peter’s main the favourite gun is a Carl Gustaf 96 from ury. early 20th cent

Practical testing combined with 3D modelling. Here together with Development Manager Dennis Stjernholm Isaksen.

Interest-­packed days create ­ freedom at work The job gives rise to ideas for leisure projects. And leisure time inspires problem-solving at work.

Peter Jakobsen fills his life with interests and finds an outlet for them both during and outside working hours.

Personal facts Peter Jakobsen Age: 45 Home: Klitmøller, North Jutland Family: Girlfriend Christine and dog Anker Job: Test and Product Engineer at Be-Ge Seating A/S in Frøstrup Hobbies: Cars, military vehicles, old weapons, gravel bike riding, orienteering, shooting, surfing, hiking

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and worked hard to restore it until two years ago, when I finally finished. It’s one of the last models from the time Alfa Romeo was owned by the Italian state, and it’s a genuine 80s classic.”

Italian theme It might seem chaotic, but there is a common thread. A red, white and green one, to be precise. With two Ducati ­motorcycles, a De Rosa bike and above all an Alfa Romeo in the garage, a distinct Italian theme emerges.

Drove across Europe After restoring the car’s bodywork to its original condition, replacing brakes, bushings and much more, Peter took his girlfriend Christine on an unforgettable trip to the Italian Alps. But Christine was looking for an adventure on her bike rather than in a car, so there had to be a compromise.

“I bought a bike rack that I modified to fit the car, then we loaded the bikes and started driving through Europe. I felt like James Bond driving his Lotus with skis strapped to the roof. It was great fun, with everyone tooting their horns and

t was surfing that took him to northern Jutland, and subsequently to a job at Be-Ge Seating A/S in Frøstrup.

Now, eight years on, the surfboard remains mostly on the shelf, but there is no shortage of leisure interests in Peter Jakobsen’s life.

“I can spend a lot of time on a ­particular hobby for a few years, before I move on to the next interest,” he ­explains, listing cars, old weapons, cycling and orienteering as either active, dormant or newly discovered interests.

The remnants of prototypes in the workshop at home are an example of how work and leisure complement each other in a positive way for Peter.

“It’s probably down to my dad. When I passed my driving test, he owned an Alfa Romeo that I was allowed to borrow from time to time. Ever since then, I’ve loved the brand and Italian design in general,” says Peter, who owns a 1985 six-cylinder GTV 6.

“I found it down in southern Germany,

Foto: Volkswagen

BE-GE NEWS PAGE 9

Facts Off-road vehicle by Peter Jakobsen Peter has converted a 1975 Volvo C303 TGB11, also known as Off-Roader 11. He switched to a diesel-powered Mercedes engine, changed the gearbox, raised the suspension, changed to bigger tyres and built a folding bed for two people in the rear using an IKEA frame. When it was finished, he took it on a surfing trip to ­northern Spain.

“It was originally used in Sweden on Holmön near Umeå, where I bought it. Christine and I drove it home to Denmark, and it only ­broke down once on the way,” says Peter with a smile.

After a day at work, Peter continues to tinker, test and invent at home in the garage, often accompanied by his dog Anker.

“It’s more the rule than the ­exception that I make some kind of ­adaptation.” waving to us on the motorway,” Peter recalls with a smile.

The shiny aluminium wheels also ­required some modification. To make sure they fitted properly, Peter manufactured an adapter in his workshop at home.

“When I buy something new, it r­ arely fits perfectly with what I’d intended. So it’s more the rule than the exception that I make some kind of adjustment or ­adaptation. It’s just the same in my work – I

Car and cycling trip to Italy in the restored Alfa Romeo GTV 6.

always see opportunities for improvement.”

In his job as a test and product e ­ ngineer, Peter works in a team with three other people in the ­Development ­Department in Frøstrup. This gives him the ­opportunity to pursue many of his interests, and the good conditions for testing ideas, solving problems and developing new products mean that he experiences a great deal of freedom in his work.

“Compared to other places I’ve ­worked, there’s also a totally different level of ­variety here. Of course, we draw a lot in a 3D environment on the computer, but we can also go to the workshop and create prototypes using all the tools available there. We also have our own test facility, where we can try out how the things we’re working on withstand different stresses at an early stage. ­Working like this really is great fun.” n

Peter maintains that being able to perform tensile tests on the company’s own test rig is a major benefit at work.

Photo: Dovilė Čižaitė-Jonikė

PAGE 10 BE-GE NEWS

Vaičaitienė Vaida emphasises the contribution of every single employee as being important to the company’s success.

Quality drives success Be-Ge Baltic UAB celebrates 20 years of ISO certification, while continuing to invest and expand.

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partners can immediately see that we deliver quality, and that we meet the necessary requirements,” confirms ­Managing Director Vaida Vaičaitienė.

he end of the summer was Improved internal processes ­memorable for the w ­ hole The regular monitoring audit of these of ­Be-Ge Baltic UAB. The certificates was conducted on 25 August ­employees from the cutting, this year. This involved an evaluation of sewing, assembly and administration the management system, sales and deliv­departments gathered to celebrate an ery processes, the work environment and extraordinary anniversary. Because it is the production infrastructure. Pleasingly, 20 years since the company, which spethe audit showed very good compliance cialises in industrial sewing, ­upholstery with the standards. and component asAfter implementing the sembly, was certiinternational quality and fied in accordance environmental standards with the standards ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, the for quality and company has continuously environmental and consistently impro­management ved its internal proces­systems, ISO ses over two decades.

9001 and ISO Employees have been 14001. actively involved and geenga es’ As a thank-you for the employe “An anniverencouraged to grow the lts, resu good the e ment and to celebrat sary well worth together, as quality presented was UAB ic Balt e Be-G at team e. acknowledging. is one of the most with an impressive cake to shar The fact that we important principles in work at Be-Ge work in accordance with international Baltic UAB. standards means that customers and “Every single employee is really

important, and the contribution of every employee is significant as part of the whole. Every­one follows our processes and rules, and understands that quality is important. We’re proud that the standards are not just a piece of paper, but that they are put into practice in day-today work,” emphasises Vaida Vaičaitienė.

Investments under way In parallel with its quality work, the company is also making progress on several fronts, including an investment in new air conditioning. This initiative is a means of looking after staff, in view of the increasingly hot summers.

Project planning is also currently under way for canopies for the outdoor storage of components and finished goods for delivery. Despite moving to newly built premises with a doubling of production space just six years ago, they are already starting to run out of space.

“It’s pleasing that the company is growing, and it’s important that we make these investments. We’ll be ­making another major investment in our ­premises in time for spring, by installing a solar cell system on the roof,” explains Vaida Vaičaitienė. n

BE-GE NEWS PAGE 11

Be-Ge powers up for the future At the beginning of September, Be-Ge Lastbilar’s MD Tomas Engsund cut the ribbon for the public rapid charger located next to the plant in Oskarshamn.

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he charger is available to everyone and has an output of no less than 300 kW. You can charge both trucks and cars and, given the capacity, it’s relatively fast, he explains.

Be-Ge Lastbilar’s new charger is part of the Virta payment service, and downloading the app and registering an account makes it both quicker and easier to pay.

“If you also register as a customer with Be-Ge, the price for charging will be even cheaper,” emphasises Tomas Engsund.

The rapid charger is another step in Be-Ge Lastbilar’s wide-ranging environmental initiative. A total of 800 solar panels recently came into operation on the roof of the car sales showroom and workshop in Oskarshamn.

New cabling The electricity generated will meet one third of the business’s total needs and will also partly power the new rapid charger. Jan Helgosson at Helgossons EL-Teknik AB was responsible for the installation of both the solar cell system and the new charging station.

“To be able to deliver such a high capacity in the charging station, and also be prepared for future expansions, we’ve laid totally new cabling and also installed

Be-Ge Lastbilar’s MD Tomas Engsund the ribbon at the opening of the rapid charger.

cuts

a completely new cable cabinet,” he says.

Be-Ge Lastbilar is ready for the delivery of the first electric truck in Oskarshamn, with another five or six potential buyers waiting in line.

“The fact that we’re now able to offer local charging will almost certainly ­generate even more interest,” says Tomas Engsund, with nods of agreement from Thomas Olofsson and Mikael B ­ rodin, members of the truck sales team. n

Truck salesperson Mikael Brodin, Be-Ge L ­ astbilar’s MD Tomas Engsund and Sales Manager Viktor Persson at Be-Ge Personbilar see major benefits for both the environment and accessibility with the new public quick charger next to the Oskarshamn facilities.

NEWS FROM BE-GE GROUP

Sustainability work continues in Seating

New employees Marie-Therése Jansson has taken up the position of ­Controller in the Be-Ge Group. She will work primarily on ­developing financial control at both Group and subsidiary level. Marie-­ Therése joins the Group from ­Oskarshamnsvarvet AB, where she was CFO. David Bertling has started work at Be-Ge Företagen AB as a PC Technician/Data ­Technician. In recent years, David has been working as an IT ­technician at ­Datarådgivarna in Norrköping.

A very warm welcome to Be-Ge!

As an element of its sustainability work, the Group is continuing to invest in solar cell systems. At Be-Ge Seating AB in Oskarshamn, solar cells with an output of 309 kW and 421 kW respectively have been installed on the roofs of the two properties. Be-Ge Lastbilar AB also has plans to install solar cells at the truck workshop in Visby.

Be-Ge Group 90 years old

1934 On October 1st 1934, Bror-Göthe Persson took 2024 over Tegmans Bilimport, and began developing and laying the foundations for what is now the Be-Ge Group. The 90th anniversary will be celebrated in many ways in 2024. An anniversary party will be held for the Swedish units on Saturday 5 October. Our foreign businesses will ­celebrate the anniversary in different ways, with further information about this to follow later.

Important meeting place As in previous years, Be-Ge Stece AB and Be-Ge Plåtindustri AB partici­ pated at Elmiamässan trade fair in Jönköping, which was held this year on 14-16 November. Both were on the Mönsterås stand together with some other companies from the region. Elmiamässan is a good place to meet both new and existing customers.

Popular Veteran Car Day Be-Ge Veteran was first held in September 2017, and is an event where Be-Ge Lastbilar AB welcomes veteran vehicles for an exhibition.

Down the years, it has been a very popular occasion for customers, visitors and ­employees alike. It is a wonderful and rewarding event, where people can meet and have a nice time together with lots of amazing vehicles of different kinds. During the day, prizes are awarded in different categories and there are tasty snacks available. The event is now so popular that it was held twice this year, once in Hultsfred in the spring and most recently in Visby on 7 October, where it attracted around 50 visitors.

The Be-Ge Group is a family-owned group of companies with operations in Sweden, Denmark, United Kingdom, Lithuania, The Netherlands and Germany. The Group comprises of several business areas such as Be-Ge Seating division, Be-Ge Component Division and Be-Ge Vehicle Division.

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