CONTEXT ENG #1 2023

CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

PASSIONATE ABOUT TECHNOLOGY

A MORE SUSTAINABLE WORLD IS ONLY ACHIEVED THROUGH

COLLABORATION

TEAPaN A DIFFERENCE

FOR SOCIETY

INDUSTRY ECOSYSTEMS MAKING WAY FOR FURTHER POSSIBILITIES IN DIGITISATION

SUCCESS IN MELBOURNE’S PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WITH

“PUSH TO COMMUNICATE”

VIRAL CONSAT & EBERSPÄCHERs

JOURNEY

EDITORIAL PHOTO CHARLOTTE WAHLGREN

Daring to Win sionately, and smarter. It’s an enduring competition where the battle for top positions is constantly challenged.

The star of Consat Telematics keeps on burning brightly, as we continue to win and deliver cutting-edge systems to a growing number of customers. The global shift towards electrification is progressing swiftly, underscoring the necessity for sophisticated systems like ours to effectively manage the burgeoning electric bus traffic at a large scale.

We have outstanding systems, a great position, and above all, fantastic employees. These factors collectively contribute to our rapid growth across all markets. Diversifying risk through operations in multiple markets is also a key strategy for Consat Telematics. Our recent venture into Brazil exemplifies this approach, where our team secured a contract for two train lines to São Paulo in late summer – totaling 120 carriages.

Adding to the gratification is our client, CCR, a major player in Brazil’s transportation sector, encompassing air, bus, and rail services.

Apart from the electrification focus, On Demand is the other major topic in public transport. We have something truly extraordinary in the pipeline for this domain, but that’ll remain a secret for now.

AS THE PANDEMIC SUBSIDES, there’s war

not only measured by our hourly, or

Consat Data is experiencing consis-

in Europe, high inflation, high-interest

component, price but by the value we

tent growth, forming partnerships with

rates, and a weakening Swedish cur-

deliver has continued to prove effective.

an increasing number of external small

rency. Many industries are affected, and

At the time of writing, the Consat Group

and, as we commonly refer to them,

ultimately, so are we – everything is tigh-

as a whole has never been more success-

medium-sized enterprises. We might

tening. Our philosophy of spreading our

ful. I am incredibly proud to be a part

need to adjust the classification of

risks, maintaining high momentum,

of this journey where we, together, and

medium-sized companies for some of

and operating in contexts where we are

I mean truly together, work hard, pas-

Consat Data’s clients, such as BRA Bygg,

2 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

EDITORIAL

which has grown into a multi-million-

Consat Engineering is on a trajec-

Designer for exterior design at Volvo

dollar company through the construc-

tory of consistent growth, proactively

Trucks. Furthermore, Patrik Palovaara,

tion of advanced signature buildings,

investing in strengthening its ability to

with extensive experience in the watch

World of Volvo, GoCo, and more. Custo-

deliver increased value through project

industry and product design for several

mer satisfaction is always rewarding,

deals, ideally integrated with ongoing

major brands, will be part of the team,

and what adds to the excitement with

service agreements. The crucial role of

and more such talents are expected to

BRA is their enthusiastic referrals of

IoT and digitization in this pursuit can-

join in the near future…

Consat Data to other clients, undersco-

not be overstated. With our deep-rooted

The above is, of course, just a selec-

ring their contentment.

industrial domain expertise, platforms,

tion of ongoing developments and our

Among our group of companies, Con-

and pragmatic approach, we strive to

aim forward. There’s s great energy in

sat SES stands out as the one grappling

establish a foundation for long-term,

refining our existing strengths while

most with the challenges of the real

value-creating relationships with our

at the same time, boldly exploring new

estate industry. While the importance of

customers. As a testament to our glo-

horizons in sync with the evolving

energy efficiency is universally acknow-

bal engagement, during the comme-

landscape. There is much talk about AI,

ledged, the immediacy of pressing issues

moration of 75 years of collaboration

and of course, there are downsides, but

often leaves many real estate customers

between India and Sweden, Consat has

much of it is about learning new ap-

struggling to make informed decisions.

received an invitation from the Sweden

proaches and seeing opportunities with

In response, Consat SES has strategically

India Business Council to lead a panel

new technology. One must dare to win,

pivoted towards the industrial segment,

discussion focusing on our perspecti-

and by moving forward together with

recognizing the substantial potential

ves on digitization, AI, and industry.

strong momentum, one becomes more

for efficiency improvements given that

As another part of the project stra-

customers oversee both properties and

tegy, Consat Engineering takes a sig-

processes – wherein processes typically

nificant step into Design and User Ex-

Thank you for your exceptionally good

constitute the largest energy consump-

perience (UX) by establishing a new

work.

tion. An intriguing venture within this

subsidiary. The company will start at

domain is our graywater heat exchanger,

the turn of the year, operating inde-

Geiser, a product developed through a

pendently yet adding substantial value

collaborative effort between Consat SES

to both Engineering and the broader

and Consat CIP. Sales for this innovative

Consat Group with its highly skilled

solution are now gaining traction, show-

design professionals. Leading the way

casing undeniable market potential.

as CEO is Ismail Ovacik, now the Chief

resilient to obstacles along the way.

Martin Wahlgren

For many, this may be the first time you read ConText. ConText is the magazine that takes the time to tell in more detail about our innovative and challenging projects and not least what it is like to work at Consat. Our ambition is to use interesting articles and good visual material to describe and highlight in which contexts Consat operates.

www.consat.se info@consat.se

Publisher: Martin Wahlgren Editor in Chief: Jenny Fredér Text Editor & Translation: HolyComms Editing Assistant: Gabriella Wendt Design: Happy Camper Reklambyrå Graphic Design: Andreas Eklöf Print: Billes Tryckeri Coverpage: Selena van der Horst / Photo: Anders Jungermark

Min 12 mm hög

+46 31 340 00 00

CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 3

CONSAT ENGINEERING

“I get to understand both software and hardware and how they sync, not just coding all day.”

Selena van der Horst 4 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

CONSAT ENGINEERING TEXT MATILDA SANDÅ PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF, ANDERS JUNGERMARK, AI GENERATED

VARIATION

SELENA IS SHARING HER EXPERIENCES AS A TESTING ENGINEER AT CONSAT:

TEAMWORK

AND DEVELOPMENT

Being a testing engineer at Consat means being involved in many different contexts. Selena has been employed for approximately a year – a period that, in addition to a series of tests, has brought forward several opportunities and insights.

The sense of teamwork, the variety, and the challenges are what she believes make Consat such a great workplace.

S

ELENA WORKS as a testing engineer at Consat, a role that makes her involved in various projects and assignments. From developing test plans for new productions to conducting tests, documenting, and communicating insights – it all falls under her responsibility. This August she celebrates her one-year anniversary with the company.

– It’s truly been a year of varying assignments. As a testing engineer, I can suggest what can be done or improved with a product; perhaps software and hardware need to interact more seamlessly and I test how it appears to the user, whether we’re receiving the correct currents and voltages in the right places, or how a machine behaves over a longer period of time. Sometimes I press a button a hundred times to

write down what happens. It’s a highly varied job, and it’s very fun, Selena explains.

DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH DIVERSE TASKS Throughout the year, Selena has primarily worked on a project called Expro, where she has done both testing and software development. On some days however, she’s involved in other in-house projects where she comes across even more varied structures and tasks. She finds that the opportunity to try out so many different things, with the attitude of helping one another, is what makes Consat such a great workplace.

– I was a recent graduate when I started, but still have been the one supporting software, providing input, or coding and assisting with hardware. I’m still relatively new, but I feel that I’m constantly evolving CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 5

CONSAT ENGINEERING

SELENA

FUN FACT Selena is a fire blower! A hobby she took up during her studies at Chalmers.

by learning new things that we run into in the tests.

The fact that she ended up at Consat was thanks to a friend who, towards the end of Selena’s education, recommended she apply for the testing engineer position. Since starting last August, she has experienced a variety of workdays that overall makes her believe that Consat is a workplace with high potential for development for each employee.

– There’s a very close collaboration here, where we help one another and get the opportunity to try out different things. That’s probably the most enjoyable aspect, to do a little bit of everything.

One day I program a new feature, the next day I see how it appears in the system. I get to understand both software and hardware, and how they sync, not just type code all day. It’s so fun to be challenged in this way; I’m constantly learning new exciting things.

ACCEPTANCE OF MISTAKES FOSTERS THE WILLINGNESS TO SAY YES

“It makes it easier to say yes to new opportunities, when I know it’s okay if things go wrong sometimes.”

The team spirit at Consat is something Selena truly has appreciated during her time as a newcomer. The open environment where mistakes are allowed and questions are encouraged has created a relaxed atmosphere that makes it less stressful to feel uncertain.

– I’ve asked so many questions and learned from them. The fact that it’s this relaxed allows you to look at different mistakes, reflect, and learn from them. I think it makes it easier to say yes to new opportunities, when I know it’s okay if things go wrong sometimes.

“CONTEST” PROVIDES ROOM TO DISCUSS METHODS AND APPROACHES Opportunities for development at Consat also come up in between assignments. Selena mentions that she’s been offered the chance to explore several test-specific certifications while waiting for a new project. There’s also a networking group called ”Contest” that consists of the dozen testing engineers who work at Consat. The group meets for breakfast about every other month to share experiences about assignments and past work. The goal is to provide space for developing and discussing methods and approaches.

– Most recently when we met, we had a very interesting discussion about AI and how it can assist us in our jobs instead of taking over them. Of course we can use AI as an idea generator, but it has to involve a certain level of source criticism around the information you find; you have to have knowledge about what you’re testing in order to determine whether the answers you receive are reasonable or not. Still, it can be helpful when generating an objective test script. I want to believe that AI will help us develop our own knowledge rather than taking over everything, Selena concludes.

6 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

Selena is blowing fire

“I want to believe that AI will help us develop our own knowledge rather than taking over everything.”

CONTEXT / #1/ 2023 7

CONSAT ENGINEERING TEXT MATILDA SANDÅ PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF

CLIMB THE CAREER LADDER SLOWLY;

OR IT CAN BE HARD TO

COME BACK DOWN

Ragnar Hallgren happened upon a job at Consat Engineering when visiting Chalmers Student Union’s career fair. A place to finish his degree project led to a career, and 25 years later he is now Executive Vice President. Consat has clearly changed over the years, but the great work culture, fantastic colleagues and interesting technical development make Ragnar thrive and stay. Consat Engineering creates just as much excitement and thrill as his number one hobby: mountain climbing.

8 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

Ragnar Hallgren

CONSAT ENGINEERING

C

ONSAT ENGINEERING is a place for engineers with a passion for technology. Inside the company’s four walls you find broad competence in mechanical engineering, industrial technology, AI and IT – to mention a few. This is nothing newfor any Consat coworker, but the fact that this is where it all started in 1986 might be. Back then, Consat Engineering was all there was. As a step forward in the organic growth of the company, several new business areas eventually took place within the group forming new constellations. Today we know them as the Consat Group, and Consat Engineering is still one among the five. This is where Ragnar Hallgren works as Executive Vice President.

THE CULTURE OF CONSAT CREATES POSSIBILITIES FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL In addition to recruitment, education, budgeting, and ensuring the health and happiness of coworkers, Ragnar is responsible for the staff and expertise at Consat.

But, thanks to the work culture, all roles are complex and with a wide range of responsibilities – regardless of being a manager or an engineer. According to Ragnar, it’s in Consat’s best interest to take care of each individual as well as the group as a whole to ensure that the company stays together.

– It’s in the culture of Consat to step in where it’s needed, meaning that you get to do a bunch of different things in a week’s 10 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

time. After working here for a couple of years, you’ve gained quite a bit of experience. I’d guess the job as Executive Vice President would be different and more structural somewhere else at another company, but then it probably wouldn’t fit me.

CHALMER’S CAREER FAIR LED THE WAY TO RAGNAR’S CAREER The complexity of working as Executive Vice president has had its impact on Ragnar’s knowledge of Consat, but it’s far from his only experience. His career at Consat started as a software developer right after finishing his degree project, nearly 25 years ago.

– I ran into an old friend at Chalmers Student Union’s career fair. I knew him from our mutual interest in road racing. He was working at Consat, and standing in their booth at the fair he introduced me to his colleagues who immediately offered me an interview. Later on, when they asked me when I could start working, I told them I needed somewhere to get my degree project done first and they answered “well, then we’ll fix a project for you”.

Initially, working as a software developer opened up the opportunity to become a project manager, which led Ragnar to the position of IT manager, and ultimately Head of Department. The experience of so many different titles within the same company is something Ragnar finds valuable in understanding his colleagues’ everyday lives at Consat.

– The insights I’ve gained after all years of working here make it easier to understand others’ contexts and help give advice. I tell our developers to climb up the career ladder slowly, otherwise, it can be hard to take a step back and come back down.

THE CULTURE OF CONSAT BREEDS CREATIVITY Ragnar mentions that the journey he’s had with Consat has been long but amazing. In his role as Vice President, he’s making use of the inspiration from his own previous managers, in many ways they’ve contributed to and shaped the leadership Ragnar is now carrying himself. He thinks they all have had a big impact on running the organization forward.

“Great engineers are to be found at other companies as well, but this culture where every employee can step forward with ideas and thoughts contributes to a creativity that I think leads to fantastic solutions.”

CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 11

About

RAGNAR HALLGREN Lives: Delsjön in Gothenburg Years at Consat: 25 Number of roles at Consat since start: 6 Current role: Executive Vice President Hobby: Mountain climbing

12 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

CONSAT ENGINEERING

“Jan-Bertil, the founder of Consat, is a big source of inspiration to me.

His way of running a company while prioritizing every employee – it’s a culture that is still firmly rooted in both me and the company.”

– Jan-Bertil, the founder of Consat, is a big source of inspiration to me. His way of running a company while prioritizing every employee – it’s a culture that is still firmly rooted in both me and the company.

What characterizes Consat is the openness and trust in each individual. This creates an environment and authority that Ragnar thinks is contributing to the great team and, combined with the interesting technical development, that is the reason for him staying at Consat all these years.

– I believe this goes hand in hand. Great engineers are to be found at other companies as well, but this culture where every employee can step forward with ideas and thoughts contributes to the creativity that I think leads to fantastic solutions. It happens that clients come to us asking for help, with no clue how we’re going to solve the problem, but we have been able to succeed every time. Our workforce is truly amazing, creative and forward-thinking at all times. We often get the chance to help clients completely, without any competition from other companies.

MOUNTAIN CLIMBING IS A GOOD WAY TO PUT WORK-LIFE ON HOLD It’s clear to anyone that Consat has become important and close to heart for Ragnar. The excitement he feels when closing a deal is the same as when hiring a new employee. Outside of work, he finds thrill in adventurous sports such as road racing, skydiving and mountain climbing. The last one has been a big part of his life since military service where it was presented to him for the first time. Since then, climbing has become a family interest and Ragnar has been coaching his daughter who reached the European national team. Today his work takes up most of his time, but climbing is still something he returns to when feeling the need to put work life on pause.

– The best part about climbing is that it forces me to keep a 100% focus. It means that it’s absolutely necessary that I stop thinking about work, and after a couple of hours, my mind is completely clear.

CHANGE IS CHALLENGING, YET NECESSARY It’s been many years since Ragnar ran into his friend at Chalmer’s career fair and lots have happened since. Consat is clearly not the exact same company, but asking if Ragnar would say yes to a position there today, his answer’s yes. Change has to happen at companies over time – not only does the organization require more, but the business climate does as well. The competition out there, combined with less room for mistakes, has given Consat more structure.

While the transformation is a positive aspect of Ragnar’s work, it is also his greatest challenge.

– I think change is always challenging.

We’re actually going through a transformation right now, trying to clarify and streamline our processes. We want to enable a healthy expansion of Consat and I think that makes it necessary to try new things. If we don’t change, it’s hard to develop.

CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 13

CONSAT ENGINEERING TEXT MATILDA SANDÅ PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF

30/30 AUTOPLEAT LINE:

FROM IDEA TO FULLY BUILT MACHINE 14 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

CONSAT ENGINEERING

Taking a project from concept to a fully built machine that brings value to customers – that’s Henrik Grahn’s greatest motivation at work. Henrik has recently played a key role in the development and construction of the 30/30 AutoPleat Line, a machine designed to automate Camfil’s production of the 30/30f panel filter – a project that relied heavily on his unmatched expertise and experience in machine design.

Henrik Grahn CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 15

CONSAT ENGINEERING

DID YOU KNOW THIS ABOUT HENRIK? Henrik is quite the DIY enthusiast – he, for example, built the villa where he lives with his family. Over the course of two years – mostly during evenings, nights, and weekends – he constructed the house, completed for movein in 2020. He worked alongside his father, who has an extensive background in the construction industry. Quite an achievement!

HENRIK’S CAREER JOURNEY began with a mechanical engineering program at KTH. Two decades have passed since he graduated, and during these twenty years, he’s worked in various roles across different workplaces, always centered around mechanical engineering and his passion for engineering. Currently, Henrik is in his thirteenth year at Consat Engineering and over the years, his responsibilities have varied. Today, he’s responsible for Consat’s project activities in Stockholm, a broad role where he oversees everything delivered to customers – from start to finish.

– I’m like a janitor – I do it all, Henrik says with a laugh. You could say I’m a salesperson, project manager, buyer, assembler, and financial manager, all at once. Having such a broad role is very rewarding as you get to take responsibility while also gaining a holistic view of the projects being 16 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

worked on. Initially, you’re involved in generating ideas for how to solve customers’ problems and challenges.

Designing and constructing the equipment and then putting the machine together, to finally (at last), give it a test run. Bringing your ideas to life and seeing that they work as intended creates such a drive within me – and sometimes, you almost get a bit of megalomania! The machine we’ve built for Camfil is a perfect example of this.

HOW THE 30/30 AUTOPLEAT LINE STREAMLINES CAMFIL’S FILTER PRODUCTION As a leading manufacturer of air purification solutions, the multinational company Camfil provides commercial and industrial systems for dust separation and air filtration. Today, Camfil produces millions of filters each year. To maintain their compet-

itiveness and profitability, a highly efficient and trouble-free production chain is crucial – and that’s where Consat comes into play.

– Our mission for Camfil has been to create, build, and deliver a machine that automates filter production. Camfil needs to be able to rely on the machine performing flawlessly – nothing can go wrong, as any failure would have significant consequences for the production. Given the large-scale production and the machine’s role in replacing human labor, its functions are held to very high standards. A new filter comes out of the machine every six seconds, which not only leads to big cost savings and a streamlined production chain, but also significantly reduces vulnerability due to workforce shortages. To be able to contribute to so much value for a customer is both very exciting and meaningful, Henrik says.

“Bringing your ideas to life and seeing that they work as intended creates such a drive within me.”

CONSAT – AN INNOVATIVE ENGINEERING COMPANY WITH DIVERSE EXPERTISE Throughout his long career, Henrik has worked in both consulting firms and companies, often taking a handson role in various projects. Combined with his education, this has resulted in an almost unbeatable skill set in mechanical engineering. An important reason for why Henrik has chosen to stay at Consat and practice his profession is the continuous growth and development he experiences – both in his professional role and as a human being.

– At Consat, there’s room for growth in the direction you choose. If you’re skilled, eager, and driven, you can advance where you want within the company. Besides having the opportunity to explore different areas of responsibility and take on larger roles, I find that I’m growing both as a person

and in my profession. For instance, I’ve become more direct in my communication and know when to put a stop to things that aren’t working – both in my projects at Consat and in my personal life, Henrik shares.

Another reason Henrik thrives at Consat is the pride and honor he feels in what he and his colleagues deliver to customers – something made possible by the diverse expertise within the company.

– When it comes to complex projects like building a machine for Camfil, it’s all about the people. Consat is a solid engineering company with employees possessing incredibly high expertise – something I’m extremely proud to be a part of. What also defines our organization is an innovative approach to the projects we undertake, and combined with the in-house expertise, this machine is a testament to that mindset.

About

HENRIK GRAHN Age: 42 Lives: Järfälla Family: Wife and two children, aged 7 and 3 Interests: Building houses and restoring vintage cars Years at Consat: 13

CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 17

Martin Lundh

18 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

CONSAT ENGINEERING TEXT MATILDA SANDÅ PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF, AI GENERATED

COMPLEX PROBLEMS LEAD TO

INNOVATIVE

DESIGN SOLUTIONS Martin Lundh joined Consat for the first time in 2012 as a consultant, following the completion of his thesis work at the Stockholm office where he worked with machine vision and for the first time came into contact with CQV – Consat’s inhouse developed vision system. Now, he’s taking the wheel as Head of Consat Engineering’s Projects and Products.

THE CQV SYSTEM, OR PLATFORM, is used to create customised solutions, enabling continuous and consistent real-time production monitoring. It’s robust, flexible, and user-centric, and became Martin Lundh’s primary focus during his several years at Consat, before taking a three-year pause to work in software development in a different domain. Since 2021, he’s returned to take charge of CQV, vision, and automation departments, and is now stepping into the role as Head of Projects and Products at Consat Engineering, including the vision platform.

– CQV is a platform used to build vision applications so that we can create customised solutions or develop and support

our projects. The framework we’ve created is stable and versatile, and a valuable asset for our own machine-building projects.

We can lean on it as a foundation, and then our talented employees at Consat build the vision solution itself, says Martin.

THE FRAMEWORK IS IN CONSTANT DEVELOPMENT CQV has proven to be a valuable tool for Consat’s engineers when developing applications in an efficient and robust way.

Martin explains that solving a customer’s problem requires everything from problem mapping to system design and commissioning, with CQV playing a crucial role throughout the process. And they’re CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 19

CONSAT ENGINEERING

“The primary benefits of using CQV come from Consat’s understanding of how a solution is used on the factory floor, what works, and what requirements are imposed in such an environment.”

20 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

CONSAT ENGINEERING

“The best part is when a customer comes with a complex problem, and we get to design the solution in an innovative way.”

CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 21

22 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

CONSAT ENGINEERING

“It’s when it comes to more challenging one-piece solutions that we excel.”

...COMPLEX PROBLEMS LEAD TO... continuously exploring ways to further productise the platform: – We’re trying to do this in various ways to cater to an even broader range of customers. Today, we have CQV 360, a specific application that we sell to the pharmaceutical industry, where we inspect small vials, bottles. Now, we’re looking into something we call ’Part Checker’, where we examine whether the components in a particular detail are assembled correctly. We also want to develop CQV for integrators, where we can sell licences to other machine builders that create their own vision applications. In that case, they could get the framework from us, complete with all the know-how we’ve already built in.

CQV MEASURES ALL BALLERINA COOKIES The CQV framework has a solid foundation, but which constantly can be packaged in new and more accessible ways. Its primary users are manufacturing industries in various forms, spanning a wide spectrum of customers; food, pharmaceutical, and metal processing companies all benefit from this technology. One of the companies benefiting from CQV is Göteborgs kex, and the Ballerina cookies.

– We observed and measured all the cookies and checked the quantity of filling. Cookie height, diameter, ensuring the cookie isn’t cracked, and that it’s placed correctly are examples of important factors that can be monitored with CQV. Incorrect cookies were sorted out so that only correct cookies made it to the packaging stage. The biggest challenge at Ballerina was if the cookies got too much filling, making it impossible to seal the packaging properly, Martin explains.

WE EXCEL IN CHALLENGING ONE-PIECE SOLUTIONS There are competitors that offer alternative solutions to CQV, but Martin explains that what sets CQV apart is its flexibility in handling more challenging one-piece solutions. Ballerina cookies are produced in one or two production lines, and there’s no market for selling additional similar systems. Here, CQV can deliver a spe-

cialised system at a competitive price due to its flexibility.

– It’s when it comes to more challenging one-piece solutions that we excel. We often say that we have a vast toolbox that can efficiently solve one-piece problems with great flexibility. The best part is when a customer comes with a complex problem, and we get to be involved from the beginning, designing the solution in an innovative way. Thinking outside the box and finding different types of solutions, taking the system all the way to commissioning and seeing it operate in reality, whether it’s for sorting, robot guidance, or quality control with CQV – the best part is seeing the system run at high speed with great precision, Martin says.

Martin explains that the primary benefits of using CQV come from Consat’s understanding of how a solution is used on the factory floor, what works, and what requirements are imposed in such an environment. Within the near future, he looks forward to continuing to work on productising the framework.

– Developing some standard applications and increasing their volume would also lower the cost of a solution for the customers. With the right standard applications, we can deliver more systems, reach an even broader customer base, and continue to enhance and expand our commitment to the manufacturing industry.

CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 23

CONSAT

A GOOD CHOICE

100% WANTS TO REDUCE CO₂-EMISSIONS WITH

BY CHANGING THE WORLD OF PLASTICS Their vision is clear, A Good Choice wants to change the world of plastics - and they are on their way. Replacing fossil plastics with degradable biomaterials from A Good Choice will lower the CO₂ footprint in the product by 94%. They were founded in 2017, but A Good Choice already has close collaborators with the car, packaging, and lighting and electronics industries. It’s impressive, but we’re not surprised.

24 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

CONSAT TEXT MATILDA SANDÅ PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF

Peter Gummersson CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 25

CONSAT

S

IX PEOPLE ARE WORKING for A Good Choice with the ambition to offer biomaterials that bind more CO₂ than the production emits. The result would reduce the number of CO₂-emissions with 100%.

Peter Gummesson is the CEO, his journey with A Good Choice started in 2019 when he was standing by his son’s soccer game and heard about it by chance.

– I was working for Volvo Group, trying to create plastic toys to be used in their marketing activities, back then no plastics were environmentally friendly. Michael Lagerlund, responsible for sales and business development at A Good Choice, was standing next to me by the same soccer field and we completely confused each other. He told me that he’d been testing an environmentally friendly plastic material for a product and I found it so interesting.

The rest is history, Peter says.

“Good people won’t make bad decisions if better options are available, we can see that there is a great engagement out there.”

IN 8 YEARS, 50 TONS OF INFILL WILL BE REPLACED ON 70 000 SOCCER FIELDS A Good Choice is trying to change fossil plastics by working with bioplastics in different segments of the industry. So far the material has revolutionized the market where the company’s ongoing projects have reached a bunch of different contexts. What the customers want is degradable plastics in everything from packaging in agricultural and nature projects to artificial grass fields.

The grass fields are going to be a big part of the company for the coming eight years.

– In collaboration with the city of Gothenburg, we have been measuring what happens to artificial grass infill outside the field. We have developed an infill material that actually decomposes – which means that we can now enable soccer on fields that don’t leak microplastics. Our measurements have been certified by FIFAS Quality Pro så now we are hoping to launch this solution for municipalities and Europe as soon as the new legal requirements are 26 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

presented. This means that 50 tons of infill in each field will be replaced on about 70 000 soccer fields.

CONSAT – A BUFFET OF KNOWLEDGE In his role as CEO, Peter is responsible for project management and business development. As part of the board in the Nordic Bioplastics Association, he stays updated on the current news from the market. Consat, on the other hand, contributes to the development and management of customer projects in order to assist A Good Choice as an investor.

– Usually, in many of our customer-based projects Consat contributes with the customer, constructions and tools while we can

CONSAT

FABRIC

FUN FACT Among other things, A Good Choice material can be made into thread, yarn, and textile fiber that can be used to manufacture clothing and furniture fabrics.

assist with the material. We keep in contact many times each month, they are almost like a buffet of knowledge that we get to use.

Our contact Emil Brandt from Consat Innovation suggests possible connections to us which is a great way for us to efficiently gain both knowledge and quality in our projects, it’s really great, Peter says.

THE ENGAGEMENT AMONG THE CUSTOMERS PAVES THE WAY FOR A GOOD CHOICE DEVELOPMENT Since A Good Choice biomaterial won’t generate any microplastics, while the impact of CO₂ in the manufacturing process is lower, Peter can see how a future generation will be presented to a cleaner world if the bigger companies would engage on a higher level.

He is convinced that everyone wants to make the right decisions if they can, on LinkedIn he can already see a great interest in A Good Choice.

– Good people won’t make bad decisions if better options are available, we can see that there is a great engagement out there. Several oil companies are visiting our LinkedIn to see what we are up to.

The challenges are found in ISO standards, fire shelters and requirements that the bioplastics have to adapt and achieve.

Even though, Peter sees a bright future for A Good Choices development. The knowledge that’s been collected over the last couple of years enables the company to run its projects at a higher tempo and Peter believes that the number of projects and their volume will increase.

– The first projects that you undertake when you start a company will take some time to complete. Maybe you don’t have all the knowledge needed yet and all kinds of processes and decisions can take time, but now I would say that we know exactly how to work and we do it really well. I believe we will have a harmonized stream of projects in another three to four years, but we are already in a scale-up phase today where we are ready to get our material out on the market. We will bring the experience from our previous projects in order to develop ourselves, the customer and their product.

It’s exciting, Peter says.

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CONSAT ENGINEERING

Sreeja Vijjapu 28 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

CONSAT ENGINEERING TEXT MATILDA SANDÅ PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF

SUPERKONS LEADS THE WAY TOWARD A

CARBONNEUTRAL CONSUMPTION CULTURE Sreeja Vijjapu has a clear ambition: to transform the world’s consumption behavior and raise awareness about the toxic plastics in every product we bring home. This vision has given birth to the self-starting company Superkons, which primarily aims to reduce the amount of water and plastic transported and single-use plastic waste created in the personal care and hygiene segment. Insights into the harmful environmental effects of plastics, coupled with the lack of transparency in product contents, are now paving the way for a more sustainable consumption culture.

EVERY YEAR, THE SWEDISH FOUNDATION IFS highlights talented entrepreneurs for the King Carl Gustaf’s Award ”Entrepreneur of the Year.” The nominees for the award are entrepreneurs with a foreign background who have succeeded in developing and running a business with growth poten-

CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 29

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tial. Consat’s partnership with the entrepreneurial-promoting organization aligns perfectly with its ambitions to showcase inspiring innovation and promote networking, teamwork, and collaboration for successful entrepreneurship.

During last year’s award ceremony, Consat’s paths crossed with Sreeja Vijjapu, who was nominated for her work with the company Superkons and her vision of developing a carbon-neutral organization. The idea was born during her work as an influencer, where she creates content about beauty and skincare for social media. Among the products she tests daily, there is rarely a thought given to reuse, and on Superkons’ website, she highlights the issue of plastic consumption.

– Plastic with toxic chemicals can be 30 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

found in almost every product, and the packaging often lacks clear information about this fact. I wanted to contribute with an effective solution to all the changes we need to make if we are to help our world, so the vision of Superkons is to offer sustainable products that inspire people to make conscious choices in their everyday lives, Sreeja explains.

RESEARCH ON HUMAN CONSUMPTION BEHAVIOR PAVES THE WAY FOR CHANGE Sreeja herself believes that a drastic change in our consumption patterns is required. Since the founding of Superkons in 2020, she has conducted extensive research to understand people’s behavior towards products in plastic packaging. The lack of awareness about the ingredients on labels, coupled with the obsession with a brandnew plastic bottle every time a new hygiene product is purchased, has become evident. Now, she wants companies to change their production practices instead of waiting for consumer demand for more sustainable products. She is accompanied on this journey by a partnership with Consat.

CONSAT ENGINEERING

HOTEL

FUN FACT Did you know that an average night’s stay at a hotel is a surprising contributor to carbon emissions?

Here’s why: On average, a single hotel room generates around 40 kg of CO₂ per night. About 6% of that comes from ”single-use consumables and pool” activities. And within that 6%, we’re looking at soap, which accounts for approximately 10% of those emissions.

In a hotel with 300 rooms, a complete overhaul for a 100% reduction in soap-related CO₂ emissions could save an impressive 26,280 kg of CO₂ annually – equivalent to driving about 7,400 km in an average petrol car.

The products you choose matter, soap matters!

– We are incredibly enthusiastic about Superkons. It’s a great product and a fantastic sustainability project to be a part of. Superkons targets both B2C and B2B markets while incorporating technology that needs to be developed step by step. It’s exciting and enjoyable that Consat can contribute with what we do best: mechanical and product development. With the help of our talented engineers, we have the opportunity to create a great sustainable product together with Superkons, says Håkan Kroksmyr, Consat Business Unit Manager, Stockholm.

Working on a specific product allows Superkons to stand out among Consat’s projects, which makes it particularly exciting.

However, Håkan highlights that there is also something very inspiring about working closely with other entrepreneurs.

– It becomes an enjoyable workflow that suits Consat very well; Superkons knows what they’re doing, and we can progress together. Furthermore, it feels entirely right that, while Superkons contributes to a project that technically aligns well with Consat, it also aligns perfectly with the sustainability aspect we aim for in order to reach the 2030 climate goals.

“While Superkons contributes to a project that technically aligns well with Consat, it also aligns perfectly with the sustainability aspect we aim for in order to reach the 2030 climate goals.”

THE ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR CAN BE SEEN AS A GATEWAY TO THE BUSINESS WORLD OF NETWORKING Jenny Fredér, who is the Marketing Manager at Consat, was present during the evening when Sreeja reached the top 3 in the competition. She is pleased with the partnership Consat has with the foundation and describes how she perceives the award ceremony as having enormous value in several aspects.

– We need to create greater awareness of how diversity adds value, particularly within business and entrepreneurship. Different backgrounds, cultures, and nationalities enrich our society, and our entrepreneurs are not just role models but creators of innovations, companies, and job opportunities, says Jenny.

CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 31

CONSAT ENGINEERING

“Plastic with toxic chemicals can be found in almost every product, and the packaging often lacks clear information about this fact.”

Being nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year is like a gateway to the business world of networking. Companies receive assistance in promoting their operations while connecting with like-minded contacts who can help each other progress.

For Sreeja, it was an incredible experience to be a part of; she describes it as there being no limits to how much Entrepreneur of the Year paved the way for inspiration, and Jenny mentions how the encounter with Sreeja and Superkons was energizing in an entirely new way.

– I got such incredible energy from Superkons and Sreeja. What excites me and what I find truly impressive is that she’s attempting to change our consumption behavior. Here, we’re not just talking about developing an eco-friendly soap; we’re talking about creating a sustainable product that makes a difference at every stage while also focusing on the consumer. Having that mindset from the outset is crucial to succeeding.

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE TO ACHIEVE IS IN THE B2B MARKET Superkons launched B2C last year through an online webshop at www.superkons.

32 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

com and can be purchased to start your impact journey. Currently, the company is working to reach the B2B market as well. The reason behind this is the purchasing power held by the companies that Sreeja believes will contribute to even greater carbon dioxide reduction. Here, she sees significant potential in the collaboration with Consat.

– Companies have a much larger footprint; just imagine having a presence at an airport—the number of places and people we could impact is incredibly vast in the B2B market. I often say that the ship Superkons is sailing on needs better fuel, and I believe Consat is that fuel. They bring their experience and knowledge of Sweden and the tech industry, making them crucial for us to achieve our vision.

The challenges in successfully replacing all plastic in the market are, obviously, numerous, but both Jenny and Håkan think that the Consat Group has much to offer. They are convinced that collaboration is the key to advancing a business.

– Taking the product to the B2B market is not just one single project. It will continue over a long period to build a product, validate it, and plan how to reach the market and grow. Right now, we are in an exploratory phase where we need to fully understand the consumer, which is challenging but incredibly exciting, Håkan says.

Sreeja is optimistic about Superkons’ future. Looking a few years ahead, she envisions the company as a ”lifestyle brand” that has changed consumption behavior.

– I want Superkons to become problem solvers by getting people to talk about the sustainability challenges we face. That has been the entire purpose since day one, to contribute to the change we must make for our world. If we manage to move the world even a small step toward the better, we have succeeded, Sreeja says.

CONSAT ENGINEERING

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CONSAT TEXT HANNA BENGTSSON PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF, UNSPLASH

A MORE SUSTAINABLE WORLD IS ONLY ACHIEVED THROUGH

COLLABORATION Consat’s CEO, Martin Wahlgren, shares how the environmentally focused work at Consat began, the standout sustainability projects, and the greater accomplishments made through collaborative efforts.

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CONSAT

“We want to practice what we preach and uphold our values, not only for our benefit but also for our employees and future colleagues.”

M

ARTIN WAHLGREN embarked on his Consat journey back in 1995 when he joined the company as a regular consultant. Within a year, he was asked if he would consider building a department focused on technical solutions. He accepted the challenge, and the rest is history. From that point onward, his journey at Consat has been marked by versatility, with Martin taking on various roles. For the past six years, he has held the title of Group CEO. – I thrive at Consat, it’s not like anyone has forced me to stay. Since we work within so many different areas, there are always new and exciting opportunities at the company, says Martin, adding: and I am very curious.

“TIMING IN RELATION TO THE MARKET IS CRUCIAL, AND IN OUR CASE, WE WERE SIMPLY AHEAD OF OUR TIME.” Martin’s account of the inception of the sustainability project at Consat highlights a pioneering colleague who, as far back as the 1990s, foresaw the future’s shift toward alternative power trains and hybrid systems. Her environmentally oriented ideas in the 1990s were quite groundbreaking – something that attracted people with similar dedication and knowledge to Consat’s automotive group at the time. Although finding missions within the sustainability project framework proved challenging, 36 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

the initiative persisted and eventually evolved into Consat Sustainable Energy Systems (Consat SES).

– Timing in relation to the market is crucial, and we were simply ahead of our time.

Today, sustainability is a central focus for all of Consat’s subsidiaries, with a commitment to seeking solutions with minimal or zero environmental impact. The overall interest in sustainability has also seen a significant surge. Martin continues: – We want to practice what we preach and uphold our values, not only for our benefit but also for our employees and future colleagues.

WISHING TO BE PART OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST SUSTAINABILITY NETWORK Martin goes on to discuss a pivotal step in charting their course – their membership in the UN’s European Global Compact Program (EGCP), representing the European arm of the world’s largest sustainability network within the private sector. EGCP aligns with the UN’s 17 Global Goals, consisting of 169 sub-goals that emphasize promoting peace and strengthening international cooperation.

Within Consat, the subsidiary companies collaboratively select the sub-goals to prioritize, with a particular emphasis on Goal 17: ”Implementation and Global Partnerships.” This cooperative ethos permeates Consat, both internally and in collaborations with other companies and organizations.

– Solving these complex problems is challenging on your own; we need to cooperate to steer everything in the right direction.

Teamwork and collaboration are integral to our ethos, Martin emphasizes.

“TOGETHER, WE ARE STRONGER” One shining example of a successful and substantial partnership is their association with Netgroup Engineering, a network company co-founded by Consat in 1999. Netgroup comprises several niche specialist companies that have joined forces to collaborate within the automotive industry. Following the merger, Netgroup

emerged as one of the leading service providers to the Swedish automotive industry.

– We liken ourselves to Bamse and his friends, triumphing over the big wolf pack through teamwork – because together, we are stronger. Netgroup continues to grow, and we’re attracting more qualified partners, says Martin.

Martin also spotlights Lindholmen Science Park as another testament to the power of collaboration in which Consat plays a vital role.

This initiative took root after the shipyard crisis in Gothenburg, with a vision to transform the old shipyard into an innovation and tech development hub. To give impetus to this vision, Lindholmen Science Park was established, jointly owned by the city, Chalmers, Göteborg’s University, and industry giants like Volvo, Ericsson, Saab, and Consat.

Today, Lindholmen boasts a larger workforce than in the shipyard’s heyday, standing as one of the world’s premier centers for automotive development. It remains one of Sweden’s largest and most prominent Science Parks and has gained international recognition. This achievement, Martin underscores, wouldn’t have been possible without collaboration. However, it’s not a self-operating mechanism; it requires sustained engagement and effort to evolve.

– Being part of Lindholmen Science Park is like getting a gym membership. However, having a membership is not enough to build muscles; you have to go to the gym and work out. By training together, you help each other and build more muscles faster.

CONTEXT / #1/ 2023 37

“I remember being frustrated about why our elected officials invested in certain things and not others.”

Filip Kjellgren 38 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

CONSAT TEXT MATILDA SANDÅ PHOTO AI SWEDEN, AI GENERATED

STRENGTHENED BY THE

FREEDOM F

ILIP KJELLGREN WORKS AT ”AI SWEDEN – Sweden’s National Center for AI,” responsible for building the organization’s initiative in the energy field.

The goal is to explore how AI technology can support the creation of a long-term sustainable energy system. When he was involved in initiating AI Sweden, artificial intelligence was far from as prevalent as it is today. Nowadays, he avoids wearing the organization’s logo in public to avoid being stopped on the street.

– We could see the rise of AI coming long before it exploded about a year ago.

Today, there’s a lot to do. Now I avoid wearing our company backpack when I’m out so people won’t stop me. It has happened before, and people asked, ’Do you work with AI? You’ll take our jobs!’ I can understand the concern, but we must remember

AT CONSAT

Filip Kjellgren stepped into Consat in 2004 to embark on his first job after graduation as a testing engineer at Volvo Cars. Seven years later, he experienced several roles, helped establish a subsidiary, and moved cities. Today, he strives to develop a robust and sustainable energy system using AI technology. At its core lies a drive and commitment to sniff out future initiatives and how they can be realized.

CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 39

that our civilization has always been able to navigate through technological shifts, so we should be able to master this too.

SETTING SAIL AT CONSAT IN 2004 However, the career took off long before Filip ended up in his current role.

After graduating from the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg in 2004, he landed his first job at Consat, starting with vehicle testing at Volvo Cars. Testing and validating the new parts going into the cars led Filip into the realm of transport electrification. Later, he was part of starting a subsidiary under Consat’s umbrella: Consat Sustainable Energy Systems.

– We started this initiative to work on sustainability and energy systems, 40 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

and I was later tasked with building the operation in Stockholm, so I moved up here with my family. One could say we were ahead of our time.

The stakeholders weren’t ready for us then, just as we timed it with the Lehman Brothers crash in 2008 when there were cutbacks throughout the economy. It was tough.

– I remember being frustrated about why our elected officials invested in certain things and not others. I wanted to get closer to it and be able to influence the decisions. So when I was asked to work at Sweden’s Innovation Agency, Vinnova, to try to identify what we should focus on to contribute to competitiveness, it felt great. There, I worked for a long time as Chief Strategist responsible for the entire transportation sector. You

could say I had my fingers in a lot of jam jars to figure out the resources needed and where.

Twelve years have passed since Filip moved on from Consat. What he sees he still carries from his first job today is the immense freedom he had to test his ideas. He describes Consat as fuel to his personality and working in a job with such opportunities honed his social ability to work on various assignments, network, and bring together actors who need to thrive together.

– I’m very restless, an idea injector who finds it hard to sit still, and it has been both a superpower and a hindrance. I like to get things started but then get bored quickly, so I need a lot of people with me who can fix what I can’t. I have had a good ability to iden-

FILIP

FUN FACT Where do you live?

– In Nacka, outside of Stockholm.

What’s your favorite thing to do outside of work?

– I love windsurfing and skateboarding and refuse to stop. I often train my kids to skateboard; they were embarrassed for a while, but now they have accepted that their dad skateboards. That’s just the way it is.

Your best advice for someone early in their career?

– Start working as a consultant. It’s an incredibly good way to get to try several different things. It’s something I can look back on and realize how much I’ve benefited from.

tify what we need to focus on and then find people in the system who can deliver. That was honed significantly during my time at Consat. I believe my personality type was amplified by the freedom that was available there. All ideas were welcome – amazingly, I was fortunate to start a job that gave me such opportunities.

BUILDING A ”SIM CITY” FOR ENERGY SYSTEMS Today, Filip is building a ”Sim City” for energy systems. At its core lies society’s lack of knowledge about electricity, lacking the engagement that, for example, transportation infrastructure has. Here, Filip tries to create a national initiative that can change society’s view of electricity from just an outlet in the wall and, instead, stim-

“All ideas were welcome – amazingly, I was fortunate to start a job that gave me such opportunities.” ulate conversations and find actors willing to train and learn from each other in the AI domain. The hope is to create a more robust and sustainable energy system.

– I don’t want people to feel threatened by AI but to see the benefits for Sweden and how we can utilize the technologies in various industries.

Many actors haven’t even dared to play and test the possibilities available yet.

I’m striving to spark the conversation and show how important this is for our nation. Everyone, from children to pensioners, should understand and dare to make long-term sustainable decisions. It’s an initiative I’m building with many actors in the system. It’s engaging and fun – and challenging. Just the way it should be.

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CONSAT ENGINEERING

THE BATTERY

INDUSTRY IS SET TO HAVE AN EVEN GREATER IMPACT ON OUR WORLD

42 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

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Left to right: Linus Johansson, Maher Alaani, Joacim Tällberg, Fredrik Sööder, Rikard Rigdal, Niklas Görrel

Micropower Group is a leading manufacturer of batteries and battery chargers. The journey began in 1984 in Växjö, where the company started developing more intelligent chargers with integrated microprocessors. The strong vision that the future lay in charging, energy storage, and power

supply paved the way for a successful growth journey. Today, Micropower is a globally leading international conglomerate that develops, produces, and sells unique battery charging solutions and power supplies with a presence in almost every continent, while maintaining its headquarters in Växjö.

CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 43

44 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

CONSAT ENGINEERING TEXT MATILDA SANDÅ PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF, ISTOCK IMAGES MICROPOWER MATERIAL HANDLING EDIT OLA DUR

D

ELIVERING A HIGH-QUALITY overall product to a variety of customers is one of Micropower’s key strengths.

Today, the company has 5 different R&D departments.

The ability to turn a technical solution into a finished product and make it production-ready has allowed the company to build up significant production capacity in Sweden. In addition to the headquarters, battery and charger production is located in Växjö, with the battery systems development center situated in Gothenburg. Fredrik Sööder works here as the R&D manager for battery development.

– We focus a lot on modular solutions, which means we can develop multiple systems and deliver a quality product to many different customers. We also have the capability to provide complete systems, something we see customers increasingly demand.

But we constantly face challenges. Electrification is happening on all fronts now, for example, through various types of machines being electrified and going into mass production, says Fredrik.

MICROPOWER MOVES IN SYNC WITH TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS Rikard Rigdal, who works as a product manager at the Gothenburg office, also highlights the clear impact of the external environment on the company’s development. The constant progress of technology makes it essential for Micropower to stay abreast of the market in order to develop smarter products that meet the customer’s needs and demands.

– To create a good product where information and data management are done effectively, we are constantly keeping track of what is mature for the market right now. We keep an eye on what’s happening with batteries and try to analyze how long they will be around. We are currently in a maturity phase where electrification is taking place on a broad front. Customers also know more about what they need and want. We are ready to meet the customer’s future electrification needs, says Rikard.

CONSAT PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN MICROPOWER’S WORK As Micropower has expanded, they have regularly recruited new talent. Internally, they have a broad base of expertise inhouse, but they have also chosen to bring in additional specialized knowl-

“I believe that what Micropower wants to achieve is a good match with what Consat also wants.”

edge through Consat, which continues to be a significant part of their work in developing battery solutions and anchoring ideas. Fredrik describes how Consat provides depth in technological development, and with their collaboration, Micropower can ensure the right expertise is available.

– We needed a buffer of broad but specific knowledge, so the collaboration with Consat has been excellent. They are technically proficient, which matches our profile. We don’t see them merely as a consulting company in the usual sense but as a company we can evolve together with.

Thanks to this collaboration, we have been able to maintain the pace in the investments we have planned, Fredrik explains.

THEY CLOSELY FOLLOW MICROPOWER’S DEVELOPMENT FROM WITHIN One of the consultants who joined Micropower on his first day at Consat is Niklas Görrel, who works as a testing engineer.

Functional testing is a central part of battery development, including safety testing in connection with new software updates.

– There can be customer requests that need to be resolved urgently, and in other CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 45

CONSAT ENGINEERING

“I strongly believe that every rooftop in a city like Gothenburg will be covered with solar panels.”

cases, it may involve functions that the customer wants to fully utilize in their operations but can’t get to work. In such cases, we need to quickly find an alternative solution for the customer, and Micropower is very good at that. My job varies a lot; sometimes it’s mostly about our planned software releases. At other times, it’s fastpaced for entirely different reasons. Generally, things move quickly with Micropower, Niklas says.

The collaboration between different departments at Micropower is evident, everyone is needed to maintain the same pace of development. Joacim Tällberg is part of the mechanical department with responsibility for product maintenance and development. When a change is proposed, Joacim evaluates how many tests, confidentiality measures, and alterations are needed.

– For simpler changes, we can directly hand them over to the quality and production team, but for larger tests, the test team gets involved - especially if there are safety aspects involved, Joacim explains.

CONSAT AND MICROPOWER WANT TO GROW IN THE SAME DIRECTION Joacim joined Consat last summer, and Micropower in the beginning of 2023.

Niklas started in the previous autumn, and he believes that Consat has become one of Micropower’s biggest customers due to the exciting developments in the industry.

– I personally find it a super interesting industry, and I’m constantly excited about the assignments I get to work on. But I think that Consat, for its part, also wants to venture into the battery industry. It’s an 46 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

industry where a lot is happening all the time, and many good things will continue to happen, Niklas says.

Linus Johansson is a systems engineer at Micropower with a focus on simulation and the development of temperature sensor concepts in battery packs. He also attributes Micropower’s exciting industry as a major reason for their growth as a significant customer for Consat.

– I think Consat sees the electrification happening in various parts of the world and locally it’s reflecting the significant challenge that Micropower faces. It’s an exciting industry to be in because there’s a lot happening. I believe that what Micropower wants to achieve is a good match with what Consat also wants: to grow within electrification. When you sit here, you understand that there is a lot to gain in this industry, there’s a substantial market to tap into, says Linus.

MICROPOWER IS PART OF A GROWING INDUSTRY OF THE FUTURE Niklas believes that the increasing global demand for applications, vehicles, and solar panels is just a few examples of products that make us more reliant on batteries. He is convinced that this is an industry of the future, and Joacim agrees. He points out that the current challenge with electricity supply mostly revolves around the inability to store energy from the most renewable sources, and the need for batteries to replace environmentally damaging transportation technologies. Joacim believes that in the future, the battery industry will have an even greater impact on our world.

– I think the battery industry will be divided into two distinct segments: batteries for vehicles and mobile applications, and large, massive batteries for infrastructure. I strongly believe that every rooftop in a city like Gothenburg will be covered with solar panels. The ability to store energy is the crucial factor. These batteries will be made from cheaper and more available materials, says Joacim.

The challenges that arise in the work of a company dealing with such a forward-looking product are numerous, but being closely involved in the development is exciting. It’s one of the reasons why Maher Alaani, who has been a development and design engineer at Micropower since last summer, chose this industry.

Like Linus, Maher works on concept development, where he collaborates with suppliers to evaluate which materials are best suited for future products. What he values most in his work is the opportunity to influence the product.

– It’s fascinating how technology solves problems, but the connection to the climate and what’s happening in our world makes you feel like you’re truly working on something society needs. I genuinely feel that I am making a difference, even though there aren’t always straightforward answers. In our teams, we continually work towards solutions, which is both developmental and enjoyable, says Maher.

ELECTRIFICATION IS A CRUCIAL PART OF THE FUTURE It’s evident that Micropower’s growth journey is just beginning, despite the fact that it has been almost 40 years since the company was founded. Rikard believes that this is because many have conducted their analysis and concluded that electrification is a vital aspect of the future. Traditional industries have already made, or are in the process of making investments in electrification, leading to an increased demand for battery solutions.

– With our experience in battery development, Micropower is well-equipped to meet this demand today. Our breadth in industrial applications and electrification positions us as a unique company, and it feels like Consat is growing in the same direction as we are. That’s what I would call a great partnership, Rikard says.

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CONSAT ORAHI TEXT MATILDA SANDÅ PHOTO AKSH SHARMA, AI GENERATED

The internship program with a

GLOBAL

PERSPECTIVE ON TECHNOLOGY The Indian joint venture company Consat Orahi presents competence within Internet of things, information technology and digital transformation.

What started as a carpool in 2012 (Orahi) has developed and transformed into an internet of things (IOT) business with fondness for engineering. Now, eleven years later, an international Internship Exchange Program launches to offer newly graduates a global perspective on technology and the opportunity to expand their horizon both culturally and professionally.

48 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

THE EXISTING SYNERGIES BETWEEN Orahi and Consat Engineering eventually formed Consat Orahi, now celebrating its first birthday by the launch of their new internship program. The vision within the company is to create value for businesses, societies and people where the internship program will be a place for newly graduates to gain a global perspective on technology. The opportunity for college students to widen their horizons culturally and professionally in another part of the world is off to a great start where it has already met great reactions and commitment at universities and colleges. Arun Bhati, CEO of Consat Orahi is happy about the fortunate response, but he’s not surprised.

– Regular internships are available already and it makes the market out there quite competitive. What we wanted to do

was to offer something new: An international internship program that gives people, who are interested in traveling abroad, the opportunity to gain a global perspective about technology and take part in a new culture while working at Consat – a multinational company. It’s fantastic that we’ve met such a great response already. College Representatives that we are in contact with have asked if they can participate in the internship program as well as the students, it’s really exciting, Arun says.

THE COMPETENCE SHARED GOES BOTH WAYS The process of creating the internship program has been ongoing for seven months and Arun is happy about the opportunity that occurs for Consat Orahi to share their knowledge in the industry. While it is important to attract the right talent to the company, interns can also provide new perspectives and competence.

– It really is a two way street. Consat Orahi works as mentors for the interns where we teach them what the industry is and what kind of demands that are waiting in the

“I think our perspectives together form a very good and knowledgeable company.”

ARUN B.

Left to right: Srinu Meesala, Priya Issar, Prakruti Thakur, Nikhil Kumar, Aksh Sharma, Ishan Munjhal, Yogesh Singh, Chandan Sharma, Viraj Raul, Chethan Shettigar

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CONSAT ORAHI

worklife. In seven months once the internship program is finished they will become assets for future business opportunities.

But as a growing company we learn just as much from them since they have great knowledge about the latest tools, the new trends and the digital market. I think our perspectives together form a very good and knowledgeable company, Arun says.

A SUCCESSFUL START PAVES THE WAY FOR 2024 There are already ten students in their last university semester who have been assigned a spot in the program, and almost twice as many are about to start after a solid application process.

– There are multiple evaluation criterias that we go through to find our interns. We want to know about the academics they’ve achieved before we hand it over to Human Resources to get an idea of how well the applicant would fit with our company.

Lastly, the candidates will take a written test and an interview, and we will make a decision based on those results. We want to make sure we don’t choose the wrong people, Arun says.

Moving forward, Arun believes that the internship program from now on will be a big part of Consat Orahi. Plans for another launch of the program in 2024 is already in progress and Arun has hope that even more people will apply now that the word has spread.

– Recruiting new employees is an important part of Consat Orahi’s growth strategy, and the internship is a way to prepare and teach future candidates about the company’s culture and concept and give them the opportunity to work with senior colleagues. This makes those participating in the program a fantastic assets for Consat Orahi, we hope we make them feel the same about us, says Arun.

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DID YOU KNOW...

Did you know that the name “Orahi” means Traveler?

When Orahi started, at first as a carpool company, the name was chosen as a philosophical term meaning that everyone is a traveler on the journey of life.

CONSAT

congrats!

congrats!

congrats!

• Maher Alaani who had a daughter on 27/12/2022 • Vanessa Vannas who had a son on 27/1 • Anna Renström who had a daughter on 18/5 • • • •

Lars-Åke Johansson who got married on 4/5 Dilip Kumar who got married on 17/6 Ziad Moghrabi who got married on 8/7 Max Bröner who got married on 23/9

• • • • • •

Miki Swahn who turned 30 on 1/18 Philip Källström who turned 30 on 12/2 Per Bertilsson who turned 40 on 18/2 Björn Bohlin who turned 50 on 28/2 Dilip Kumar who turned 30 on 22/3 Thomas Gugger who turned 50 on 10/4

• Ziad Moghrabi who turned 30 on 18/5 • Kristofer Carlin who turned 40 on 16/5 • Lars-Göran ”Lollen” Järelöv who turned 60 on 18/6 • Noor Amen who turned 30 on 20/6 • Frida Williamsson who turned 40 on 22/8 • Nicklas Trygg who turned 40 on 31/8 • Erik Åström who turned 30 on 3/10 • Mattis Gottlow who turned 50 on 1/11 • Jesper Fälth who turned 30 on 5/11 • Alexander Sandgren who turned 40 on 8/11 • Fredrik Rothamel who turns 50 on 27/12 • Christina Jensen who turns 50 on 27/12 • Lars Olsson who turns 60 on 31/12

CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 51

“THEN” Vis

ent Transport

ent with Intellig

ffic managem ion for road tra

System (ITS).

“THEN” Business meets the Minister of Communications and the Swedish Road Administration in Borlänge.

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ASTAZERO / CONSAT TEXT KENT ERIC LÅNG PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF, ASTAZERO ILLUSTRATION/IMAGE ASTAZERO

REUNION ARENA TEST SITE WEST SWEDEN 1992 THEN, back in 1992, several experiments with world-leading Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) were underway in live traffic in the Gothenburg region. We had a strong vision of a sustainable transportation system with zero fatalities, minimal environmental impact, and high productivity. We aimed to create products and services for the global market that would generate new jobs.

World-leading experiments 30 years ago.

What became of it? Did it result in a better world and job opportunities for our children and grandchildren? Can we learn something for today’s investments? These were the questions raised at a reunion at AstaZero, attended by over 50 people who were there “THEN” and have been involved in the work up to “NOW”, as well as thoughts about the future.

I

N THE 1980S, THE CAR was questioned, both THEN as NOW. Back THEN, automotive companies were beginners in collaborating on Research and Development, and the European Union’s first framework program arrived in 1989. On the initiative of Mercedes, the European collaboration program PROMETHEUS was established and ran from 1986 to 1994. Swedish participants included Volvo and Saab-Scania, who created a Swedish program with state funding, along with Telia, Ericsson, and several universities. The Swedish Road Administration (now the Swedish Transport Administration) was approached and received government support for the state to take responsibility for the road infrastructure, while the industry would focus on vehicles. The Swedish Road Administration created a real-world test arena in traffic environments, with Gothenburg as its base. I joined as an independent project manager for both PROMETHEUS in Sweden and ARENA Test Site West Sweden.

Collaboration between government agencies, industry, and research would later be called the Triple Helix. THEN, it was CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 53

”NOW” Peter Janevik, CEO AstaZero, shows the arena’s possibilities.

brand-new, and I received an annual ARENA budget from the Director-General of the Swedish Road Administration and the trust to create projects in collaboration with the industry. NOW, we have established collaborative programs like FFI (Strategic Vehicle Research and Innovation), Drive Sweden, and the EU with its framework programs. NOW, we have the world-leading open test track AstaZero with remarkable resources and expertise.

NOW, we have transparent decision-making systems examined by auditors. In the future, speed in decision-making and implementation must be world-class if we’re going to create new export successes.

Traffic information via RDS/TMC was new THEN. THEN, a road traffic management center was entirely new in Sweden, as well as data collection from sensors and partners. NOW, dy54 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

“The product was sold to Volvo Buses, who aimed to sell it globally but didn’t succeed. Instead, Consat acquired the product, and NOW, Consat Telematics is a global company and success story.”

namic road traffic management is established nationally, but it didn’t evolve into the strong control system that we thought it would THEN, as it did for aviation. THEN, vehicle units with color displays and GPS were unique. Volvo integrated this service into their production. A spin-out from Autoliv in Linköping became ACTIA and was selected as a supplier for Volvo’s Dynafleet and OnCall. NOW, ACTIA has customers globally and has delivered over 8 million units to 130 countries. ACTIA has, in global competition, succeeded in developing products for connected vehicles with Over The Air updates. NOW, there’s expertise in integrating information systems into vehicles, both within supplier companies and consultants. Tech giants like Google provide the platforms.

NOW, all vehicle connectivity is through mobile phone systems, with

ASTAZERO / CONSAT

“THEN, a road traffic management center was entirely new in Sweden, as well as data collection from sensors and partners.”

Ericsson, Telia, and Telenor playing their part. Connectivity via WiFi technology (DSRC) to the roadside never got popular. Connectivity to traffic signals remains at the same level as THEN. WirelessCar was created as a joint venture between Volvo, Ericsson, and Telia to offer back-end services for telematics. After the DotCom era in 2000, Volvo became the sole owner and significantly downsized the company. NOW, WirelessCar is part of the VW Group and employs over 800 people. NOW, ECARX, owned

by Geely, is established in Gothenburg and is growing rapidly. NOW, automotive companies have large organizations for centralized back-end services. NOW, we have Einride as a startup with high expectations.

THEN, traffic management and information systems for public transportation were new. Gothenburg had

KOMFRAM operated by Gothenburg Energi. The product was sold to Volvo Buses, who aimed to sell it globally but didn’t succeed. Instead, Consat acquired the product, and NOW, Consat Telematics is a global company and success story.

THEN, we did experiments with adaptive cruise control in vehicles that received information from roadside signs and traffic signals. NOW, vehicles have advanced driver assistance features (ADAS) and emerging self-driving capabilities (AD). THEN, there was a discussion about whether vehicles should be simple with control from the roadside or intelligent vehicles with information from control centers. NOW, we see that the latter prevailed. One reason for this is that the financing of the roadside through taxes or fees never was resolved. THEN, we experimented with

UFFI, User Fee For Infrastructure, but it never became politically possible to implement. Kapsch TrafficCom in Jönköping (THEN Saab) had world-leading technology for toll collection, and the size of the business grew rapidly with the global market, but is declining NOW. THEN, we tested sensor systems with radar and cameras. Saab (Ericsson Microwave) had a prototype radar in the 90s with military technology, but it never reached production. Volvo Cars successfully shifted its focus from passive to active safety with a series of world-leading launches in the 2000s. This was made possible through effective leadership, regional expertise, support from Ford, and collaboration with suppliers like Aptiv (Delphi). NOW, there are competent teams within automotive companies and large development teams at globCONTEXT / #1 / 2023 55

ASTAZERO / CONSAT

“The Swedish Road Administration created a real-world test arena in traffic environments, with Gothenburg as its base.”

About

KENT ERIC LÅNG What is your role at Consat?

Board member at Consat Engineering AB since 2019.

What are you working with?

In addition to the board, senior project manager at RISE. Family? Wife and two children with families. Three grandchildren.

Interests? Outdoor life, wine tasting, travel etc.

You didn’t know this about me?

Has performed with higher estate dances from the 18th century at Uppsala Castle.

al suppliers like Aptiv, Bosch, Qualcomm, Stoneridge, and Autoliv. The list of exciting expert companies is growing, including Zenseact, Sentient, Nira Dynamics, SmartEye, Qamcom, and Kognic. The future looks promising, but competition is fierce.

Kent Eric Lång, Board member Consat Engineering AB

56 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

NOW, we’re in the middle of a massive transition toward electrification and digitalization. My perception is that the work we did THEN, 30 years ago, created a culture of experimentation and collaboration across organizational boundaries. Many functions have been implemented on a large scale with positive effects on the transportation system. Many exciting companies and new jobs have been developed within our industry. The growth of companies depends on timing and luck, in addition to skill. Through long-term thinking, having many opportunities, and skilled employees, the chances of creating future jobs and making Sweden a leader in major transformations increase.

...REUNION ARENA TEST...

ABBREVIATIONS Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) – Electronic systems that adjust the vehicle speed based on the speed of the preceding vehicle and speed limits Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) – Electronic systems that assist the driver during driving and parking Autonomous Driving (AD) – Abbreviation for Autonomous Driving, which has several terms such as self-driving vehicles, driverless vehicles, and robo-cars AstaZero – Full-scale test track for automated transport systems, www.astazero.com DotCom – During the late 1990s, a period when IT and Internet companies experienced high valuations. The crash occurred in March 2000 Drive Sweden – Strategic Innovation Program launched in 2016 with the aim of driving the development of digitized, connected, and shared transportation solutions. State co-funding from Vinnova. www.drivesweden.net Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) – A communication protocol for wireless communication over short distances. Part of RFID. FFI – The Vehicle Research and Innovation Program finances research and development for approximately one billion SEK per year, with the government covering half of the funding. Vinnova, the Swedish Energy Agency, and Forex provide funding R&D – Research and Development ITS – Intelligent Transport System JV – Joint Venture, co-owned company OTA – Over The Air, designation for wireless software updates to vehicles PROMETHEUS – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eureka_Prometheus_Project The Eureka PROMETHEUS Project – (PROgraMme for a European Traffic of Highest Efficiency and Unprecedented Safety, 1987–1995) was the largest R&D project ever in the field of driverless cars RDS/TMC – Traffic Message Channel is a technology for broadcasting textbased traffic information via RDS, a digital channel on the FM network Trippel Helix – Researchers, industry, and government authorities collaborate for economic and social development, as well as innovations

EXCITING TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES Carmenta – www.carmenta.com Cloud-based technology gives connected and automated vehicles awareness of their surroundings – far beyond line of sight Consat Telematics – www.consat.com/telematics Supplier of public transport systems ECARX – www.ecarxgroup.com Is developing a full-stack automotive computing platform Einride – www.einride.tech Provider of digital, electric and autonomous shipping technology Haleytek – www.haleytek.com Develop software for Android-powered infotainment systems Kognic – www.kognic.com Provides the data platform accelerating machine learning for performance-critical applications Nira Dynamics – www.niradynamics.se On-board analytics and road perception Qamcom – www.qamcom.com Deep competence in hardware, software and system development Sentient – www.sentientplus.com Proposing a revolution in vehicle motion control Smart Eye – https://smarteye.se Driver monitoring and interior sensing technology SystemWeaver – https://systemweaver.com Ensure cybersecurity and comply with ISO21434 The Techno Creatives – https://technocreatives.com Design geeks, hardware nerds, software whizz-kids, and restless entrepreneurs Zenseact – https://zenseact.com Safe automation Viscando – https://visacando.com 3D and AI-sensing solutions bring smartness to the streets, cars and cities

Volvo Dynafleet – Service for Volvo trucks Volvo On-Call – A service that was launched in 2001 and is standard in Volvo cars

CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 57

CONSAT ENGINEERING

”IT FEELS LIKE YOU’RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR SOCIETY”

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CONSAT ENGINEERING TEXT MATILDA SANDÅ PHOTO ENVATO PHOTO, MATTIAS JOHNSON, ALAMY ILLUSTRATION PICTA LINDHOLMEN

In 2023, the Teapan Initiative received the Henry Wallman Innovation Prize. The initiative centres on using data to evaluate how serious a traffic accident is, aiming to make it easier to provide prompt and focused care in urgent situations. Erik Lundmark from Consat, who’s been involved in the project, sees the work as a meaningful effort to be part of.

EACH YEAR, THE HENRY WALLMAN INNOVATION PRIZE is given out by the Medicine and Technology Foundation at Chalmers University. The goal is to recognise research teams that have effectively connected academic knowledge with practical healthcare by collaborating with tech and healthcare experts. In 2023, the prize was awarded to Associate Professor Stefan Candefjord for the Teapan initiative – a project involving Volvo Cars, Volvo Buses, Chalmers University of Technology, and Consat.

USING DATA TO ENSURE THE RIGHT ASSISTANCE AT ACCIDENT SCENES The purpose of the Teapan Initiative is to assess how many ambulances, fire trucks, and police officers are needed at a traffic accident scene. Teapan stands for Traffic Event Assessment Prioritising and Notification, aiming CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 59

CONSAT ENGINEERING

“The fact that our work is recognised in this way makes it feel like you’re actually contributing something to society and that the code we’ve developed is meaningful.”

to calculate the severity of an accident to prioritise care during emergencies. The goal is to make sure the right number of people show up fast at the right spot with the right tools – a sense of security for the entire community. Erik Lundmark works as a systems developer at Consat and has, during his year and a half at the company, been involved in Teapan which he describes as a much-needed project, warmly welcomed by everyone.

– With the goal of achieving Vision Zero, Teapan is a crucial effort. It’s a very clever production that centres around gathering and providing data during potential traffic accidents, says Erik.

Teapan is based on improving Consat’s telematics solution that’s already in buses; a system that records the number of passengers boarding using a camera. In the Teapan Initiative, the goal is to make the system gather additional information valuable in the event of a potential accident, such as the speed of the involved vehicles.

– If a bus collides with a motorcycle, they can determine the severity by calculating passenger numbers and vehicle 60 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

speed, which is then sent as a file in the system from the bus to the database. It’s also transmitted from the motorcycle via the Detecht app, an app that enables the recording of journeys. The data also displays a GPS location, which is plotted on a map when the incident is reported to SOS and 112, Erik explains.

RESEARCH PROJECTS DIFFER FROM OTHER ASSIGNMENTS The initiator of Teapan is researcher Bengt Arne Sörkvist. With a background in preventive healthcare, he plays a role in driving the project forward. Although Teapan doesn’t prevent accidents, it aims to be helpful afterwards through information and data.

Erik has been involved in numerous projects as a systems developer and frontend developer, including work on measurement instruments for nuclear power plants – but being part of a research project is a whole different experience for him.

– Usually, with other clients, they often know exactly what they want from us and how it should work. But here, new ideas are very welcomed, researchers reflect a lot and come up with new ideas as the project moves forward. They don’t have a clear order for us but want to advance their research with our help. It’s been really fun, Erik says.

PASSENGERS’ SENSE OF SECURITY THROUGH AN APP Together with Erik, a small team has been involved in the Teapan Initiative. Backend they’ve built various elements, including the database receiving data via a server.

This data is then presented in an application along with a map pinpointing the accident location. Since Consat joined the project, a lot has happened. Erik explains

ERIK L.

TRAFFIC EVENT ASSESSMENT PRIORITIZING AND NOTIFICATION

TEAPAN

CONSAT ENGINEERING

CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 61

“If a bus collides with a motorcycle, they can determine the severity by calculating passenger numbers and vehicle speed, which is then sent as a file in the system from the bus to the database. It’s also transmitted from the motorcycle via the Detecht app, an app that enables the recording of journeys.”

62 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

that much of what was initially implemented before Consat’s involvement has been redesigned and expanded, for example a simulation app that could live-stream what’s happening at an accident scene from a fellow passenger’s mobile phone.

– We had a lot of fun last Christmas while working on the app.

Buses have a Bluetooth beacon that allows the app to identify the bus you’re on. If something happens, a collision for example, passengers could receive a notification from the system to start recording, so SOS can follow live what’s happening at the scene, Erik explains.

The idea of the app was to make passengers feel safer by allowing the addition of medical conditions or other valuable information for the emergency centre to know in advance during an emergency. Erik and the team worked on the app as they believed it should be developed, although they were aware of GDPR issues.

– We developed the app exactly as we envisioned it, and actually overlooked GDPR in the process. Even though the information would only be sent to SOS, there are problems when it comes to GDPR. We want to share information about the injured and their medical conditions to provide the best possible care, but we understand that it doesn’t align with today’s GDPR. Still, we had so much fun working with this kind of video streaming technology, where SOS could access and monitor a camera at the accident scene, Erik says.

THE PRIZE GAVE THE PROJECT GREATER MEANING That Teapan received the Henry Wallman Prize wasn’t something Erik had anticipated, but it added extra value to the project and confirmed the meaningfulness he already felt in their efforts. The prize made it feel like the project had even greater meaning.

– The fact that our work is recognised in this way makes it feel like you’re actually contributing something to society and that the code we’ve developed is meaningful. It shouldn’t just end up in a report or become a paper product. I really hope Teapan gets implemented; it’s still in the developmental phase, but I know the research group has applied for funding for Teapan 2.0. If it continues, it’s possible to include everything from horses to electric scooters and cyclists. This could be taken as far as one can imagine; anyone in traffic could be involved in an accident, Erik concludes.

EVENT

FILM RECORDING PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF

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CONSAT TEXT MATILDA SANDÅ PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF, ISTOCK

LINDHOLMEN SCIENCE PARK STRENGTHENS SWEDEN’S COMPETITIVENESS THROUGH COLLABORATION It’s been 20 years since Lindholmen Science Park was founded. Initially referred to as a local initiative, it’s now evolved into a national resource and a hub for development and innovation. At the very location where the former shipyards once stood, a dynamic and creative area has emerged, fostering collaboration among industry, academia, and the public sector. The idea is to collectively address challenges that each field may struggle to tackle on its own.

– THIS PLACE HAS TRANSFORMED from being entirely desolate when the shipyards closed down, to becoming an incredibly thriving and dynamic environment for innovation. Today, Lindholmen is home to 30,000 individuals, which is three times the number that worked at the shipyard, says Anna Nilsson Ehle, Chairman of Lindholmen Science Park.

Lindholmen Science Park hosts and leads various programs and projects with the vision of enhancing Sweden’s competitiveness, with a particular focus on the future mobility of people and goods. Several of Sweden’s leading development projects are driven here. From a national perspective, it’s a unique and exciting environment where academia, industry, and society can come together and collaborate to address common competency needs.

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TOGETHER IN LARGE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS Anna Nilsson Ehle explains that tackling major societal challenges requires a shift and adaptation of our societal systems.

This calls for collaboration, a principle that Lindholmen Science Park has emphasised since its inauguration in 2000. Today, it offers a neutral development environment where stakeholders from the business sector, academia, and society can drive extensive research and development initiatives together.

– When we were founded, there was a structural need for open collaboration opportunities and competence development related to future challenges, where both expertise and results are built together. Sharing resources enables diverse perspectives, and we realised that despite different goals

CONSAT

“Sharing resources enables diverse perspectives, and we realised that despite different goals and purposes in our respective operations, we still need each other.”

Anna Nilsson Ehle CONTEXT / #1/ 2023 65

“Consat has been involved as a participant from the very beginning and plays a significant role in the ecosystem that Lindholmen Science Park represents.”

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30,000

FUN FACT

CONSAT

Did you know that 30,000 people are actively involved in activities at Lindholmen on a daily basis? That’s three times the number that were present at the same location when all the shipyards were in full operation.

and purposes in our respective operations, we still need each other. Academia strives to be at the forefront of research and education, society needs sustainable development, and the business sector requires research for growth and competitiveness.

Lindholmen Science Park is jointly owned by the City of Gothenburg, Chalmers University of Technology, and 15 companies, including Consat – but operates entirely without profit. As a national resource, they’re also active internationally and aim to reflect physical meetings through a multitude of activities both on and off the Lindholmen grounds.

– From an operational perspective, we’re much more than just a location. We have offices in Montreal, Silicon Valley, Brussels, and other locations in Sweden through our programs. Also, each program has its national character; the major programs have their own steering committees, plans, and funding. Consat is involved in several of these, including Drive Sweden, a strategic innovation program for the future connected transport systems.

SUCCESS IS BUILT ON THE RESPONSIVENESS TO EXTERNAL NEEDS Anna believes that Lindholmen makes such a successful Science Park due to its focus on collaborative programs and activities, rather than functioning as a traditional technology park. It also involves being responsive to the needs of different stakeholders as well as capturing external needs.

Technological matters are advanced by creating the conditions necessary for solving them together.

– A great example is the Electricity project in Gothenburg, which initially aimed to electrify bus transportation. A small team began generating ideas that led to the development of five experimental buses running between Chalmers’ two campuses in the city. Charging stations were built on each campus. The team could test the challenges and possibilities, how passengers, drivers and maintenance staff perceived the buses, and so on. This promotes innovation in a broad sense: both in terms of necessary technical solutions,

but also in terms of urban environmental changes, regulatory and organisational implications, and research gaps. It’s all about testing and seeing how we can make it work in reality.

The project contributed to one of Europe’s largest deployments of electric buses in urban transportation, Anna says.

Once a year, Lindholmen hosts ”Lindholmen Open Day”, the park’s annual event for networking, inspiration, and gaining new knowledge about the fantastic research, innovation, and collaboration facilitated by the ecosystem’s participants.

– This year’s theme was “Innovation Power for Sweden” and Lindholmspiren’s pedestrian street was transformed into a vibrant exhibition where visitors could have coffee with researchers, test new vehicles, and learn about some of the interesting and inspiring projects happening here, Anna explains.

THE INDIVIDUALS CARRY THE BUSINESS IDEA She emphasises that everyone is welcome at Lindholmen, and that it’s the parties involved in Lindholmen that constitute the core, with no specific player in the spotlight. Anna also highlights the collaborative projects as a contributing factor to their success.

– It’s the Lindholmen participants, organisations, and individuals who truly embody the idea. Each participant in our collaborative projects decides how to leverage the insights they’ve gained. However, fostering these collaborations requires a special skill that we sometimes humorously refer to as ”to Lindholm”, a concept recognised and valued by various stakeholders, companies, and public organisations. It’s through them that the positive image of LSP has been strengthened. Consat has been involved as a participant from the very beginning and plays a significant role in the ecosystem that Lindholmen Science Park represents, both in terms of its physical presence and its contribution with expertise to various collaboration projects. This is the case with all organisations; it’s the individuals who actually carry the idea, Anna concludes.

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CONSAT ENGINEERING

EVENT ÅRE PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF

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CONSAT ENGINEERING

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EVENT ÅRE

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EVENT ÅRE

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CONSAT ENGINEERING

EVENT ÅRE

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CONSAT ENGINEERING CONSAT TEXT JENNY FREDÉR

G

REAT PLACE TO WORK conducts the world’s largest employee survey, providing organisations with data-driven insights into their corporate culture. They also offer the only certification for excellent workplaces. Last year, nearly 19.8 million people, from 10,000 organisations in 106 countries, participated in their Trust Index™ surveys.

To be certified as an excellent workplace according to their standards, organizations must not only ensure that employees are content but also maintain a high level of fairness, respect, pride, camaraderie, and leadership that inspires and develops employees.

The certification is valid for 12 months.

82%

CONSAT SCORE:

TRUST INDEX™ SCORE

The employee survey is sent via email, where employees rate their work experience based on 60 statements divided into five dimensions: credibility, fairness, respect, pride, and camaraderie. To be Great Place to Work certified, a Trust Index™ score of at least 70 out of 100 is required.

Consat achieved a Trust Index™ score of 82%, which is something we are very proud of. We will now work on the results to improve and maintain areas where we scored highly.

Together, they aim to make Consat even better and more successful!

“Last year, nearly 19.8 million people, from 10,000 organisations in 106 countries, participated in their Trust Index™ surveys.”

CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 75

CONSAT ENGINEERING TEXT TOBIAS LEHMANN PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF

FROM MANAGEMENTCONSULTANT TO THE TECHWORLD:

INTERNSHIP

AT CONSAT

I’m Tobias, and I completed an internship at Consat Engineering from March to August.

When you read this, I’ll have returned to Switzerland to pursue my master’s in business innovation. I grew up inSwitzerland, but my journey has taken me to various cities, including Wellington and Berlin, before landing me in Göteborg for my internship with Consat.

WHY I CHOSE TO WORK AT CONSAT After working in management consulting, I wanted to dive deeper into the tech world and gain insights from a different environment. Since I enjoy traveling and living abroad, I saw this upcoming internship as a chance to both work and explore a new country. I had friends in Sweden from a previous study exchange and wanted to learn more about the country, so I started searching for a Swedish internship through IAESTE, an organization connecting students and employers worldwide. Luckily, I came across an interesting opportunity at an engineering firm in Gothenburg; their impressive skills and people-centric approach convinced me to apply for an internship at Consat.

THE INTERNSHIP I had two interviews before receiving the offer in late February. My internship was scheduled to start in March, so I just had five days to prepare. But I saw it as an opportunity to experience the most 76 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

CONSAT ENGINEERING

“I learnt more about the strategic and operational aspects of running a company, gained more expertise in project management, and improved my communication skills with various stakeholders.”

Tobias Lehmann CONTEXT / #1/ 2023 77

3

QUICK QUESTIONS:

Age: Turned 26 this summer.

Hobbies: Thanks to a colleague at Consat, I’ve gotten back into dancing while I’ve been in Göteborg. Besides that, I stay active through regular exercise, enjoy writing, have a strong interest in environmental issues, and like to keep up with global politics.

A fun fact about me: In my hometown of Bern, we have a river called the ”Aare.” It’s not too wide or deep, but has a strong and fast current.

During the summer, my brother and I enjoy diving into the river with our goggles. Due to the strong current, we just hold our breath and dive down, and it feels like we’re flying over the riverbed. If any Consat employee happens to visit Bern, you’re welcome to join us for some Aare-diving fun!

spontaneous relocation of my life (hopefully) and took a train up north. With the help of some Swedish friends, I quickly found a place to stay. And on my first day at work, my new colleagues were surprised to see me in Sweden so soon. They were very flexible and took time from their schedules to introduce me to the surroundings and help me settle in.

I got my first tasks and had soon become a part of Consat, working closely with my colleagues and contributing meaningfully to the company. Looking back at it now, my tasks revolved around operational and strategic management projects, such as our Great Place To Work initiative, an Excel tool for strategic analysis, and a balanced scorecard.

WHAT I’VE LEARNED While I already had some experience working with such topics, I was able to deepen 78 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

my knowledge during my time with Consat. Specifically, I learnt more about the strategic and operational aspects of running a company, gained more expertise in project management, and improved my communication skills with various stakeholders. I felt that my tasks were meaningful, which was very motivating.

MY TIME IN SWEDEN AND AT CONSAT What really helped my learning curve was the trust and responsibility I was given for my tasks. I had the freedom to come up with my own approaches and solutions, which allowed me to bring in my creativity and fresh perspective as a newcomer at the beginning of my professional path.

I’m no social scientist, so I can’t say whether these values are typical for Swedish society or Consat specifically, but I can testify that the interactions at eye level, the curiosity from senior colleagues in my ideas, and the inclusion since day one lead to two things: they made me look forward to each new workday, and are the main reason I’d love to return to Consat in the future. I feel fortunate that I was able to do an internship at Consat, be a part of the team, and contribute to it.

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GAUSTA PHOTO MARTIN LUNDH

TRUST INDEX™-POÄNG

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CONSAT TEXT MATILDA SANDÅ PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF, UNSPLASH

SPORT & HEALTH PROMOTE COLLABORATION WITHIN THE COMPANY

Sports are a prominent part of Consat’s culture. The commitment to health and physical activity has been present since the company was founded in 1986 and still plays a significant role in the sense of community that exists and continues to grow within all the companies of the group. The fact that the Consat Group members meet outside of working hours and across company boundaries creates cohesion, promotes well-being, and contributes to the feeling of Consat as one company.

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EVERYTHING FROM CLIMBING TO ELITE HANDBALL, curling, running, and cycling falls within the spectrum of sports practiced

by Consat’s employees. The fact that so many are interested in training, sports, and health privately is a contributing factor to the company’s substantial investment in offering employees the opportunity to participate in various physical activities. But since the early days of the company, health has been of significant focus. Ski trips, relay races in Slottsskogen, and dragon boat festivals with races on the canal in Gothenburg are just a few examples of the activities that have taken place over the years. Meeting colleagues outside of working hours in new contexts is rewarding in several ways and contributes, among other things, to a sense of unity that promotes both teamwork and the atmosphere within the company.

– It creates a sense of unity that goes beyond just going to work from 8 to 17. Many of our employees have families and cannot attend after-work events, then they can meet through sports instead, says Jenny Fredér.

THE BREADTH WITHIN THE COMPANY IS ONE OF CONSAT’S IMPORTANT STRENGTHS Jenny Fredér is the Marketing Manager at Consat. In her broad responsibility for employer branding and marketing for each company within the Consat Group, she strives to bring the companies together and create the feeling of ”one Consat.” Despite the diverse target audience, the company’s breadth enables cross-functional projects that create synergies between departments and opportunities for employee growth. The message of what Consat is should be the same regardless of which company you belong to within the Consat Group.

CONSAT

– I think the breadth at Consat is an important strength for us. You might start working at Consat Engineering but realize that you want to move to Telematics or work abroad at one of our global offices – there are so many possibilities. Of course, each company focuses on its own growth journey, but the desire is for all employees to feel like a part of the Consat family, says Jenny.

In Jenny’s role as Marketing Manager, it’s essential to consider the bigger picture for each company and for the Consat Group as a whole. In her efforts to keep things together and create a community for all of Consat, they are keen on organizing activities such as Christmas parties and ski trips collectively. This is where the activity group with a focus on sports and health has become a crucial part. The activity group consists of Consat employees who are committed to creating opportunities for activities that appeal to all colleagues. Sometimes, suggestions come in and are put in the activity-plan throughout the year.

– The activity group allows us to try both curling and biathlon. Consat also sponsors many of the employees’ clubs to promote community life, and new ideas are encouraged. If someone wants to participate in the Vasaloppet or cycle around Lake Vättern, we’re happy to provide clothing and registration fees and support them in reaching their goals, says Jenny.

PHYSICAL EVENTS MUST BE ACHIEVABLE ACCORDING TO ONE’S ABILITIES

Jenny Fredér

But calls for health and physical activity also occur outside of larger public events.

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CONSAT

“It’s important that we facilitate and enable everyone to participate based on their abilities, I think it shows that many join in on what suits them.”

where each day’s opening reveals a physical activity to complete. During the fall of 2022, the ”September Challenge” was also in progress, where participants aimed to cover as many kilometers as possible through running, cycling, or walking throughout the month.

– Health and movement are important, but they must be driven by individual will.

Some may not be able to run, but they can walk. It’s important that we facilitate and enable everyone to participate based on their abilities, I think it shows that many join in on what suits them, says Jenny.

Martin Wahlgren is the CEO of the Consat Group and has a deep passion for sports himself. Just like Jenny, he emphasizes the importance of offering movement in several different ways that allow everyone to participate based on their abilities.

– I personally experience how much better I feel from exercising, and I want to encourage others to join in. But then everyone must be able to do things at their own level, so we try to offer various opportunities for sports and physical activity.

Of course, we want our employees to feel 82 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

good, but we also see how physical activity promotes collaboration and team spirit within the organization – so the more people who choose to participate, the better, says Martin.

“GÖTEBORGSVARVET IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT GIVES BACK TO LOCAL ASSOCIATIONS.” Martin is involved in several different sports clubs and boards, including the Gothenburg Athletics Association, which organizes Göteborgsvarvet, where Consat has had a corporate tent for the past two years. Here, colleagues can gather before and after the race to change, have a snack, or cheer each other on. The race has become an opportunity for employees to bring their families, run the mini-race with their children, and socialize with colleagues in a fun context. During the pandemic, Consat also sponsored the digital Göteborgsvarvet called: 00:59:35, a race that aimed to cover as much distance as possible within the existing record time. The digital initiative allowed all Consat offices worldwide to participate in the race together. Jenny explains that it feels important to support Göteborgsvarvet and community life because it, in turn, gives back to local associations – and to Consat in terms of engagement, health, and unity.

– Göteborgsvarvet is a nonprofit organization that supports athletics associations, and they are entirely dependent on this funding because the race generates a significant portion that can be used to buy equipment and maintain arenas. When we sponsor it, we support community life while also doing something that makes us feel good internally. It’s a win-win for everyone, says Jenny.

A WIDE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES TO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS FALL In addition to Göteborgsvarvet, the gym next to the office in Partille has also organized a ”health start challenge” during the spring. About twenty employees chose to participate and followed a schedule with dietary advice and training over three weeks, as well as meeting with a personal trainer. The hope is for the initiative to start again in the fall. In the calendar, there are also curling, frisbee golf, biathlon, and a ski trip in February to look forward to.

– I hope we can run the September Challenge again sometime in the future. We try to have a variety of activities so that more people want to participate. It’s incredibly fun to follow the enthusiasm that arises when we collectively do this type of competition or challenge. Colleagues are excited, meet in new contexts, and get to know employees from other parts of Consat. That’s what we want, and it’s always been Consat’s idea – even though we encourage it even more today, says Jenny.

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NETGROUP

Per Skogum 84 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

NETGROUP TEXT MATILDA SANDÅ PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF, ISTOCK

OPPORTUNITIES

OF A LARGE COMPANY

STRENGTHS

OF A SMALL ONE Consultant brokers have been around for many years. But when Netgroup was founded in 1999, a completely new and refined network format was created based on the idea of merging the strengths and advantages of small companies with the opportunities of large ones. Through the network, companies have the ability to access framework agreements with customers, while the customer side is offered broad expertise from one single supplier.

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NETGROUP

“Consat is one of the founders and cornerstones of Netgroup; we often say that they are the cultural bearers of both the Netgroup concept and the opportunity to carry out projects together.”

N

ETGROUP IS A NETWORK COMPANY consisting of a collection of tech companies. With a hundred percent focus on the automotive industry, 14 brands operate under the same constellation to meet the industry’s constantly changing need for technical expertise. The concept is built on allowing companies to retain their specialized skills and maintain their focus and their employee culture in order to, together with other companies in the network, have the opportunity to undertake larger cross-functional projects. Success depends greatly on each company being quality assured and approved before joining.

– We are building a team where everyone must be willing to give in order to receive. Consat is one of the founders and cornerstones of Netgroup; we often say that they are the cultural bearers of both the Netgroup concept and the opportunity to carry out projects together, says Per Skogum.

THE NETWORK’S SALES FORCE GENERATES PROJECT INQUIRIES It has been nearly 25 years since Consat was involved in the founding of Netgroup. Today, the network is an important part of Consat’s ability to focus on more customers, work on broader projects and still be a direct supplier to the automotive industry. Per Skogum is the CEO and one of four employees in the Netgroup group. He explains how the network provides new opportunities 86 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

based on what the companies can achieve together.

– In the core team, we are small, but we work with nearly a hundred salespeople from different companies together we are Netgroup. Thanks to the network’s enormous sales strength, we receive more project inquiries and become players in larger projects that the companies in Netgroup would not be able to handle individually.

Per Skogum has been a part of Netgroup since 2007. He joined just in time for the network to take a new leap and introduce independent leadership and management. He describes Netgroup as a collection of niche competency companies. The types of projects undertaken range from consultants working on-site with customers – to team-based cross-functional projects being delivered. The expertise demanded is always assembled in the best combination available within the network.

– The reason Netgroup has grown so much is the opportunities it offers to re-

ceive and carry out interesting projects. It is entirely built on the fact that together we excel in many different areas, and that makes us competent and competitive while being complete as a supplier.

NETGROUP’S ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT SEIZES NEW OPPORTUNITIES Per mentions the enormous sales force in the network as one of the absolute biggest advantages. Another advantage is the structure that allows each company to focus on their main talent and yet reach the necessary size for Netgroup to be ranked as a preferred supplier to the largest automotive customers in the Nordic region.

– Together in Netgroup’s constellation, we get the opportunities of a large company but the strengths and advantages of a small company. But what also contributes to this is the entrepreneurial spirit that has been present since the beginning in 1999 - seizing the opportunities that arise. The technological development has probably never been faster than it is today, which drives the need for collaboration between different technology disciplines.

Collaboration is not always easy and finding effective working methods takes time. In Netgroup we have refined our operations for almost 25 years which obviously is a significant competitive advantage now, combined with the fact that no one can be good at everything. It’s better to assemble the best constellation and in that way achieve higher progress, Per says.

720 million

FUN FACT “Netgroup has some amusing key figures. The results from our projects go to the companies involved, but with only 4 employees and a turnover of around 720 million last year, we probably have one of the highest figures per employee among Swedish limited companies.”

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CONSAT ORAHI

NDIAN

FEST VALS Republic Day Holi Eid-UI-Fitr International Yoga Day Independence Day Diwali ...to be continued...

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CONSAT ORAHI TEXT ARUN BHATI PHOTO AKSH SHARMA, UNSPLASH, ISTOCK

R

EPUBLIC DAY

India celebrates a significant national holiday known as Republic Day on January 26th each year. It marks the day when India’s Constitution was born, which replaced the 1935 Indian Government Act and turned the country into a republic. India’s first Republic Day occurred on January 26, 1950, three years after India gained independence from the British colonial government.

The celebration is an occasion to display national pride and patriotism. Schools, colleges, and people around the country mark the day in various ways. You can participate in cultural activities and flag-raising ceremonies or hang the Indian national flag outside your home or at your office.

HOLI Celebrate Holi, one of India’s most beloved and vibrant festivals, typically held in late February or early March each year. Referred to as the “Festival of Colors” or the “Festival of Love”, it honours the triumph of good over evil and the coming of spring.

Holika Dahan, the first day of festivities, involves lighting bonfires to represent the victory of good over evil. Participants gather around the fire to sing, dance, and playfully toss coloured powders and water at each other.

On Rangwali Holi, the second day, individuals engage in playful colour fights by chasing and rubbing each other with vibrant hues. People of all ages and backgrounds come together to celebrate on this day of fun and festivity.

The colours used during Holi carry symbolic importance and special meanings: red signifies love and fertility, blue represents the Hindu deity Krishna, yellow symbolises turmeric and the arrival of spring, and green stands for new beginnings.

EID-UI-FITR Eid-Ul-Fitr is a significant celebration observed by Muslims worldwide. This festivity marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, and takes place on the first day of Shawwal, the tenth month of the Islamic calendar. Since the occasion relies on the sighting of the crescent moon, the date varies each year.

It’s a time of joy and jubilation, where Muslims gather with loved ones, exchange gifts, and share traditional foods. They also participate in congregational prayers held in open-air locations or mosques, and dress in their best attire.

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CONSAT ORAHI

The day starts with a special prayer called Salat-al-Eid, usually conducted outdoors in large gatherings. After the prayer, people hug and greet each other with “Eid Mubarak”, which translates to “Blessed Eid”.

INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY Every year on June 21st, people all around the world celebrate International Yoga Day, a day that promotes global health and well-being through yoga. The United Nations officially declared this day in 2014, after a proposal by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi.

Yoga, a centuries-old practice from India, unites physical postures, breathing methods, and meditation to enhance physical, mental, and spiritual health. It’s become increasingly popular worldwide as more and more people seek ways to manage stress, enhance their overall health, and find balance in their lives.

INDEPENDENCE DAY Every year on August 15th, India celebrates Independence Day with enthusiasm and nationalistic pride. The day begins with the Prime Minister hoisting the national flag at the historical Red Fort in New Delhi, followed by a patriotic speech and cultural programs.

Throughout the country, people raise the tricolour flag in schools, colleges, and public buildings, and participate in parades and cultural events showcasing India’s diverse heritage and traditions. The streets are decorated with tricolour flags and banners, and people dress up in traditional Indian attire such as kurtas and sarees. There are dance performances, music concerts, and traditional folk-art displays all over the country. Moreover, special sweets and delicacies such as laddus, barfis, and jalebis are prepared and shared among family and friends as part of the celebrations.

DIWALI Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an important and widely celebrated festival in India spanning over five days, usually in October or November. During Diwali, people light Diyas (oil lamps), use colourful decorations, and set off fireworks.

Each day of Diwali has a special significance. For instance, Dhanteras is a day of buying gold, silver, and precious items, and on Naraka Chaturdashi, lamps are lit to ward off evil spirits. On Diwali itself, the festival’s main day, people decorate their homes with rangolis and Diyas, wear new clothes, and exchange sweets and gifts with friends and family. The lighting of Diyas and fireworks symbolises the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.

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Republic Day

Holi

Eid-UI-Fitr

International

Yoga Day

Independence Day

Diwali 92 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

CONSAT TEXT HANNA BENGTSSON/MATILDA SANDÅ PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF, BK HÄCKEN, UNSPLASH, ISTOCK

CONSAT AND BK HÄCKEN – A WINNING JOURNEY ANCHORED IN

UNITY A partnership can be more significant than the sum of its parts.

This can certainly be said about BK Häcken’s partner network – perhaps the very best in Swedish sports. Consat has the privilege to be a part of it, sharing more than just a profound interest in football with the club from Hisingen.

A VERY SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATION – that’s how the partnership between Consat and BK Häcken is described by Consat’s CEO, Martin Wahlgren. Being part of Häcken’s network doesn’t just mean access to match tickets and wonderful club culture – there are plenty of opportunities to network and do business with other partner companies. But how did Consat become a partner of Häcken in the first place?

IT PROVIDER FOR THE WORLD’S LARGEST YOUTH FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT – It all started with Consat Data having the opportunity to become the IT provider for the world’s largest youth football and handball tournaments – Gothia Cup and Partille Cup. Two highly extensive events, spread

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across Gothenburg and organized by Häcken, says Martin Wahlgren.

He continues to explain how it became clear during the collaboration that they had a lot in common: – Both Consat and Häcken started on a small scale in Hisingen, but we have had genuine dreams, taken risks, and wanted to grow.

Another thing we have in common is the patience with which we build good things systematically over time. Moreover, we are committed to being fair. Our values are very similar in many ways, Martin explains.

“HÄCKEN IS DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB FOR BOTH GIRLS AND BOYS” Another mutual point of connection is the courage to seize the opportunity when it arises. As an example, Martin talks about how BK Häcken chose to take over Kopparberg’s women’s team when it was about to be disbanded. The commitment was made at 100%, and they quickly expanded the training facilities to create conditions entirely equal for women and men!

Left to right: Malin Falen, Martin Wahlgren

“...it was the missing piece for us to be able to live out our identity, in the club we want to be – a club for everyone.”

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“Consat Data had the opportunity to become the IT provider for the world’s largest youth football and handball tournaments – Gothia Cup and Partille Cup.”

Similarly, when they had the idea to organize the Gothia Cup. Several other clubs thought the idea was impossible and chose to decline, but Häcken systematically worked to achieve the dream of becoming the World’s largest youth cup where teams from different parts of the world get to meet both on and off the football field.

– Häcken is doing a really good job for both girls and boys. They have built Sweden’s coolest training facility and led a strong gender equality effort, paving the way for other clubs and women’s football in general.

Martin also suggests that through the partner network, Consat has grown and developed symbiotically with both Häcken and other companies in the club’s network, providing many business opportunities and extending to other companies within the Consat group. But when asked if he also cheers for Häcken, he jokingly responds: – I’m half-cheering for Häcken. I played football myself in Backa IF when I was younger, and at one point, we played

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THREE

SUPER

FANS OF BK HÄCKEN

A significant advantage of the collaboration between Consat and BK Häcken is the employees’ opportunity to attend football matches at Bravida Arena free of charge.

This is utilized by loyal Häcken fans and others who want to enjoy the great atmosphere and fine football.

FROM BRAZIL TO HISINGEN AND BACK One avid fan is Esbjörn Lif, a business developer at Consat Telematics in Brazil. He never misses a match when he is on Swedish soil: – Häcken is a big club in a small package, and for me, the format is important. It’s tight-knit, popular, and festive, not violent or rude. A coffee in the stands with friends an hour before the match is a must – just like a hot dog at halftime.

“It’s tight-knit, popular, and festive, not violent or rude.”

TOGETHER THROUGH THE UPS AND DOWNS

SUPPORTS THE FOOTBALL CLUB Another Häcken fan is Peter Lagerberg at Consat Engineering. He talks about how access to match tickets gives employees the opportunity to experience a great atmosphere, watch great football, and at the same time support BK Häcken: – Everyone is welcome to support the football club; it’s familiar and has a fantastic atmosphere!

“Everyone is welcome to support the football club; it’s familiar and has a fantastic atmosphere!”

Joakim Sandgren, a project manager at Consat Engineering, believes it’s thanks to his youngest child that he has become a Häcken fan. They attend the games together to both rejoice and experience frustrations with the team they cheer for. Joakim explains that the strong emotions shared between supporters in good and bad times are a significant part of the charm of football.

– I feel proud to be a BK Häcken fan, not least for their work with children and youth. I was also pleased when they expanded with a top team on the women’s side, says Joakim and continues: – The values that Consat stands for were an important part of my decision to seek employment, and a similar set of values is found at BK Häcken. The team also plays entertaining football and has a positive supporter culture.

“I feel proud to be a BK Häcken fan.”

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“We are a group of friends who meet, do business, and watch football together.”

against Häcken’s A-team in a tournament, and I actually missed a decisive penalty, causing us to lose…

SETTING LONG-TERM STRATEGIES – AND GRABBING OPPORTUNITIES Another person who highly values both Häcken and its business network is Malin Fahlén, Communications Manager and Vice Club Manager at BK Häcken. In an episode of Studio Consat, she talks about why she believes Häcken has been so successful: – Since its founding in 1940, there has been a drive for development in Häcken, and a willingness to find new ways to progress.

We always try to set long-term strategies and then live them in our daily work.

Malin further explains how it happened when BK Häcken chose to invest in women’s elite football: – We’ve had a women’s team since 1978, but at an amateur level.

When Kopparberg FC announced during the Christmas break in 2020 that they were discontinuing their operations, we chose to take over the women’s team. It was the missing piece for us to be able to live out our identity, in the club we want to be – a club for everyone.

About

BK HÄCKEN BK Häcken was founded on August 2, 1940, and is a football club located in Hisingen.

The club’s men’s team competes in Allsvenskan, and the women’s team competes in OBOS Damallsvenskan.

The men’s team won the Allsvenskan gold in 2022 and the Svenska Cupen gold in 2016, 2019.

The women’s team won the Svenska Cupen gold in 2021.

POSSIBLY THE BEST BUSINESS NETWORK IN SWEDISH SPORTS Malin further states that it has been part of a long-term strategy to build the best business network in Gothenburg and possibly in all of Swedish sports. She emphasizes that all partners are welcome to Bravida Arena for all home matches – where there is a lounge for both clients and colleagues.

– We get so much power and energy from our partner network.

We have really managed to find a win-win feeling where we drive each other forward. The club’s personality with its family-friendly and personal touch, I think, characterizes everyone in the partner network, says Malin and continues: – At the same time as we grow, we want to have even more partners in the network but still maintain the feeling we have now: that we are a group of friends who meet, do business, and watch football together.

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CONSAT’s EXPERTISE AND COLLABORATION

SHINE THROUGH IN OUR

EVENTS The increased demand for IT providers at events has led Consat Data to step up its game, with a renewed focus on event collaborations. Therese Dahlgren works as a project manager and dedicates a large part of her workweek to networking and finding new opportunities where Consat can make a difference.

She believes this initiative will be characterised by Consat’s commitment and collaboration, potentially attracting more women to the company.

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T 3

HERESE DAHLGREN IS A PROJECT MANAGER at Consat Data. In addition to driving IT projects, she works on developing Consat’s event division, an effort rooted in the company’s passion for sports. Therese’s own journey to the role, however, was based on a coincidence. Her background as an IT project manager had taken her through various sales roles and high-ranking positions, which she consciously distanced herself from for a more balanced work-life. But when the corporate group owner Christian reached out on LinkedIn, she became curious.

– I wasn’t sure if I wanted to return to the corporate world, but there was something about the way Christian wrote that felt genuine and down-to-earth. Above all, the phone calls with Christian and Jörgen made me want to apply for the position. Consat is unlike any previous work environment I’ve been a part of. I often think, “It can’t be this good”, but it truly is a genuine and lovely team I work with here. Achieving that familial feeling in such a large company is truly unique, Therese says.

QUICK FACTS ABOUT THERESE:

Where do you live? Between Enköping and Uppsala in a house in the countryside.

Hidden talent? My siblings often say that my greatest talent is getting along with everyone.

Interests outside of work? I’m what you’d call a hobby farmer, and I love animals. I have four dogs, two parrots, a cat, fifteen chickens, and three ducks.

On my farm, I grow vegetables, bake, make butter, sell breeding eggs, and hatch chicks.

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THE NEED FOR IT PROVIDERS IN THE MARKET HAS EVOLVED Therese’s background aligned perfectly with the evolving needs of Consat Data – an increased focus on event collaborations.

While they’ve held the title of the official IT provider for both the Gothia Cup and Partille Cup for a long time, the growing demand for IT services motivated Consat Data to step up its game in the event sector.

– We’ve noticed how the needs have changed out there; now, there’s a greater demand for internet, hardware, and its delivery.

More often than not, people want to film and perhaps stream a match. Given that Consat is an innovative company, I believe we can come up with many exciting solutions in the future.

The initiative has centred around finding more partnerships within the event industry, and Therese moves between client visits and networking events to identify ways in which Consat can contribute. In Consat’s leadership team, there’s a strong interest in sports, but beyond such events, Consat is equipped to manage IT infrastructure in several other contexts. In 2022, they served as a provider for several concerts, including Ramstein, Håkan Hellström, and Ed Sheeran, to name a few.

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“Being part of youth from all different countries, cultures, and religions coming together and simply having fun is incredibly human and amazing.”

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– Gothia Cup and Partille Cup are the world’s largest football and handball tournaments. Being part of youth from all different countries, cultures, and religions coming together and simply having fun is incredibly human and amazing. Even concerts where we provided internet have been positive experiences; you meet people you wouldn’t otherwise meet, and it’s incredibly rewarding.

THE ENGAGEMENT FOR LARGE-SCALE PROJECTS IS THE MOST FASCINATING What Therese finds most interesting and exciting about working closely with these types of projects is the sense at the company when all efforts are directed toward a specific deadline.

– In most projects, you can push a deadline, and you accept that things get postponed. But a match or concert happens when it happens, and everything must be in place. It requires the involvement of many to make it work. Consat’s expertise and collaboration shine through in the events I’ve been part of, and that’s what I find most interesting and exciting about our future development in this area.

Therese believes that the growing event initiative within Consat will have an impact on achieving a more balanced gender distribution among employees.

– Gender balance is important in every company, and I truly believe that the event division can attract a broader range of individuals than perhaps the IT sector alone.

But overall, I see tremendous opportunities for what Consat can contribute. The depth of expertise here is truly amazing.

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“I believe it will become Partille’s coolest office – even though it may not be the most important competition to win,” says Martin.

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CONSAT TEXT HANNA BENGTSSON/MATILDA SANDÅ PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF

CONSAT’s NEW PREMISES

“WE’RE RAISING THE BAR ON EVERYTHING – IT WILL BE BOTH ENERGY-EFFICIENT AND REPRESENTATIVE” It wasn’t a straightforward decision, but after discussions with the property owner Corem, Consat chose to keep its headquarters in Partille – and together, elevate the premises to a new level. Today, the renovation is almost complete and the next step is to gradually upgrade the other offices, both in Sweden and around the world.

IN THE PURSUIT OF continuous improvement, it became clear a few years ago that the premises, especially the headquarters, were falling behind. The climate control was less than ideal, and the rooms, including the furnishings, were worn. Far from representative of Consat as a corporation: – We want our employees to feel comfortable in our premises and take pride in being there. This, along with a sustainability purpose, has been the basis for creating a stripped-down and functional indoor environment that will stand the test of time, says CEO Martin Wahlgren.

“TOGETHER, WE’RE RAISING THE PREMISES TO A NEW LEVEL” Martin explains that the dream has always been to consolidate the offices while maintaining proximity to what he describes as Consat’s DNA – in-house workshops for the industrial product development conducted. However, finding new premises in the city or at Lindholmen, which is conveniently located and has space for both workshops, loading docks, and storage, has been tough. Martin says that there were even plans to build their own facility, but the time aspect could not be avoided.

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OFFICE

FUN FACT One of Consat’s finest offices is located in Delhi, India. Here, Samsung built an entirely new innovation center, which they chose to sell during the COVID-19 pandemic, giving JV Consat Orahi the opportunity to take over both newly constructed premises and associated furnishings. The office’s air quality is classified as ”platinum,” the highest level of air purification in India.

in Partille and maintain our development center at Lindholmen.

Corem decided to invest together with us to elevate the premises to a new construction level. We’re raising the bar on everything; it will be both energy-efficient and representative, says Martin.

He continues by explaining that a significant advantage of staying on the premises is the opportunity for employees to work in both private offices and open-plan workspaces. It provides great flexibility. With the renovation, it will be much quieter, nicely lighted, with fresh air and a pleasant environment. In short, a welcoming and representative headquarter for both clients and employees.

– I believe it will become Partille’s coolest office – even though it may not be the most important competition to win, says Martin.

CLASSIC INDUSTRIAL DESIGN BUILT TO LAST Taking a significant step to replace all Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems will create a better indoor climate, but also result in lower energy consumption. In consultation with architects, they have chosen to embrace a classic industrial feel with large mullioned windows and micro-concrete floors. An interior reminiscent of a New York loft, or perhaps Gothenburg’s old shipyards.

Martin suggests that the timeless design itself is sustainable since it won’t need to be continuously updated; it doesn’t follow any specific trend. Additionally, by using high-quality second-hand furniture for conference and workstations, they enhance the sustainability of the project further. Most of the work will be completed by late spring 2024, and the plan is to continue the renovation of the other offices gradually.

– Our offices in Australia and Norway are already very nice, and in India, we have one of our absolute finest offices. It’s important that all our premises align, even though we operate across different continents.

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CONSAT

...memories

anecdotes ...read more about our jubilants...

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CONSAT

“The interview felt exceptionally positive, and, in due course, Jan-Bertil rose from his seat, extended his hand, and remarked, ”I hope we can part as friends.”

I suspected that he was joking, but the confirmation came the following day when he extended the job offer.”

EMIL BRANDT – 27 YEARS AT CONSAT Having spent 27 years at Consat, I have countless fun memories to look back on.

These encompass everything from memorable client visits, exhilarating trips, challenging assignments, and unforgettable parties to the classic playful practical jokes.

However, if I were to select a single memory that shines above the rest, it would undoubtedly be my very first job interview where I met Jan-Bertil for the first time.

I can vividly recall the day as though it happened yesterday. I arrived at the reception and inquired about Jan-Bertil. The receptionist informed me that he was in the room behind me and gave me permission to enter. I pivoted around and laid eyes on a room with what I initially mistook for frosted glass walls. When I opened the door, smoke billowed out like a fog, as if I had activated a smoke machine at a rock concert. Inside the room, Jan-Bertil sat alongside the finance manager, Cissi, each with a cigarette in hand. Their desks were arranged in close proximity, and between them rested an ashtray larger than a bicy112 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

cle wheel. It was at that moment the realization struck that the glass walls weren’t frosted—rather, the room was cloaked in a cloud of smoke.

I quickly embraced the humorous atmosphere and realized that Jan-Bertil had a preference for conversing about cars, motorcycles, and other technological wonders rather than dwelling on my career aspirations or my ten-year outlook.

The interview felt exceptionally positive, and, in due course, Jan-Bertil rose from his seat, extended his hand, and remarked, ”I hope we can part as friends.”

I suspected that he was joking, but the confirmation came the following day when he extended the job offer. It marked the inception of a lengthy and fulfilling career that would bless me with countless extraordinary, enthralling, and enjoyable years alongside the exceptional individuals at Consat. This memory undeniably set the tone for my tenure at the company, and I will forever recall it with a smile on my face.

CONSAT

LENNART PERSSON – 33 YEARS AT CONSAT In my view, all the journeys we embarked on with Consat Engineering have been truly memorable in their own unique ways. However, if I had to single out a specific memory, it would undoubtedly be our excursion to Italy. It was an adventure that both surprised and delighted me, and it encompassed much more than the exquisite Italian cuisine, although that, of course, was a highlight.

What stands out vividly is the last day of our trip before our journey back home.

We had planned to visit a vineyard, expecting a light wine lunch as one of the trip’s many pleasures. Later that same evening, a farewell dinner awaited us at the hotel as the grand finale. Little did we know that the so-called ”lunch” would evolve into an elaborate six-course meal like no other. It was an extraordinary culinary experience, and we relished every dish.

About three hours into this delightful feast, our guide interrupted us, announcing it was time to return to the hotel. At this point, some of us hadn’t even finished our meals, a testament to the lavish spread before us.

This led to a rather comical situation upon our return to the hotel for dinner, which also consisted of multiple courses.

The hotel now had to contend with two busloads of thoroughly sated Consat employees, attempting to tackle yet another sumptuous meal. It was truly a memorable moment that created lots of laughter and camaraderie.

In summary, the Italian journey left us with not only a superb culinary experience but also cherished memories and abundant laughter due to the unexpected culinary indulgence. It’s a memory I will always carry with me from my time at Consat Engineering.

“The Italian journey left us with not only a superb culinary experience but also cherished memories and abundant laughter due to the unexpected culinary indulgence.”

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CONSAT

“It’s astonishing to reflect on that joy and the sense of being part of a seismic shift from the old ways of working to new ones.”

DAN GUSTAFSSON – 36 YEARS AT CONSAT

“In retrospect, it’s not isolated memories that leave the most lasting impression on me.

Rather, it’s the enduring warmth of always feeling welcomed within the office that resonates most deeply.”

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My experiences from my time at Consat mainly consist of my memories from conference trips, crayfish parties, and festive Christmas dinners. However, for the sake of our younger readers, I’ll save the juicier anecdotes for my forthcoming memoirs, slated for release upon my retirement.

In retrospect, it’s not isolated memories that leave the most lasting impression on me. Rather, it’s the enduring warmth of always feeling welcomed within the office that resonates most deeply. There has consistently been an atmosphere of open doors and moments to engage in casual conversations, especially from JB. It may sound simple, but it’s a sentiment that has always held profound significance for me.

CONSAT

MAGNUS OHLSSON – 34 YEARS AT CONSAT Ah, a Consat memory, you say? I guess a common answer might revolve around all the parties and fun events. Perhaps one from everyday life at Consat in the late 80s. This was a time when our office was shrouded in a haze of smoke, and the hallmark of a designer’s workstation was an adjustable wooden drawing board on a sturdy base. Pencils, compasses, rulers, protractors, pencil sharpeners, erasers with or without motors, eraser templates, markers, text and number templates in various sizes, stacks of paper, and tape were strewn about in glorious disarray. A typical workplace for a designer up until the 80s, at least until AutoCAD came along.

You see, JB had acquired a PC with a green monochrome screen, originally intended for accounting purposes. But, with a few deft moves, it was transformed into a CAD computer, complete with those nifty 5.25-inch 180KB floppy disks - quite the stack was needed to load the program, considering the modest size of hard drives at the time. The PC and CAD program were mostly an experimental curiosity, something used during breaks and free time.

Larger firms had begun to dabble in this new technology, and naturally, curiosity started to spread like wildfire. JB, ever the forward-thinker, decided to procure more PCs for design work. However, no one in the office dared to fully embrace the change. The plan was for the transition to CAD to happen organically, but as they say, old habits die hard. As for myself, I had some prior exposure to CAD during my previous job in Kungälv, so I was slightly ahead of the curve. Consequently, a couple of expensive PCs stood mostly unused and seemingly pointless.

Then, a significant special machine project landed at the company, and JB entrusted me and the design maestro, Lars Arell, with the task. Lars unrolled a sprawling A0 drawing onto his drawing board, sharpened his pencil, and dove in.

My desk was right next to his, and I might have been a tad persistent with my enthusiasm for CAD, but I saw an opportunity for something new. A new project - a new way of working.

After a few days, both of us grasped the complexity of the design at hand. It was shaping up to be a substantial machine with numerous parts and a hefty dose of automation. Erasers wore thin, and fresh pencil leads were procured. I could sense Lars slowly becoming intrigued, growing eager to give CAD a whirl himself. Moreover, he started chiming in on command selections ;-). Two weeks in, he snatched the mouse from my hand and declared, ”I’m taking the wheel now!” Our rudimentary training phase was over, and I distinctly remember the joy I felt when we took the first step towards leaving the drawing board behind and embracing the new technology.

It’s astonishing to reflect on that joy and the sense of being part of a seismic shift from the old ways of working to new ones.

It was a journey that none of us would ever regret, a transformative leap that heralded the future.

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CONSAT

“Our laboratory for this endeavor?

A sauna, no less. Consequently, I spent a workday in nothing but my underwear, in the company of a colleague, though regrettably, no beer was part of the equation.”

TOMAS LUNDGREN – 25,5 YEARS AT CONSAT My most cherished memories from my time at Consat primarily revolve around the incredible colleagues and clients I’ve had the honor of collaborating with throughout the years. The array of assignments and projects we’ve undertaken has been nothing short of impressive, spanning from small dental implants to large solar energy parabolic dishes.

My journey at Consat commenced with several years dedicated to space-related projects, an experience that left an indelible mark on my professional development. The space industry introduced me to a tapestry of eccentric and captivating individuals, rendering my tenure there all the more unforgettable.

Amidst a trove of enjoyable assignments (and it’s genuinely challenging to cherry-pick from among them), one that stands out is our work on the development of label and inkjet printers. It was a project that really challenged us since we started with very few specifications, mostly ”as good as possible.” Our project meetings were infrequent, limited to just once a week, in an era predating methodologies like Scrum, Lean, and Agile. But everyone on the team was extremely dedicated, and we had to handle everything ourselves. The result was a Red Dot Award for the design, which was a fantastic achievement.

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Of course there were also many quirky and memorable moments during this project. One peculiar day, we found ourselves in need of developing a ”dispensing edge” for the purpose of peeling labels from their backing paper. Our laboratory for this endeavor? A sauna, no less. Consequently, I spent a workday in nothing but my underwear, in the company of a colleague, though regrettably, no beer was part of the equation.

Yet another memorable escapade involved simulating a ”hailstorm” for a separate project. My task entailed crafting and molding hailstones measuring an inch in diameter, freezing them, and subsequently constructing what could only be described as a ”meatball cannon” to shoot them at a mirror in order to document the event with a high-speed camera. Fortunately, the mirror survived, so no worries about seven years of bad luck there!

Currently, I find myself at a long-standing client, Flexlink, who have shown unwavering loyalty to Consat over the years. The assignment at Flexlink seems like a ”never-ending project,” with my role evolving into that of a Specialist and Concept Engineer. It’s an exciting challenge and a great example of the long-lasting and trusting collaborations I’ve had the privilege to be a part of during my time at Consat.

CONSAT

RAGNAR HALLGREN – 25 YEARS AT CONSAT During my final year at Elektro, I embarked on a mission to explore potential thesis projects at the CHARM trade fair booths.

I was eager to find opportunities that would serve as my gateway into the working world. In one of the booths, I stumbled upon a pleasant surprise – an encounter with my friend Dan Gustafsson, a fellow motorcycle enthusiast with whom I’d ridden before. Dan was representing Consat at the booth, and he introduced me to Martin, a person whose enthusiasm and passion for his work were palpable.

As Martin started talking about Consat, my interest in the company was immediately piqued. I was particularly drawn to the fact that Consat was a privately-owned enterprise engaged in intriguing operations. Following this initial encounter, they graciously extended an invitation for me to visit Consat’s office in Partille, where I had the privilege of meeting JB, Martin, and Dan for an interview. After the interview and an internal discussion, Martin swiftly extended an offer, expressing their desire to have me on board and inquiring about my potential start date.

Grateful for the offer yet compelled to clarify my original intent, I humbly pointed out that my primary objective had been to secure a thesis project. Martin responded with a good-natured smile and said, ”Oh, was that your initial aim? Well, we can promptly arrange a thesis project

“I was particularly drawn to the fact that Consat was a privatelyowned enterprise engaged in intriguing operations.”

for you to kickstart your journey.” And so it unfolded. I found myself immersed in a project at Arla in Götene, and I even managed to persuade one of my classmates to join me in this unexpected adventure.

It was a twist of fate I hadn’t anticipated, and I remain deeply appreciative of how I came to know Consat and commence my career there. It was a decision that has brought me nothing but satisfaction and fulfillment, one I’ve never looked back on with regret.

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CHRISTIAN JOHANSSON – 27 YEARS AT CONSAT

“Oddly enough, there was a delightful and adrenaline-filled sensation in jumping into the car in the evening, spending the night in the server room.

I always hoped that everything would be up and running again before 7 a.m., before people started arriving at the office.”

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My most cherished memory is not a specific event, but rather a period during my early years at Consat. It was a time when drawing boards had just been phased out in favor of computers and other digital tools. As the sole member of the IT department, I felt an immense sense of responsibility. The internet was not yet accessible to the public, and Google was not even conceived. When issues arose, I was the designated person in charge.

Since there was no information to search for, problem-solving at that time involved exclusively tackling issues independently. Undoubtedly, this was the most instructive period in my career, propelling me to continue evolving and cultivating a curiosity for new and improved products.

During that era, it was not uncommon for me to handle a few, by today’s standards, significant breakdowns per month.

Oddly enough, there was a delightful and adrenaline-filled sensation in jumping into the car in the evening, spending the night in the server room. I always hoped that everything would be up and running again before 7 a.m., before people started arriving at the office. Ideally, no one would notice that there had been a problem at all.

This was the foundation of my belief that my work was meaningful to the organization, and each time, I returned home with new knowledge in tow.

Of course, there are plenty of other enjoyable memories, such as the crayfish parties at Sissi’s home, which were in a league of their own and always brought the entire group together in a pleasant atmosphere.

CONSAT

MARTIN WAHLGREN – 28 YEARS AT CONSAT Certainly, there have been numerous significant milestones over the years, but one indelible memory that continues to resonate with me is the pivotal meeting we had with the development manager at Volvo Special Vehicles back in March 2009.

This encounter would ultimately prove to be a game-changer. It was during this meeting that a single question was asked that would change everything: ”Would you be willing to oversee all aspects of electrical, software, and telematics development for the new C30 Electric?” The audacious goal was to have this groundbreaking car shown to the public by Friday of the 23rd week that very same year.

I couldn’t help but ask, ”When do you want us to start?”. The answer I received was nothing short of astonishing: ”How about starting on Monday? Oh, and by the way, we don’t currently possess the financial resources, but perhaps we could seek your assistance...” The rest, as they say, is history. Our exceptional team embarked on an extraordinary journey, and within a mere 20 weeks, we transformed a blank canvas into a fully functional electric car.

But it wasn’t without its share of challenges. I distinctly recall the Thursday evening before the presentation, a day before the big reveal, when we managed to get the car moving, albeit in reverse. However, with swift reprogramming and unwavering determination, we successfully concluded the presentation. This achieve-

“Our exceptional team embarked on an extraordinary journey, and within a mere 20 weeks, we transformed a blank canvas into a fully functional electric car.”

ment, in turn, paved the way for the production of 400 electric cars, with the first 50 proudly bearing our logo.

It was undeniably an incredible journey, a testament to the boundless capabilities of a dedicated and proficient team. This memory remains etched in my mind as a perennial source of inspiration, a compelling testament of what is possible when you put your heart and knowledge into a project.

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CONSAT

CLAES OTTOSSON – 35 YEARS AT CONSAT

“The trips to Norway also held a special place in our hearts. JB’s tradition of reserving two seats inside the bus for the ”travel sustenance” added to the excitement.”

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The annual field relay was undeniably a standout moment each autumn, brimming with incredible fun. JB and Ing-Marie consistently orchestrated a delightful spread, complete with steaming pea soup, invigorating punch, and ice-cold beer served under their festive party tent. I dare say that our Consat colleagues exuded more enthusiasm than any other group to ever grace the verdant lawns of Slottskogen. Remarkably, we never found ourselves lagging behind the other teams. Perhaps our triumph owed in part to the warm hospitality and the extraordinary ambiance crafted by JB and Ing-Marie.

Kent Balsbo had his own amusing adventure when he once got lost while cycling in the shooting range in Högsbo. It must have been quite a comical sight to witness his quest to find the right path.

As for my own relay memories, they include a particularly unforgettable moment during the grenade-throwing segment. I took my shot while wearing boots, a Tyrolean hat, and even clutched an umbrella. It truly stands out as one of the most memorable moments.

The trips to Norway also held a special place in our hearts. JB’s tradition of reserving two seats inside the bus for the ”travel sustenance” added to the excitement. These are the kinds of memories that etch the time spent at Consat Engineering into our minds, destined to be cherished and recounted for years to come.

CONSAT

STEFAN BJERKE – 28 YEARS AT CONSAT One of the most outstanding memories related to my work at Consat Engineering undoubtedly centers around our dedicated efforts to develop our management system, culminating in our certification according to both ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.

This achievement stood as a monumental milestone and a source of immense pride for our entire team. Witnessing the unwavering commitment and collective hard work that went into meeting these high standards was nothing short of inspiring. The moment we received our certificates marked a triumphant success and remains a memory that will forever be etched in my heart.

Yet, my journey at Consat encompassed far more than just certificates and standards. An equally remarkable facet of my time there was the profound friendships forged over the years. My colleagues weren’t merely coworkers; they became cherished friends. We didn’t just share work projects but also our personal lives, interests, and dreams. This sense of camaraderie and mutual support is a treasure I hold in the highest regard, having had the opportunity to build strong and lasting relationships with so many amazing people.

And then, of course, there were the skiing trips. They were always the highlights of the year. Leaving the office and work tasks behind to explore captivating ski destinations with colleagues and friends was truly something special. It wasn’t solely the thrill of skiing that made these trips unforgettable; it was also the joy, hearty

“My colleagues weren’t merely coworkers; they became cherished friends. We didn’t just share work projects but also our personal lives, interests, and dreams.”

laughter, and the strengthening of our camaraderie that infused these escapades with a special charm. These moments provided us with a chance to unwind, rejuvenate, and fortify the bonds that connected us as colleagues.

In summation, my tenure at Consat was marked by a rich tapestry of professional accomplishments and personal highlights.

The development and certification of our management system underscored our steadfast commitment to quality and sustainability. However, it was the profound friendships and the indelible memories forged during our exhilarating skiing adventures that rendered my time at Consat truly exceptional and rewarding. These are the memories and experiences for which I will forever remain deeply thankful.

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CONSAT TEXT JENNY FREDÉR PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF

(INITIATION PHASE)

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CONSAT

...to be continued...

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...continued...

EDNIN GHASEMI, MECHATRONICS/AUTOMATION

“My dream job is in product development. Being able to be by yourself and work in any location near water. I love sailing so right now I dream of being able to combine my studies with my interest.”

MARCUS JOHANSSON, CHAIRMAN OF THE CHALMERS RECEPTION – STUDIES TECHNICAL PHYSICS

“I dream of working with the Tech/IT part of space and maybe getting the opportunity to work at NASA. Working abroad is definitely a goal. It feels so good to be part of the “nollningen” (initiation phase), which is a busy schedule for four weeks.”

IKRAM ELMI, ECONOMICS & PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY

“I want to become a consultant and test several different assignments. I am passionate about technology and want to try different disciplines. Want to feel my way through different areas – but I see a job in an office.”

TILDA LAGERGREN, GLOBAL SYSTEMS WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENT

“We need technology to change society, so I have chosen this education because I am passionate about the environment, where I will be able to get the tools needed to make an impact before it is too late.

But first focus on meeting fun people and having fun.”

EMMA HOGANDER, INDUSTRIAL ECONOMICS

“My dream is to become a SHEEO within environment or medicine. But right now, my focus is on getting to know new people and finding opportunities for new experiences.”

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CONSAT AUSTRALIA TEXT MATILDA SANDÅ PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF, LACHLAN MACKAY, SIMON EGGINS, CARMELA ALEXIS, HAYDEN MATTHEW

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CONSAT AUSTRALIA

MELBOURNE’S PUBLIC TRANSPORT AIMS FOR SUCCESS WITH

“PUSH TO COMMUNICATE” 34 years have passed since Consats innovative system for public transport was launched. Back then digital mobile phone networks didn’t exist. Today, implementation of Consat’s in-bult digital mobile voice communication has been implementedall over the world as a part of Consat’s core product. Next in line for implementation is Ventura’s fleet of route service buses in Melbourne Australia where fast, reliable and crystal clear communication with great geographical coverage will support600 buses in the project “Push To Communicate”.

SINCE 1924 VENTURA has been providing public transportation in Melbourne Australia. Almost a hundred years later Ventura has partnered with Consat Telematics in order to expand key functions on the buses under the project “Push To Communicate”. By enabling voice communication from the Operations and Control Center to the bus fleet using the mobile phone network, the implementation will result in fast,

reliable and crystal clear communication with great geographical coverage.

– The Consat system replaces the need to have a dedicated two-way radio system, and on top of that it provides much more like Passenger Information System, auto destination sign control, fleet and fuel management integration, even electric bus functions – all in the same system, says Lachlan Mackay.

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CONSAT AUSTRALIA

“But what is ‘success’?

To me it’s about delivering on your commitments, doing what you say you will do, and helping the customer on their journey.”

Lachlan is the Managing Director of Consat Telematics in Australia and responsible for the business in Asia-Pacific. Among other things he handles sales and marketing, strategic guidance to the head office and customer liaison. The most important part of his job though, according to Lachlan himself, is being a leader.

– By being a leader I don’t mean that I get to tell people what to do, but that I get to lead, encourage, mentor and support the Australian team as well as our customers. I’m also the one responsible for getting a coffee machine for the office! I’ve been at Consat for four years and I’ve never worked harder – and neverbeen happier. Even though Covid showed up in the middle it feels like it’s been a lifetime since I did anything other than what I do right now. It’s strange, Lachlan says.

LACHLAN MACKAY

FUN FACT “I’m a professional barista! Interested in learning more about coffee I took a course and can now serve coffee professionally – knowledge that might be useful now with our new coffee machine in the office”

foundation, this system was built from the ground up for public transport over 34 years ago, before mobile phone networks even existed and is still being used today in our modern world. It’s exciting to think about how the world has changed but that our solutions are still in demand. It’s really impressive what Consat has been able to produce, that is definitely a reason behind the success – the global standard that is to be found in this small company. Meanwhile, it’s inspiring to work with people who rely on each other the way that we do. There is a trust in our team, I think we are too few not to lean on each other and it works great, Lachlan says.

Installations in the 600 buses in the Ventura project will be complete in August.. What makes the project stand out from others is the partnership between Consat and Ventura – a commitment that, according to Lachlan, you don’t get with all customers.

– The partnership is what makes this project so inspiring to take part in. Yes Consat is the supplier and Ventura is the customer but we work together, it’s a cliché but it’s so importantin the modern world. At the same time Venturais an exciting and forward thinking customer, enabling Ventura and Consat to get the best out the technology.

CONSATS SYSTEM PAVES WAY FOR SUCCESS

VENTURA AIMS HIGH WITH PUSH TO COMMUNICATE

Lachlan describes the Ventura project as a classic Consat engagement. The system has been in use for more than 34 years and has become a reliable solution for public transport world-wide. Despite crystal clear communication the implementation is expected to result in good value for money for Ventura. Lachlan believes that the system’s success is based on the team behind the idea.

– Our solutions and systems have a solid

Among Ventura’s future visions and goals, becoming an industry leader in terms of technology tops the list. With “Push To Communicate” they’re one step closer to becoming the operator of choice for bus drivers and staff in general – an ambition Lachlan understands and supports.

– What I appreciate the most about taking part in this kind of project is the success. But what is ‘success’? I really like Venturas goals and ambitions and how Consats telematic system contributes to their journey. When I make a commitment I really enjoy keeping that commitment, that’s what I enjoy most in this project.

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“It’s exciting to think about how the world has changed but that our solutions are still in demand.”

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CONSAT ENGINEERING TEXT MATILDA SANDÅ PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF, ISTOCK

INDUSTRY ECOSYSTEMS MAKING WAY FOR FURTHER POSSIBILITIES IN DIGITISATION

It’s been a year since Consat Orahi was founded – the joint Venture with Consat Engineering that was formed mainly because of the company’s digital investments and developments.

During these first twelve months the offering of digital solutions has grown stronger within Consat. In order to meet the expectations from customers while capturing new perspectives in the industry Consat is engaging in the two Industry eco-systems: Things and SIBC: Swedish Indian Business Council.

VINAY DHAR, ONE OF THE founders of Orahi, says that when getting into the digitalization-area, Industry ecosystems become important in order for you to succeed. The future is co-created. In these ecosystems Consat will leverage Ecosystem for customers & partners, fresh ideas, and innovative solutions. It’s been eleven years since Vinay Dhar left India for Sweden. It was his previous position at Ericsson, 130 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

working in digitalization, that led him to the north and eventually to Consat.

Brought with him was more than 25 years of experience from the industry. The importance of the deep knowledge from an engineering perspective in Consat has always been clear to Vinay. What is required to build a product industry? What are the driving factors of the production and building machines for different indus-

CONSAT ENGINEERING

“It’s exciting to see how the SIBC relationship really is not only between Consat and Orahi, it’s built on a foundation that is so much larger than these two companies.”

Vinay Dhar CONTEXT / #1/ 2023 131

“We chose to engage in Things and SIBC in order to reach out further, beyond our own realm.”

tries? These are questions that Consat is very experienced to answer. However, Vinay’s introduction to the company came from a different perspective: helping to build Consats digital business.

– I come from a digital world, so it was a perfect complement that we started performing projects together, until we decided to strengthen our relationship with the join-venture that became Consat Orahi, Vinay tells.

Vinay co-created Orahi together with Arun Bhati and Sameer Khanna, which became the beginning of his current responsibilities for the digital solutions that are now being offered

by Consat, together with his role in identifying and developing the digital solutions further.

– At its core, we have a strong offering within Consat’s expertise, where we can provide the customers with a software development solution that strengthens their digital journey. My responsibility is to develop and drive those discussions with our clients.

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INDUSTRY ECO-SYSTEM BECOMES CRUCIAL COMPONENTS IN REACHING OTHER BUSINESSES Going into digitalization, eco-system becomes an integral building block for success, says Vinay. Over the past half-year, Consat has been engaged in Things and SIBC: Swedish Indian Business Council. Vinay regards these network as an ecosystem, which has become important bridges for Consat’s possibility to reach out to not only similar businesses, partners, suppliers and start-ups, but even governments and academy networks.

– Digitalization has no limits. A significant part of it involves being able to look at one’s business from different perspectives. Networking becomes crucial components in reaching other businesses and meeting the customers expectations on new services. We chose to engage in Things and SIBC in order to reach out further, beyond our own realm.

A big part of the Things networks focuses on the nordic market, with

the goal of helping startups in digital innovations. But Vinay says that even well-established companies are part of the Things network in order to discover new partnerships and grow their European presence.

– It’s an excellent network for Consat to be exposed to and share our offerings. Our intention is to be inspired by our colleagues in the industry, as well as to make them aware about us, what we do and what we can contribute with.

SIBC also provides Consat good opportunities to gain visibility. The network blends politicians and companies, allowing them to connect and reach out to each other. Among the members are companies such as Sandvik, Volvo, Saab, and Ericsson.

The network also facilitates the interaction, culture, and business between Sweden and India for Consat Orahi.

– Now that we have a joint venture, SIBC is a fantastic asset. Strategically, India is an important market for Sweden. Being the biggest democracy in

Left to right: Ulf Landin, Robin Sukhia, Radmon Sukhia, Arati Davis, Sreeja Vijjapu, Amruth Sabbisetti, Martin Lundh, Orvar Hurtig, Martin Wahlgren, Vinay Dhar

the world and the fastest growing market, it becomes a crucial partner. The network truly facilitates the possibility for Sweden and India to do business together, and already now we have had the opportunity to meet people at a higher level where we can discuss the prospects of integrating Consat offering in India, Vinay explains.

Telematics-solution, which is an excellent sustainable solution for transport, which is a big part of the agenda in india. We hope that we can get SIBC’s help in reaching a concrete plan for how we can proceed to explore business possibilities, but also how we can engage ourself further in the network, as well as in what way we can provide to our industry colleagues.

THANKS TO SIBC, CONSAT GETS CLOSER TO THE INDIAN STRATEGIC BUSINESS INITIATIVES

SWEDEN’S PARTNERSHIP WITH INDIA FORGES STRONG BONDS

The main point of the networking is for Consat to gain visibility on the market, but also to have the possibility to engage in events where companies can find partnership. SIBC has an event focusing on sustainable solutions, where companies from all parts of the world meet. Here, Vinay discusses with Robin Sukhia, secretary general and president of SIBC, and Arati Davis, vice president of SIBC and head of Cleantech, in what ways Consat can benefit from the forum.

– As you know, we have Consat’s

Being part of the innovation, the businesses and the idéas is what Vinay appreciates most about the networks.

Being exposed to such broad perspectives is something that he finds incredible. At the same time it gives him great comfort to see how India and Sweden at a large level are partnering in building more strategic ties, thanks to the SIBC network. He says that he has met a lot of people from both countries who are helping develop the network and he can see how those relationships grow stronger each day.

– It’s exciting to see how the SIBC relationship really is not only between Consat and Orahi, it’s built on a foundation that is so much larger than these two companies. At a country level, both Sweden and India are really participating for the good of the world to really take some concrete steps in addressing some of the bigger issues that the world is facing. It’s great to see.

A bit more than a year has passed since the partnership between Consat and Orahi began and Vinay can already see proof points of the partnership helping and creating value to the customers with the digital solutions.

In the near future he’s looking forward to growing the digital business further.

– I also really believe in having fun. I find the Consat team fantastic, with a very deep rooted culture that is open, transparent and nice, the people are very friendly. Having fun while doing what you love truly is a unique combination, but that’s what it’s like working at Consat.

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CONSAT ENGINEERING TEXT MATILDA SANDÅ PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF, UNSPLASH, ISTOCK, ADOBE STOCK ILLUSTRATION EBERSPÄCHER

VIRAL CONSAT & EBERSPÄCHERs

JOURNEY

It’s been two years since the Bus & Coach Business Unit of German company Eberspächer started working in a partnership with Consat on its digitization journey. With the aim of optimizing and enhancing the performance and uptime of climate control systems in buses, the work started out with a proof of concept to collect and visualize data. As the proof of concept gained very positive feedback from customers and internally at Eberspächer, the project was extended to a MVP phase to build a commercial digital service keeping the customer needs at the center.

IN JULY 2021 THE PANDEMIC WAS still very present in our lives. The world was waiting, hoping for better times around the next corner. While events and projects were being postponed, Eberspächer and Consat were operating a digitization project across four different regions of the world.

The project started entirely remotely and it would be a long time before all project members could meet physically. In October the system will be ready to meet the market for the first time, with the ambition to be implemented in hundreds of buses in early 2024.

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CONSAT ENGINEERING

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CONSAT ENGINEERING

DATA FROM BUSSES ENABLING PERFORMANCE ON THE ROADS Eberspächer has a strong global presence in vehicle climate systems and exhaust solutions, to mention a few areas.A focus on innovation and environmental awareness has made them one of the automotive industry’s key players. The company’s product areas encompass solutions to reduce emissions and comply with strict environmental regulations, as well as vehicle climate control systems enhancing comfort and efficiency in vehicles in varying climatic conditions.

The team from Eberspächer included, among others, Andreas Gugerell, Daniel Dominguez, and Kuno Zeller.

– A complete control system that could collect data from buses and measure vehicle performance on the roads was initiated back in 2019. A predictive maintenance system for the buses’ air conditioning would enable the development of a variety of valuable applications, says Andreas, who initiated the project from Eberspächer’s side.

Initially, Consat’s services were requested in the form of a Proof of Concept of the telematics system to collect data from the vehicles climate system for cloud integration. Ragnar Hallgren, Vice President at Consat Engineering, was involved in the process and explains that due to Consat’s experience in telematics solutions, much of the basics needed to collect data were quickly in place and the focus could shift towards visualizing the information being gathered so that it could be examined and analyzed. This, in turn, could create a great value for both Eberspächer and their customers.

– One could say that today’s customers want to buy a good indoor climate rather than a climate control system.

In this case, when Eberspächer offers a service, they naturally only get paid when that service is operational. This is in contrast to when the customer has purchased the climate control system,then the customer has already paid for the

system regardless of whether it later functions or not. Therefore, we strive to implement services to ensure the climate system’s performance over its life cycle. Eberspächer aim to anticipate when the system is at risk of breaking down so that they can replace and adjust components before such an event occurs. At the same time, they want to avoid replacing components unnecessarily or prematurely, which can be costly. So, Eberspächer’s entire approach is to use the collected information in a smarter way, Ragnar explains.

USING PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE, A VEHICLE CAN MAXIMIZE ITS UPTIME During the initial phase, the vision and goal were further refined, leading to the identification of a broader scope of use. By already having access to the data, it enabled new valuable services such as online diagnostics and monitoring. It also provided the capability to predict when maintenance is required for a vehicle.

This would not only inform when specific parts need replacement or improvement but also reduce the downtime of a vehicle, assisting operators in maximizing its uptime.

At the project’s outset, Eberspächer didn’t get the real time full picture of how their climate systems actually performed on the buses in operation. The first step taken was the installation of Consat own telematics unit on the buses, to begin retrieving and filtering the data. This made it possible to view the collected data on a dashboard.

– It worked very quickly; we could collect and gain an overview of the data. I remember there was an enthusiastic atmosphere in the room that first time when Eberspächer saw everything and realized they could now create value and draw conclusions from this new information. At that time our joint team was in Germany,India and Sweden, delivering to a customer in Middle East, says Jonas Valkonen, who has been part of the Consat team as the Commercial Lead during the project.

“I believe it has expedited the process of working remotely, and we have genuinely learned when it’s essential to meet in person.”

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CONSAT

WORKING VIRTUALLY REQUIRED A SYNCHRONIZED PARTNERSHIP Looking back, the pandemic was not an obstacle for Consat and Eberspächer to collaborate. In many ways, the process of the project became more concrete and efficient. Both software and hardware could be developed virtually, and Vinay Dhar, Head of Digital services, who worked in the Consat team on the commercial side along with Jonas, mentions that the succession owes a lot to the harmonious way of working together.

– In a remote setting, there is a greater emphasis on effective communication.

Having a synchronized partnership model is crucial in facilitating collaboration, especially in digital projects. We were very aligned with Eberspächer regarding their project goals with One team, One view and One Understanding ways of working, Vinay explains.

– However Moreever, it’s up to both the client and the supplier to make it a successful project, and they have truly been fantastic. We have been engaged with Kuno and Andreas, who have been quite progressive, willing to take risks, and quick learners. We have seen each other as one team, despite being from different companies, and that’s how we’ve built a really strong relationship, Jonas explains.

Kuno Zeller, who is the R&D Director at Eberspächer Bus & Coach Business Unit, agrees that the collaboration between Consat and Eberspächer has worked very well.

– Consat fully understood our ideas and were supportive in so many ways. When we felt stuck, they always had interesting ideas and could leverage their experience to provide input. It never felt like they were CONTEXT / #1/ 2023 137

CONSAT ENGINEERING

FUN FACT The first time the team from Consat and Eberspächer gathered was when the first demo was ready, about a year into the project. The concept was developed and delivered globally across four regions entirely remotely during Covid-19.

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VINAY D.

VIRAL

RAGNAR H.

From left to right: Adhiraj Elley, Kuno Zeller, Andreas Gugerell, Jonas Valkonen, Harish Singh

CONSAT ENGINEERING

“We’re not just developing a service, a product, or a solution. Instead, we collaborate with Eberspächer to find solutions where technology, organization, business models, and processes are built to complement each other.”

just our software supplier or development partner; it felt more like we were a big family working closely together, says Kuno.

Not being able to meet in person led to several lessons, not least how the saved travels never actually hindered Eberspächer from producing excellent results together with Consat.

– The collaboration couldn’t have gone better. It’s interesting to reflect on how our relationships have been established through video calls and numerous digital meetings. I initially wondered how it would go, but it has really worked out well. I think it has expedited the process of working remotely, and we have genuinely learned when it’s essential to meet in person, says Kuno.

EBERSPÄCHER’S NEEDS ALIGNS PERFECTLY WITH CONSAT’S OFFERINGS During the initial meeting between Consat and Eberspächer, Eberspächer mentioned that Consat could potentially become not only a technical partner but also a business partner, considering the extensive experience and knowledge within the company. Adhiraj Elley, who has been part of the Consat team, agrees and highlights that the diversity of Eberspächer’s requirements is what makes this project significant for Consat.

– They needed our expertise in IoT, Front-end, cloud, and embedded software as well as other areas like UX, gateway sourcing and global wireless connectivity. To tackle digitalization, we need to address all parts of the business model together with our customers, and this is the strength of our very diverse teams.

– It’s a complete digitalization journey that we are helping build at Eberspächer. We’re not just developing a service, a product, or a solution. Instead, we collaborate with Eberspächer to find solutions where technology, organization, business models, and processes are built to complement each other, Ragnar says.

AT EBERSPÄCHER, CONSAT CAN EXPAND IN NEW DIGITAL OPPORTUNITIES Vinay also highlights the importance of digitalization in a world where everything is increasingly interconnected.

Consat’s ability to participate with their expertise in the journey of significant projects like Eberspächer’s is a great asset.

– Consat is very rooted and understands how the industry works, as well as what happens on the production floor or in the bus. It becomes a natural extension to apply that knowledge and expand into digital opportunities like this.

We have worked in a way where we try to combine all our knowledge to provide even more value than in just a specific area. I think that makes us unique – and that’s our pragmatic approach to digital projects like these, says Vinay.

Working closely with Adhiraj, Harish Singh has been involved in the project focusing on backend software. What has made the project particularly special for him is the opportunity to be part of developing the design from the beginning all the way until it goes live in its actual work area.

– It was the first project I’ve been part of from the beginning, and it’s been a really cool experience. It’s also been challenging in its complexity, involving both backend and frontend with so many components. If there’s even a minor issue, the entire system goes down, so it’s been essential for me to ensure that everything works the best way possible, meaning that all data is smoothly collected from the buses and then displays the right information on the dashboard,” says Harish.

IN OCTOBER, THE SYSTEM WILL BE LAUNCHED ON THE MARKET Currently, the system is implemented on 15 active buses.

Looking ahead, the ambition is to offer both customers and organizations an even better and simpler system management. At the same time, it’s an exciting phase they’re in now where they will finally get to see customers’ reactions CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 139

CONSAT ENGINEERING

“In a remote setting, there is a greater emphasis on effective communication.

Having a synchronized partnership model is crucial in facilitating collaboration, especially in digital projects.”

and determine if the product aligns as well with the market as they believe. In the beginning of next year, several hundred more buses will be implemented.

– The goal now is to have control over the information in contact with our devices and to perform substantial program updates based on the identified needs, so we are very eager to see customers’ reactions, even though we are confident that this is a good product. In the next phase, the software will become even more user-friendly than it is currently, Daniel says.

The initial market reactions become evident already in October when Eberspächer, for the first time since the end of the pandemic, participates in the Busworld Europe trade fair that has been postponed for three years.

– We have a section of our booth where we present the service, the product, and its features, and actually conduct a live demo with the connected solution and our purpose with it, with the buses in operation.

As is always the case with market launches, we will see if the market responds positively to our product, test if all the features are there, learn from it, and hear what customers have to say. But for us, the big, big success this year is being able to offer companies the opportunity to ’facilitate their operations’ with this new solution, concludes Daniel.

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CONSAT KANADA TEXT MATILDA SANDÅ PHOTO ROGER SAUVE, STOCKPHOTO, ISTOCK

CONSAT’s NextRide

PROJECT WILL IMPROVE THE PASSENGER EXPERIENCE ON ALL BC TRANSIT BUSES WITHIN...

Consat Canada is currently delivering phase 2 of the NextRide project in British Columbia Canada. With a very successful first phase it became clear that Consat should continue to install the Consat Telematics solution on all BC Transit buses.

The NextRide project is one of the biggest and most important projects within the Canadian market. It has goals to improve customer experience, increase security, availability and provide a stable and harmonized solution.

THEY NEEDED A RELIABLE vendor and a solid system that they could maintain quite easily even though all transit systems are far apart. We’ve done deployments in 19 different cities in phase one of the project in

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2022. We have now started phase two of the project which will see deployments in 21 additional centers including Kelowna, Kamloops and Victoria. It’s been an aggressive and intensive schedule, says Roger Sauve.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

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MOLLY’S REACH

FUN FACT

ROGER S.

“When we were doing installations up The Sunshine Coast I traveled in the small communities after hours. Going south we got to a fishing village, I had never been there before, but it felt familiar immediately because of the sign in front of us saying “Molly’s Reach”. I happened to have ended up by the restaurant from the series “The Beachcombers” that I watched so many times growing up – apparently Gibsons in British Columbia was the filming location. It’s an exciting thought how the BC Transit-project takes place in 41 different places and is described as a huge project geographically, but that day it made the world seem really small.“

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CONSAT KANADA

“It’s fun when you can go into a project with such a high level of trust between the two teams.

That’s what has made every part of this journey so interesting, fun and successful.”

CONSAT’S PARTNERSHIP WITH BC TRANSIT IS PRESTIGIOUS Roger Sauve has been CEO at Consat for 7 years. While negotiating contracts and managing business, he’s overseeing Consat’s operation of the BC Transit project.

His career in the transit industry began 30 years ago, as Transit Director for the city of Greater Sudbury in Ontario. Back then Roger was a Consat-customer himself. Today he’s on the other side, in charge of Consat’s operations in the North American market. Consat’s AVL solution is to be installed on buses all over British Columbia to improve the customer experience and increase the number of passengers by offering a more available, safe and enjoyable public transport. Roger describes how the partnership with BC Transit is so prestigious.

– It’s important to us that we can ensure the success of this project. We’ve developed a great foundation and reference property, now we’re looking forward to delivering even more. The challenges we face are the multiple sights, mentioning BC Transit it sounds like one single customer even though they’re spread out over the entire province. But because of our great team it hasn’t been a significant issue.

– It’s fun when you can go into a project with such a high level of trust between the two teams. That’s what has made every part of this journey so interesting, fun and successful. Another one of the enjoyable things has been the travel throughout the province. British Columbia is one of the most beautiful places in Canada. I have done installations and deployments in several BC cities and have enjoyed visiting every location. When friends and family see all my Facebook travel pictures they think, I’m on an amazing vacation.

HIGH LEVELS OF TRUST ARE ESSENTIAL Roger describes the great engagement within the project-teams from both Consat and BC. In a project this big with so many deliveries, a lot can change. Roger mentioned the high level of trust and commitment in between the colleagues as a key factor to make it work. Asking what Roger finds the most fun or interesting part of the project, he mentions the team spirit and ability to enjoy the project through the great relationships that’ve been developed.

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FAIRS 2023 146 CONTEXT / #1 / 2023

BUS WORLD

CHARM CONTEXT / #1 / 2023 147

SMART CITY

SMART CITY

VESC

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CONSAT NEW EMPLOYEES TEXT SELF-COMPOSED TEXTS PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF, SELFIES

WE MOHAMMAD .

TOBIAS .

proudly present

our new FRIENDS

VANESSA .

HON.

Mohammad Musbah, 37 years

Tobias Sundström, 36 years

Vanessa Vannas, 35 years

Dieu Hon Huynh, 35 years

(Engineering/ Test/System/Project Management)

(Engineering/Test/System/ Project management)

(Engineering/Life Science)

(Engineering/Engineering Services)

Previously worked at Consilium Marine and Safety Group. Lives in Gothenburg. Interests: Swimming, play music and meet up with friends. Currently working as a test engineer at SEEL.

Previously worked at Volvo Cars.

Lives with partner and two daughters in Gerrebacka, Hisingen.

Interests: Football, golf och excercise. Currently working with test at Volvo Buses. (dep. Customer Quality Experience).

Previously worked at Sensio Sweden. Lives in Gothenburg with husband, child and a dog. Interests: Being out in nature, hiking, picking mushrooms and spending time with family and friends. Currently working on assignments as project manager at Ascom.

Previously worked at Wärtsilä and Tensor. Lives in Munkebäck, Gothenburg. Interests: Brazilian jiu-jitsu and football. Currently at Swedish Match, assisting them in developing a new production line.

PELLE .

ANDERS.

JOAKIM .

SHAFIQ .

Pelle Bokedal, 51 years

Anders Stålberg, 47 years

Joakim Sandgren, 59 years

Shafiq Al Liddawi, 31 years

(Telematics)

(Engineering/Engineering Services)

(Telematics/Support Office)

Previously worked at Volvo Cars, Volvo Buses, Volvo Construction Equipment, Ericsson, and QPX Technology AB. Lives in Hällsvik, Torslanda, with a wife and two sons.

Interests: Boating, football, training/ rehabilitation. Currently employed as Head of Strategy and Global Sales & Marketing.

Worked for the past 20 years at Speedpac in Alingsås. Lives there with his wife, three teenage children, and two cats. Interests: Cycling, cooking, and home improvement.

Currently working as a constructor at Swedish Match.

(Engineering/Test/System/Project Management)

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Previously worked at Ica, Mandator/ Cell Network, Volvo, and VGR. Lives in Gerrebacka, Hisingen. Married and has 3 adult children. Interests: Playing squash and tennis, being in nature, hiking, gardening, football and music. Currently working as a project manager for Telematics.

Previously worked as an IoT support technician at Aqua Robur Technologies AB. Lives with wife and son in Göta. Interests: Gym and football.

Currently works as a support technician.

LARS .

DAVID .

MAGNUS.

Lars Berglind, 49 years

David Suonvieri, 21 years

Magnus Wreed, 56 years

(Engineering Stockholm)

(Engineering Stockholm)

(Engineering Services)

Previously worked at ESSIQ AB and Oxyma AB. Lives in Täby with wife and two teenage daughters. Interests: Mountain biking in the summer and alpine skiing in the winter (preferably with climbing skins in Northern Norway).

Currently working as a Business Area Manager, Product Development.

Previously worked at Bravida Stockholm as a craftsman while studying at the Technical University.

Lives in Strängnäs. Interests: Technology, weightlifting, cars, sauna, carpentry work, and renovations with his father.

Previously came from Acobia.

Lives with his partner in Bolstad,

ALI .

ANTON .

Mellerud. Interests: Their SAAB cars.

Currently awaiting assignments.

MATTIS .

SUSANNE .

Ali Mirghashini, 58 years

Anton Ekblad, 31 years

Mattis Gottlow, 49 years

Susanne Rydén, 55 years

(Engineering Services)

(Engineering Services)

(Engineering/IoT & Electrification)

(Telematics/Finance)

Previously worked at Qmatic.

Lives in Partille with wife and

Previously worked at Tech Tribe for 10 years. Lives in Bifrost,

two daughters. Interests: Sports.

Awaiting assignment.

Mölndal. Interests: Crossfit, hiking in the mountains, climbing mountains, and reading books.

Currently working on projects for Octapharma/Stora Enso.

Previously worked at AstraZeneca and NEVS. Lives in Trollhättan with wife and two teenage children. Interests: Running and music. Currently not on an assignment but looking forward to utilizing his data science skills in the future.

Previously worked as CFO at an IT company called Carmenta. Lives with her husband in Älvängen and has three grown-up sons. Interests: Sports (formerly football and now a bit of paddle), interior design, spending time with family and friends. The new CFO at Telematics.

WILLIAM.

MARTIN .

Oskar Månsson, 31 years

William Hsi, 50 years

Martin Gillmén, 32 years

Per Claeson, 52 years

(Telematics/Research & Development)

(Telematics/Supply Chain)

(Telematics/Supply Chain)

(Engineering/IT & Mobility)

Previously worked as a Test Manager at Ericsson. Lives on Hisingen with partner and son. Interests: Going on adventures with the partner, playing and creating games (Oklahoma City

Previously came from Tingstad AB, where he worked as a strategic purchaser. Lives in Lerum with his wife, two cats, and a dog. Interests: Music and guitar.

Currently working on tasks such as reviewing articles and suppliers in Rambase (Telematics’ inventory system), and classifying them, among other things.

Previously came from Emerson Automation Solutions. Lives in Kungshöjd in Gothenburg. Interests: Football in general – Blåvitt in particular, golf, cooking, running, skiing, traveling, music. Currently working as a Team Leader - Sourced Hardware.

Previously worked at Hogia and Extenda as a systems developer. Also, have a long history at sea as a crab fisherman. Lives in Åkered (V. Frölunda) and has 3 adult children. Interests: Competes in pinball, urban hiking, strength training, and sunbathing by the sea. Currently working on the backend C# programming of Consat’s new intranet.

OSKAR.

Thunder fan), writing poetry, listening to the War History Podcast, and enjoying a fine cigar with a good cognac. Currently working as a tester, primarily with the Fleet Studio app.

PER.

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proudly present

our new FRIENDS

SAMUEL .

YIRU .

Samuel Schmitz, 24 years

Yiru Lyu, 28 years

(Engineering Stockholm)

(Engineering/Embedded Design)

Recently graduated mechanical engineer (Bachelor) with a focus on product development. Lives in Vällingby, Stockholm.

Interests: Mountain biking, skiing, fishing, photography, working on cars, baking.

Currently working on tool assembly in Consat’s workshop and providing support in the development process of new tools for Scania.

Previously worked at Nevs as a software engineer. Lives in Trollhättan. Interests: Painting. Currently working as a simulation & analysis engineer at Volvo Autonomous Solutions (VAS).

GEORGE.

SERHAN .

CHARAN .

Serhan Belen, 38 years

Charan Meda 33 years

Nina S Olsen, 49 years

George Tsekas, 52 years

(Engineering/Test/System/Project Management)

(Engineering/IT & Mobility)

(Consat Norge)

(Consat Australia/Service & Support)

Previously worked at Etteplan as a sotware engineer. Lives in Gothenburg. Interests: badminton, cricket, meditation, movies, gym, volunteering, spirituality and reading books.

Currently working on the Front End (React, HTML, CSS) part of intranet portal for CONSAT.

Previously worked at DaimexMetrotek AS. Lives in Gjerdrum, Norway with two teenagers and a dog.

Interests: The dog, exercise, friends, and family. Currently working as a

Previously a self-employed auto electrical & A/C automotive technician. Lives in Sydney, Australia.

Interests: Motorbikes, sports and eating good food. Currently working on the TCB project in Sydney, doing service and installation.

Previously worked at Nortel Nevas as a design sustaining engineer. Married and lives in Gothenburg.Interests: Video games, walking in nature, playing violin, world cinema. Currently working as a troubleshooting engineer at Volvo Cars, where we analyze the faults that are reported from SPA 2 Core System Platform.

VIRAJ .

PRAKRUTI .

NINA .

logistics and installation coordinator.

JEETENDRA .

KRUTI.

Viraj Shailendra Raul, 28 years

Prakruti Thakur, 22 years

Jeetendra Rautela, 35 years

Kruti Malvi, 22 years

(Consat Orahi/Data Science)

(Consat Orahi/React Development)

(Consat Orahi/Project Management)

(Consat Orahi/Marketing)

Previously worked at Maxval Technologies. Lives in Mumbai, India.

Interests: Dancing, driving, playing football, table tennis och traveling.

Currently working on Industrial IoT for Eberspächer and Apache Nifi.

Previously worked at Fresher.

Lives in Gurugram, India. Interests: Painting, cooking and trekking.

Currently working on UI for the Eberspächer project.

Previously worked at Honda Cars as project manager for new model introduction. Lives in Delhi, India with wife and daughter. Interests: Traveling, studying tech, reading motivational books and video gaming. Currently working as a project manager towards Trova POC.

Previously worked at Elsner Technologies within digital marketing. Lives in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Interests: Traveling. Currently working as a digital marketing executive on projects Telldus, O-band, Superkons and In House.

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OJASVI .

PREETI .

SONAL .

Preeti Sharma, 30 years

Sonal Batra, 29 years

Ojasvi Kumar, 26 years

(Consat Orahi/Technical Lead)

(Consat Orahi/Marketing)

(Consat Orahi/Embedded Software)

Previously worked at Probus Smart Things Pvt. Ltd. Lives in Delhi, India.

Previously worked at NuTaste Food Labs Pvt Ltd, Fixderma India Pvt Ltd. Lives in Delhi, India. Interests: Traveling, badminton. Currently working as a digital marketing manager.

Previously worked at VVDN Technologies. Lives in Delhi, India.

Interests: Programming, Charcoal Painting, Cooking, Swimming and sports. Currently working to develop Firmware for Livewire’s Telecommunications unit (Mdoules - Mqtt, nvm, CAN, Power Manager).

Interests: Listening to music, watching series and sports. Currently working with firmware development with a focus on embedded systems.

She is currently assigned to the client Eberspacher.

RICARDO .

LEONARDO .

Ricardo Marcon, 45 years

Leonardo Afini, 39 years

(Telematics Brazil/Commercial Manager)

(Telematics Brazil/ Project Management)

Previously worked at Marco Polo within electrical engineering and then switched to the commercial side. Lives in Italy but will be moving to Brasil end of this year. Married and has a six-year-old daughter. Interests: Love being in nature so trekking and biking. Currently working to grow the business in Brasil, mainly within electromobility.

Previously worked at Bombardier and Alston within railway for 15 years. Lives in Sau Paolo, Brasil with wife and two children. Interests: Playing sports, especially running, I like cooking different foods and my main hobby is being with my family. Currently Project Manager at Eletra and recently the Brazil team won a large project with CCR (Passenger Counter).

BRETT .

Brett Burke, 29 years (Consat Canada) Previously worked at Spectrum Group.Lives in Sudbury, Canada.

Interests: Hunting, fishing and sports. Currently working as a planning manager for installations in British Columbia.

welcome!

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EVENTS 2023

PHOTO ANDREAS EKLÖF, JENNY FREDÉR, ETC.

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Doers don’t waste gold down the drain “Why waste all this energy?”

It has probably crossed your mind while you’re in the shower.

At Consat, we stepped out of the shower and into the workshop, developing our product the Geiser, which efficiently recovers more than 70% of the heat that goes down the drain.

Read more about how our innovative product can help you save energy.

Sustainable Energy Systems