How SWERIG is contributing to the development of the Swedish rail industry
Posted: 22 September 2011 | | No comments yet
Since the introduction of modern railways, the Swedish railway industry has been at the forefront of railway technology. Over the years, the Swedish rail industry has earned a worldwide reputation as a group of innovative and reliable suppliers. Industrial enterprises like ASEA, Ericsson and SKF were early to gain leading positions on the international railway market, with their technically advanced product lines such as locomotives, power transmission, signalling systems and ball bearings. Around these companies a cluster of other manufacturers of hightech products was established to support this growing industry.
Today, Swedish companies are well recognised in both the railway and metro sectors and are internationally renowned companies with a wide range of products and services with well known brand names. The climate in Sweden, with its harsh winters, has contributed to the development of products and systems which stand up to extreme conditions. Many of the SWERIG member companies have a long experience as suppliers to the marine and aviation sectors, both of which have their own demanding standards, which are similar to those of the railway sector.
Since the introduction of modern railways, the Swedish railway industry has been at the forefront of railway technology. Over the years, the Swedish rail industry has earned a worldwide reputation as a group of innovative and reliable suppliers. Industrial enterprises like ASEA, Ericsson and SKF were early to gain leading positions on the international railway market, with their technically advanced product lines such as locomotives, power transmission, signalling systems and ball bearings. Around these companies a cluster of other manufacturers of hightech products was established to support this growing industry. Today, Swedish companies are well recognised in both the railway and metro sectors and are internationally renowned companies with a wide range of products and services with well known brand names. The climate in Sweden, with its harsh winters, has contributed to the development of products and systems which stand up to extreme conditions. Many of the SWERIG member companies have a long experience as suppliers to the marine and aviation sectors, both of which have their own demanding standards, which are similar to those of the railway sector.
Since the introduction of modern railways, the Swedish railway industry has been at the forefront of railway technology. Over the years, the Swedish rail industry has earned a worldwide reputation as a group of innovative and reliable suppliers. Industrial enterprises like ASEA, Ericsson and SKF were early to gain leading positions on the international railway market, with their technically advanced product lines such as locomotives, power transmission, signalling systems and ball bearings. Around these companies a cluster of other manufacturers of hightech products was established to support this growing industry.
Today, Swedish companies are well recognised in both the railway and metro sectors and are internationally renowned companies with a wide range of products and services with well known brand names. The climate in Sweden, with its harsh winters, has contributed to the development of products and systems which stand up to extreme conditions. Many of the SWERIG member companies have a long experience as suppliers to the marine and aviation sectors, both of which have their own demanding standards, which are similar to those of the railway sector.
SWERIG – Swedish Rail Industry Group
More than 25 years ago, SWERIG (Swedish Rail Industry Group) was founded with the aim to support and promote the Swedish export of products and services within the railway sector. Over the years, the number of member companies has increased. Today the SWERIG group is an independent organisation with 45 members. For many years, SWERIG has also maintained a close co-operation with the Swedish Trade Council. The group represents the very best of what Sweden can offer within the railway sector. Therefore, we like to say that SWERIG represents ‘The Swedish National Team of Rail Competence.’
The SWERIG business idea is summed up in the statement: SWERIG is an umbrella organisation for the promotion of Swedish suppliers of advanced products and services for the international railway sector.
The member companies cover the complete range of products and services, from planning, technical consulting, systems design and installations along the rail track, rolling stock, including equipment and components. During the last few years, a growing number of suppliers of IT-based products and services have joined the group.
SWERIG represents a mix of multinational companies, most of them with their centres of excellence in Sweden, together with an increasing number of medium-sized and smaller specialised companies who have achieved market leading positions internationally. The position of SWERIG, like a focal point for the Swedish rail industry, has given the organisation a unique overview of what the Swedish rail industry can offer. On our homepage1, we distribute news from our member companies and act as intermediary for inquiries or organisations searching for contacts with Swedish railway material suppliers.
How the SWERIG organisation works
The main objective for the SWERIG members is to promote their competitive products and services within international export markets, to the infrastructure owners, to train manufacturers, to train operators and to the subcontractors and suppliers.
SWERIG is assisting the members in achieving these objectives by organising joint activities, such as seminars and visits to specified markets or customers. News from the international railway market is continuously supplied to members through the analysis of railway magazines, news on the internet and by studying and providing railway market studies. For many years, SWERIG has participated with joint stands at the international exhibitions InnoTrans and Nordic Rail. The SWERIG homepage1 is continuously updated with news from its member companies and also seminar reports and market information for the benefits of its members.
By networking, exchanging information and experiences and organising joint activities, SWERIG contributes to a positive development and presence of Swedish railway technology worldwide. The member companies are continuously developing services, technologies and equipment for the railways of the future. For all these products and services, a special focus is made on areas such as environmental impact, energy saving, safety and security.
To manage an organisation like SWERIG, with its mix of large and small companies, experienced export companies and more or less newcomers to the international export market is challenging. To find seminar topics of interest for everybody, or to prepare joint visits to potential new customers or countries, is quite a demanding challenge, but so far SWERIG has performed well in this role. The level of attendance of member companies at the SWERIG seminars is very good and most of our proposed joint activities on selected export markets have proven to be very successful. A useful and interesting topic during SWERIG’s seminars is the informal talks that take place among the representatives of member companies. In this way SWERIG has found a way to enable open discussions between member companies, without the risk for concern between competitors or a need to restrict a discussion about new business opportunities.
SWERIG in the future
The interest in SWERIG and our activities is steadily increasing among Swedish companies within the railway sector. The current business climate, the environmental debate and the importance of railways in this respect, together with effects on economic growth and employ – ment, are all factors which contribute to a positive view on the future market for railways. The role of SWERIG in the future will be to follow the international rail market, to take notice of market opportunities and to highlight these opportunities to the member companies. This will be achieved by the continued focus on high quality seminars, by arranging joint activities such as visits to key customers or markets and by offering our member companies to exhibit together at international trade shows. There is no doubt that the Swedish rail industry is at the forefront of the industry worldwide and one of the tasks for SWERIG is to bring this to the attention of the international rail market. An enormous international market potential is available for the SWERIG member companies and we are here to help them reach it.
As Chairman of SWERIG and from the summary made in this article, I feel confident that the SWERIG member companies have very good opportunities to gain additional market share on both their home markets and in their all important export markets.
Reference
1. www.swerig.se
About the Author
Lennart Klerdal is the Chairman of the Board of SWERIG. He has a long experience in technical design as well as marketing and management of companies supplying products as well as services to the railway sector and to other industrial sectors on the international market.