Scana Steel Booforge

Managing director: Christian Ståhlberg
Employees: 90
Turnover: NOK 178 million

Scana Steel Booforge is now a world leader in the production of large arms for forklift trucks – arms that can lift in excess of 10 tonnes. With our expertise in forging, we can construct large forks to any specification or customer requirement.

The prestigious Scana Steel Booforge company was founded, like its fellow associate company Björneborg, more than 350 years ago. Production started way back in 1646 in Karlskoga, which makes Booforge Scana’s oldest company – and easily one of the oldest ironworks in the world. Alfred Nobel’s Bofors later ran the company. The company has been part of the Scana group since 1994.

As at 31st December 2008, the company had 90 employees and a turnover of SEK 207 million.

Market and customers

The company's main customer groups are forklift truck and machine manufacturers, as well as other steelworks. Customers are primarily located in the Nordic region as well as other parts of Europe. Scana Steel Booforge exports approximately 15 per cent of its production. The company’s largest customers include SSAB, Kalmar Industries, Alfa Laval and Scana Steel Björneborg. The improved financial situation from 2007 is attributed to a strong market for heat treatment. The company was working at full capacity from September 2007 throughout the whole of 2008.

In the short-to-medium term the company expects to see reduced production as a result of the current economic situation following the recent worldwide financial crisis. The market for forklift arms fell by more than 50 per cent during autumn 2008. The company has implemented a series of measures to mitigate the situation and maintain a profitable operation, however with less employees and with a lower cost base than in 2008.

Products

Scana Steel Booforge’s main products are:

• Forged arms for forklift trucks
• Heat treatment of larger goods
• Forged components

Scana produces forks for a large portion of the global market for trucks in excess of 8 tonnes.

During autumn 2008 and spring 2009 we invested in a new production line for our lifting arms for forklift trucks. This has enabled us to produce complicated forged arms according to very specific requirements, in addition to standardised arms. This production line will allow us to increase our production of lifting arms several times. We are thus well adapted to meet future market requirements in the next few years.

Scana Steel Booforge aims to produce complete lifting systems for large forklifts, including the mast and carriages. In March 2009, the company acquired most of Ljungby Mekan AB in administration. This strengthens Scana Steel Booforge's position as a leading producer of lifting systems for the heavy fork-lift industry.