ForestX

This is work at ForestX: Mentorship, flexibility, and international connections 

Gothenburg 
From zero to nearly 60 coworkers in six years. Here’s how ForestX ensures everything runs smoothly for both new and existing coworkers. 

 

In a growing company, there’s always someone who is new to the job. Magnus Lundblad, a member of ForestX’s management team, is involved in many of the company’s recruitments. 
– When you join us, you get a mentor someone more senior who works in a similar field to what you will be doing. You don’t necessarily have to work on the same project, but there should be someone you can turn to for guidance, he explains. 

Magnus Lundblad, Partners, ForestX

On the technical side, new programmers are often paired with a senior architect as a mentor. 
– Many who start as programmers might aim to become architects. In those cases, we try to find a good match. 

 

– We believe that having strong support, a good mentor, and an engaged team leader makes it a fun and effective way to integrate into the company. You quickly get into the job, contribute, and become productive right away. 

 

Once the initial period is over, the focus remains on professional development. 
– My impression is that most of our employees feel they are in a good place with their current assignments. We continuously check in with our employees to understand how they want to develop. We are still a relatively small company — no one disappears here, says Magnus. 

 

Other skills, beyond the obvious, can also be valuable in a job at ForestX. 
– For example, if you speak German and want to use the language at work, there are plenty of opportunities with our projects in Germany and Austria. 

 

International connections are a major part of ForestX. 

 
– We have partners in Finland and Canada, as well as ForestX colleagues in India. Our projects in Europe often span multiple countries. 

 

ForestX currently has offices in Gothenburg, Växjö, Falun, and Uppsala in Sweden. And the offices are meant to be used, says Magnus Lundblad: 
– The office should be such a great place that people want to be there. But of course, we offer a high degree of flexibility — everyone takes full responsibility for their own tasks. Still, having colleagues nearby is important, especially when you’re new. 

This is work at ForestX: Mentorship, flexibility, and international connections  Read More »

Small life and big projects at ForestX

Göteborg/Falun

New job and new parenthood, how does it work? Colleagues Björn Vestling and Britta Rosengren have been combining a new job, parental leave and working on the same project at ForestX.

 

In January 2024, Björn Vestling started his new job at ForestX headquarters in Gothenburg. Early in the recruitment process, he told his new employer that it was time to go on parental leave with his second child already the following summer.

Björn Vestling, Business developer, ForestX

Around the same time in Falun, Britta Rosengren was in the middle of parental leave with her first child. But instead of preparing to return to her previous employer, she started thinking about a question she had been asked about joining ForestX.

– I thought I had done what I could at my previous workplace. I wanted a new role and a new challenge, says Britta.

Britta Rosengren, Business developer, ForestX

Forestry in Sweden is no bigger than that both Björn and Britta have previously worked with several of ForestX’s employees.  They have both always known the company and had contact with several employees and old colleagues.

 

Britta joined ForestX two months before it was time for Björn to go on parental leave.

– We worked in parallel on the project. We had our own responsibilities, so I could finish what I had started, says Björn. Then everything gradually passed to Britta. So it was an easy transition.

 

Britta is also satisfied with the start at ForestX.

–  It was very nice to work alongside Björn for so long. It was a completely new role for me, so I got a good platform in the project. Then I could take over, says Britta.

 

The role was also new in the way that Britta wanted.

– At ForestX, I get to use my forestry side much more than before. I have been challenged in that area, while I can contribute with my knowledge of, for example, implementation and structure from my previous assignments.

 

Joining ForestX also had other advantages for Britta.

 

– I’ve worked for larger companies before, and that is in a way safe. But I had to work a lot to try to influence and get through, even something small. At ForestX, I can express what I think to someone who actually has the mandate and opportunity to make a decision. I appreciate the flat organization.

When Britta started working, it was time for her husband to take parental leave.

 

– It was great. I was able to focus 100 percent on work  and the new assignment, he had full control at home. I had six months to familiarize myself with the project and get comfortable in my role. Now I know everyone and feel safe. It’s nice now that our daughter has started preschool. There’s been some time off due to coughs and colds, and new routines need to settle in.

torben,britta,anna
Torben Hansen, Britta Rosengren och Anna Adrup from ForestX

Björn’s parental leave is now over. He will be back at work in early 2025. But things didn’t quite work out as planned.

– I went on parental leave in July. In October, our five-year-old broke his leg and was plastered from groin to toes. He was in a wheelchair and couldn’t use his leg for several weeks. We could only stay at home. So it was a bit different from what we had planned. But since December he is fully recovered and it was full speed ahead again.

 

The CoSy project with Sydved will continue into 2025, so Björn will be back to work just in time to see the project finish.

– Now I’m looking forward to using my brain. At home with the kids the times for eating and sleeping control everything. Even though parental leave is very cozy, it will be nice to be able to talk to adults and eat in peace and quiet. 

 

– It will also be fun to see how the project with Holmen develops. It’s so big and so much has to work out. Of course, it will also be fun to meet colleagues and move to the new office in Gothenburg.

björn
Björn Vestling, ForestX

Björn’s advice to parents in their careers:

Don’t be afraid to change jobs just because you have children. Priorities in life change, but you shouldn’t limit yourself too much.

 

Britta’s advice to career parents:

For me, changing jobs during parental leave was a good time. Other times, decisions like this have been more difficult for me, but now I had a new perspective. It would take energy to return to my old job, so why not use that energy to develop myself more now that I had the opportunity?

Fact boxes:

 

Name: Björn Vestling

Title: Business developer

Favorite tree: Difficult choice. But it has to be mountain birch (even if you hate it when they stand too close when you ski). It’s tough and can withstand most things it encounters. It also grows in beautiful places.

Best nature experience: When my partner proposed to me in a tent in Vistasdalen.

Most used app: Arc Search. Browser with very smart search functions and summaries.

Three bookmarks in my browser: SVT news, forum bygga hus, yr.no

 

Name: Britta Rosengren

Title: Business developer

Favorite tree: Ornäs birch! I have always felt a certain affinity with the birch, probably because of my surname as unmarried, Björklund.

Best nature experience: Top 1 is probably the Tiger Safari in India’s Kanha National Park. But a coffee at the viewpoint Ärtknubben, 3 miles from home, is not wrong either (Fun fact – “Björngrottan” in the new Ronja Rövardotter series is set there)

Most used app: Instagram, Pictures, Camera (I have an almost 2 year old daughter who, unfortunately, loves to look at pictures…)

Three bookmarks in my browser: Only use bookmarks for work and there are currently the tools: Loop, Azure DevOps, Lucid

Small life and big projects at ForestX Read More »

ForestX to LIGNA

ForestX will exhibit and participate at LIGNA in Hannover in May 2025.

LIGNA is the world’s leading trade fair for the woodworking and forestry industry, held every two years in Hannover, Germany. The event brings together global players in wood technology and innovation, including machinery, tools and solutions for the entire value chain – from forestry to furniture manufacturing. It will showcase the latest trends in automation, digitalization and sustainability in the industry.

ForestX will present its optimization and planning software Optinex and the partnership with SAP. Optinex is available through SAP Store as the only solution there for sawmills and wood planning.

LIGNA will be held between May 26-30, 2025. Read more about the fair here.

Representatives from ForestX will also be present at Ligna Preview.

Please contact Torben Hansen for questions in German or Emma Nordenstedt for questions in English.

ForestX to LIGNA Read More »

Optinex von ForestX ist nun verfügbar im SAP® Store

Durch die Integration mit SAP S/4HANA bietet Optinex von ForestX Kunden aus der Holzwirtschaft effiziente Prozesse und Erkenntnisse in Echtzeit.

 

Göteborg, Schweden – 21.10.2024 – ForestX gab heute bekannt, dass Optinex nun im SAP® Store verfügbar ist, dem Online-Marktplatz für SAP- und Partner-Lösungen. Optinex ist mit SAP S/4HANA integrierbar und dient als Planungs- und Optimierungstool für die gesamte Wertschöpfungskette vom Sägewerk über die weitere Veredelung bis zum Kunden.

 

„Mit dem Angebot von Optinex im SAP Store ermöglichen wir es Sägewerken und holzverarbeitenden Betrieben fortschrittliche Planung und Optimierung in ihre bestehenden SAP-Landschaften zu integrieren und ihre digitale Transformation voranzutreiben“, sagt Carl Barck, CEO von ForestX.

 

Optinex hilft Kunden Gewinne zu maximieren und die Nachfrage am Markt zu nutzen, auf Basis realer Daten aus dem Sägewerk. Eine Simulation des Sägebetriebes ermöglicht es dem Nutzer einzuschätzen, welche Rundholzklassen und Seitenwaren-Einstellungen bei der Erstellung neuer Schnittbilder herangezogen werden. Dies maximiert die Wertschöpfung anhand realer Daten zum Rundholz, den Maschinen und dem Preisgefüge des Sägewerkes.

 

Optinex unterstützt bei der Budgetplanung mit qualifizierten Daten aus Vertrieb und Produktion. Für die anstehende Planungsperiode werden Daten zur Rundholzversorgung und Maschinenkapazität herangezogen. Mithilfe der Optimierungsfunktionen können Szenarien umgehend analysiert werden, um das beste wirtschaftliche Ergebnis zu erzielen.

 

Mit Optinex erstellen Sie die optimale taktische, mittelfristige Planung unter Berücksichtigung von Nachfrage und Lagerbeständen. Wenn Sie diese zur Produktion frei geben, leitet sie die operative Produktion an und gibt den Rahmen vor für jeden einzelnen Produktionsauftrag.

 

Der SAP Store, zu finden unter  store.sap.com,bietet eine übersichtlichte Möglichkeit um über 2.300 Software-Angebote von SAP und seinen Partnern zu finden, zu testen, zu erwerben und zu verwalten. Dort finden Nutzer IT-Lösungen, die von SAP erstellt oder validiert worden sind, und die Ihnen helfen Ihr Unternehmen weiterzuentwickeln. Und für jeden Kauf der über den SAP Store abgewickelt wird, pflanzt SAP einen Baum.

 

Um Unternehmen zu helfen, datengetrieben und intelligent zu arbeiten, erweitert SAP sein Angebot von vertikalen Lösungen um ein Ökosystem von Cloud Lösungen für die Industrie. Diese Lösungen ergänzen das bestehende SAP- Portfolio und setzen die gemeinsamen Investitionen von SAP-Kunden in Wert. ForestX arbeitet mit SAP zusammen, um Angebote zu schaffen, die spezifische Holzprodukte abdecken und deren Geschäftserfolg verbessern. Erfaren Sie mehr im SAP Store.

 

ForestX ist Partner im SAP PartnerEdge Programm. Das SAP PartnerEdge Programm bietet Werkzeuge und Unterstützung bei der Erstellung von hochqualitativen, disruptiven Anwendungen mit Fokus auf spezifische Branchen-Anforderungen – schnell und kosteneffizient.

ForestX

 

ForestX ist eine schwedische Firma die digitale Lösungen und Branchen-Expertise für die gesamte Wertschöpfungskette der Forst- und Holzwirtschaft bietet, vom Wald bis zum Endprodukt. Zu den Kunden von ForestX zählen namhafte Unternehmen der Forstwirtschaft und Sägeindustrie aus Schweden, Dänemark und Mitteleuropa. Ein Drittel der Mitarbeiter von ForestX hat eine forstwirtschaftliche Ausbildung. Zusammen mit erfahrenen Softwarearchitekten und Entwicklern verfügt ForestX damit über umfangreiche Kenntnisse der Anforderungen der Forst- und Holzwirtschaft sowie digitaler Lösungen. ForestX verfügt zudem über ein Netzwerk von Partnern und Spezialisten, die unser Leistungsangebot abrunden und die Digitalisierung der Branche mit voran treiben.

 

Die Lösung Optinex wird von ForestX entwickelt und befindet sich in dessen Eigentum.

 

ForestX kooperiert mit weltweit führenden Software-Anbietern. Das Unternehmen hat gegenwärtig rund 60 Mitarbeiter in Göteborg, Dalarna, Uppsala, Växjö in Schweden und in Pune, Indien. ForestX beschäftigt weitere Mitarbeiter vor Ort für Kunden in Deutschland, Österreich und Italien.

 

SAP und andere SAP- Produkte und Services, die in diesem Beitrag erwähnt werden, sowie deren jeweilige Logos sind Marken oder eingetragene Marken von SAP SE in Deutschland und anderen Ländern. Bitte besuchen Sie https://www.sap.com/copyright für zusätzliche Markeninformationen und -Meldungen. Alle anderen erwähnten Produktnamen und Services sind Marken ihrer jeweiligen Anbieter.

Carl

Für weitere Presse-Informationen, Englische:

CEO Carl Barck +46 702 272172

carl.barck@forestx.se

Für weitere Presse-Informationen, Deutsche:

Torben Hansen +49 173 622 7702
torben.hansen@forestx.se

Optinex von ForestX ist nun verfügbar im SAP® Store Read More »

Optinex from ForestX Now Available on SAP® Store

By integrating with SAP S/4HANA, Optinex from ForestX delivers operational efficiency and real-time insights to sawmills and wood industry customers.

 

Gothenburg, Sweden —2024/10/21 — ForestX today announced that Optinex is now available on SAP® Store, the online marketplace for SAP and partner offerings. Optinex integrates with SAP S/4HANA and delivers a planning and optimization tool for the entire value chain of the sawmill and wood industries to customers.

 

– By offering Optinex on SAP Store, we enable for sawmills and wood industries to integrate advanced planning and optimization into their existing SAP landscapes, accelerating their digital transformation journey”, says Carl Barck, CEO of ForestX.

 

Optinex will help customers maximize profit and meet market demand using real data from the sawmill. The saw simulator allows the user to evaluate which log classes and sideboard configurations should be used to create new cutting patterns that maximize value yield, based on real log, machine, and price data from the sawmill.

 

Optinex also supports a sales and operations approach to budget planning. A forecast of market demand, raw material sourcing, and machine capacity for the upcoming period is entered. Using optimization, new scenarios can be evaluated instantly to achieve the highest net profit.

 

Optinex will help the user balance demand and stock with optimized tactical plans for operational execution.

 

Once the tactical plan is decided, it can be released for operational execution. The planner will then have the current optimized plan as guidance when creating production orders to balance demand and stock.

 

SAP Store, found at store.sap.com, delivers a simplified and connected digital customer experience for finding, trying, buying and renewing more than 2,300 solutions from SAP and its partners. There, customers can find the SAP solutions and SAP-validated solutions they need to grow their business. And for each purchase made through SAP Store, SAP will plant a tree.


To enable companies to become intelligent enterprises, SAP is expanding its vertical solutions with an ecosystem of industry cloud solutions. These solutions complement the existing SAP portfolio to extend the value of joint customer investments. ForestX is working with SAP to create offerings that meet specific mill products so customers can achieve positive business outcomes. Learn more at SAP Store.

 

ForestX is a partner in the SAP PartnerEdge® program. The SAP PartnerEdge program provides the enablement tools, benefits and support to facilitate building high-quality, disruptive applications focused on specific business needs – quickly and cost-effectively.

Large parts of ForestX's staff in Sweden and Europe, and some employees from ForestX India, attended a conference in Varberg in the fall of 2024.

About ForestX

 

ForestX is a Swedish company offering digital solutions and business knowledge for the entire forest value chain, from forest to finished product. ForestX has well-known forestry and sawmill companies in Sweden, Denmark and Central Europe as customers. One third of ForestX’s employees have a forestry education. Together with experienced solution architects and developers, there is a great deal of knowledge about the needs of the forest industry and digital solutions. ForestX has a network of partners and specialists that complement the work of digitizing the forest industry.

 

ForestX owns and develops Optinex.

 

ForestX collaborates with world-leading product suppliers. The company currently has around sixty employees in Gothenburg, Dalarna, Uppsala, Växjö in Sweden and in Pune, India. ForestX also has employees on site for customers in Germany and Austria/Italy.

 

SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.

For more information, press only:

CEO Carl Barck +46 702 272172

carl.barck@forestx.se

Optinex from ForestX Now Available on SAP® Store Read More »

Behind the scenes: Meet the ForestX marketing team

Gothenburg

ForestX is everywhere, as you may have noticed! Meet the team behind ForestX’s communication.

 

Ida Linstedt , Emma Nordenstedt and Christer Lindqvist are the team responsible for ForestX’s communication.

 

– As a relatively new and initially small company, it is important to be seen and noticed. We have invested in being transparent and showing who we are and what we do, says marketing director and co-founder Christer Lindqvist.

– I often get comments that I understand come from the person seeing something on LinkedIn. Someone might say; “Oh, you’re hiring” or ” You have so many things going on”. Then I know we’ve reached out.

Ida Linstedt.

Ida Linstedt makes sure that everything works with the web design, the technology, updates on the website and e-mails. In addition, she works with the UI design of ForestX’s own products with a focus on user-friendliness.

 

– I am both involved in the work with our products and then involved in the marketing work. It gives me a deeper understanding of what ForestX does and is.

Emma Nordenstedt.

Emma Nordenstedt has the role of market communicator and writes, among other things, texts and updates for ForestX . She has a background as a reporter and editor in the daily press.

– What I take with me from journalism and the newspaper world is that people like to read about other people. By telling about who works here, the reader also gets a good picture of the company, what we can do and what we can achieve with our knowledge.

 

Emma alternates the task at ForestX with other things, in a slightly scattered mix.

– I am also editor-in-chief of the Swedish Association for Premature Births newspaper and debate editor for a local morning newspaper. During one day, I can interview a parent of a premature child and then talk about the latest digital solutions for the forest with someone from ForestX . It’s a mix that keeps me alert!

Carina Gran
Carina Gran.

ForestX often hires the Gothenburg-based photographer Carina Gran for photo assignments. Over the years, there have been more and more for her to kneel into the group photos.

 

– When I’m away on a mission, I often have people in front of the camera, that’s one of the best things I know! At ForestX, there can also be people from all over the world, the office then becomes like a familiar meeting place with several nationalities and the atmosphere is warm and lively. On one occasion it is an employee from India, on another it is someone from the office in Växjö and on the third occasion I get a former hockey professional from Canada in front of the camera when a collaboration partner is visiting. It’s really fun! says Carina.

 

Besides ForestX, Carina Gran’s clients include various real estate companies, NCC, the Gothenburg School of Economics and various newspapers. 

 

In the slideshow below, you can see some of Carina’s photos from ForestX .

ForestX’s tips for reaching out!

  • Speak about the people.
  • Update the website often and let it be seen.
  • Photos! We want to see other people.
  • Dare to find your own tone in text and image.
  • Test different types of posts on LinkedIn and learn what works for your account or your company! Dare to experiment! For us, photos and extra documents work very well!
  • Involve more people in the company and be open and responsive to ideas from those who meet customers, partners and future employees on a daily basis.

More about ForestX marketing team

Behind the scenes: Meet the ForestX marketing team Read More »

ForestX returns to Trä & Teknik in September 2024 

Gothenburg, Sweden 

 

ForestX returns to Trä & Teknik, the Wood & Technology exhibition, the largest meeting place for the wood industry in the Nordic region. The fair takes place between September 3 and 6 this year at Svenska mässan in Gothenburg. 

 

The Wood & Techlology exhibition takes place just a few steps away from ForestX’s headquarters on Sofierogatan in the heart of Gothenburg. 

 

During the exhibition, ForestX will focus on Optinex, our optimization and planning system for the sawmill industry. The system is already in use with several of our well-known customers in Sweden and Europe. 

 

Of course, we are happy to talk about everything that has to do with the digitalization of the forest. Keep an eye out here on the website and in our LinkedIn feed for more news about our participation at the fair. 

 

ForestX also participated at the 2022 exhibition.  

 

Read more on the Trä & Teknik website. 

ForestX returns to Trä & Teknik in September 2024  Read More »

ForestX celebrates five years: “There is no company like us in all of Europe”

Gothenburg

 

From a handful of people in an office hotel on the outskirts of Gothenburg in 2018 to over 50 coworkers in several countries today. Founders Christer Lindqvist and Carl Barck summarize ForestX’s first five years – and look ahead.

 

In autumn 2023, ForestX was named Gasell 2023 by leading Swedish business newspaper Dagens Industri for its rapid and stable growth. It coincided with the company’s fifth anniversary and is a good starting point to sum up the years that have passed.

“We simply created the company that was missing in the industry; an IT consulting company with products that work towards the forest industry's core processes."

How was the idea for ForestX born? How did you see the needs of the forestry industry five years ago?

Christer Lindqvist: Carl and I have always had the same vision since we got to know each other in the 1990s. We want to develop processes and technology in the forest industry through smart and good solutions.

Christer Lindqvist, Marketing director ForestX

Carl Barck: We simply created the company that was missing in the industry; an IT consulting company with products that work against the forest industry’s core processes. All industries need this kind of company, which works with digitization for a specific industry.

Carl Barck, CEO ForestX

Christer Lindqvist: With ForestX we have added a number of dimensions. It is about:

  • Supply good and modern products.
  • Have a forward-looking and clear partner model where we can offer the best specialists and products that fit exactly into our customers’ needs.
  • Have a flexible delivery model where we can quickly scale up development needs through our team in India.

Through this, our customers get better control of their information, more efficient processes, increased profitability, faster and simpler decisions and the opportunity to adapt their systems to new technological possibilities.

Carl Barck: IT and digitization are general tools, but when it is to be used and applied, one must understand the business. We do it because we have so much forestry expertise in the company, a third of our employees have a forestry background. Honestly, there is no equivalent to us in all of Europe, maybe not even globally.

ForestX office Sisjön 2018
ForestX office Sisjön 2018
ForestX office 2020
ForestX office 2022
ForestX office 2023
ForestX Europe
ForestX office Göteborg
ForestX office Göteborg
ForestX management
ForestX office Uppsala
ForestX office Uppsala
ForestX office Växjö
ForestX office Växjö
ForestX office Växjö
ForestX office Falun

How has ForestX grown?

 

Christer Lindqvist: We have grown entirely organically with a well-thought-out method based on an open and flexible model to be able to collaborate in various forms of ecosystems with our customers and partners. Within the framework of our business concept, we want to operate in the entire forest value chain from seed to finished product, but in practice we have so far mostly worked in forestry and the wood industry.

Carl Barck: Geographically, we have gone from having been focused on Sweden and Scandinavia to now, after five years, seeing the whole of Europe as our main market. In practical terms, we have established offices in several Swedish cities and in two locations in Europe. In addition, we have our team in India.

"Honestly, there is no equivalent to us in the whole of Europe, perhaps not even globally."

ForestX Pune India
ForestX Pune India
ForestX Pune India
ForestX Pune India
ForestX Pune India
ForestX Pune India
ForestX Pune India
ForestX Pune India
ForestX Pune India
ForestX Pune India
ForestX Pune India
ForestX Pune India

Any milestones to mention?

 

Christer Lindqvist: They are many! From our first office in Gothenburg until we were able to inaugurate our office in India in the spring of 2023. Then I remember things like the first license deal for Optinex at Pfeifer in Austria and when we implemented CFHarvest at HedeDanmark . The Gaselle award we received in autumn 2023 from Dagens Industri confirms and summarizes how steady our growth journey has been.

ForestX India
ForestX India
ForestX India
ForestX India
ForestX India
ForestX India
ForestX India

Carl Barck: I would especially like to mention our deals in Europe with Pfeifer, Mayr-Melnhof and Rubner that has been significant steps. At home, I want to highlight the work with Trimble Forestry CFHarvest at Sydved. The latest big thing is our project with Holmen. It is an important deal for us, it is the first Connected Forest deal in Sweden. We have felt stability and security in our collaboration with Trimble in working on this deal and others as well.

Trimble
Collective Crunch
Remsoft
Pfeifer
Setra
Remsoft
Trimble

"During the pandemic years, we actually had our strongest growth to date."

Pandemic, war in Europe and a troubled outside world – what has it been like to start a company under those circumstances?

 

Christer Lindqvist: Of course, the unrest in Europe and the world has shaped us and nothing can be taken for granted anymore, we are enormously humbled by this. The pandemic years did not stop us. Through the model we had, we were able to expand and deliver our projects in a more efficient way when we had to take away offices, physical meetings and other activities from the workplan. On several occasions, it was striking to us how empty the office could be despite the workshop being in full swing. During the pandemic years, we actually had our strongest growth to date.

Carl Barck: We can see how the economic crisis has affected our customers in 2023 – many have had poor profitability. But for that reason, they have worked even more with us to strengthen their competitiveness. Our solutions also become our customers’ solutions to their problems.

Why is it important that the forest and wood industries continues to be digitized?

 

Christer Lindqvist: Today, the industry is under stronger pressure than ever to change in order to meet new climate goals and other EU regulations. Today’s forestry is also strongly questioned in its current form. New forest owners place new demands on forest companies but also see new areas of use for their forest, from the investor side we also see a greater interest in forest ownership.

 

The increased rate of digitization affects and has affected all industries. The forest industry is both behind and ahead of other industries, but what is most affected is increased availability of information, the ability to process large amounts of data, new technology that can facilitate time-consuming manual work and the great demands on environmental effects and sustainability.

"New forest owners make new demands on forest companies, but also see new areas of use for their forest."

Carl Barck: On the wood side, it is about maintaining competitiveness. It is about becoming more efficient in resource utilization and how to use your staff. The forest has a challenge in the changes that will take place where we move towards more control and knowledge about the forest and the forest land. Felling will be less. IT solutions and digitization are the key to maintaining production.

What needs do you see the forest industry having going forward?

 

Christer Lindqvist: Regardless of which areas are changed and/or made more efficient, new digital systems and tools will be central. We see that companies like ForestX will be perfectly positioned in this change.

Carl Barck: We see an increased need for better decision support. You get that with the help of optimization and AI in planning and control.

ForestX after work
ForestX after work
ForestX after work
ForestX after work
Vinga
Vinga
Vinga
Vinga
Brännö
Vinga
Brännö
Brännö

What lessons have you learned as entrepreneurs from the years with ForestX?

 

Carl Barck: It is a challenge to go from the small startup company where you have to manage everything yourself to the large established company where you have to work in a different way. During 2022 and 2023, we have actually created a new company in terms of structure. We had to make that shift, we are now approaching 60 coworkers.

Christer Lindqvist: Some of the most central lessons as entrepreneurs and specifically the forest industry that we have worked in are:

  • The importance of a clear and focused business model.
  • Long-termism and perseverance, that is, we must always believe in what we are doing to reach our goals.
  • Team delivery. We always work cross-skills in our assignments and respect each other’s contributions.
  • Relationship, relationship and relationship. We do business and projects with people with whom we build a long relationship.

Where will ForestX be in another five years?

 

Carl Barck: We do what we do now, but in more places, more customers and in more branches of the forest industry.

Christer Lindqvist: We are simply present in more industries within the forestry value chain. Our collaborations with our partners are even stronger. Our team in India has further developed and has a stronger presence in all our deliveries.

ForestX celebrates five years: “There is no company like us in all of Europe” Read More »

Sponsored sauna warms the students in Umeå

Umeå/Gothenburg

 

Forest studies + sauna = true. Of course, ForestX sponsored the students in Umeå with a new sauna unit when their old “reactor” stopped working.

 

Finska föreningen (The Finnish association) at the University of Forestry’s student union in Umeå ensures that the sauna culture is kept alive among the students. An open and warm sauna is offered at least once a week.

– It exists for those who are interested in taking a sauna and having a good time, says the president of Finska föreningen, Petter Tillberg.

pettertillberg
Petter Tillberg president för Finska föreningen

Since last autumn, a new sauna unit with a new chimney insert has been installed in the association’s sauna, sponsored by ForestX.

 

The students got in touch with representatives from ForestX during a meeting between the industry and the students in 2022. When the old reactor, as the unit is called by the students, gave up after ten years, they contacted some companies. Patrik Anderchen, a forester trained in Umeå and now business developer at ForestX, picked up on the idea. It was also not difficult to get CEO Carl Barck on board. He too has a past at the university in Umeå.

– I have had a lot of fun as a student in Umeå. Of course we wanted to help the students, he says.

Carl Barck VD ForestX

The sauna is well managed by the Finska föreningen and its board. President Petter Tillberg explains how the board is formed:

– We have a defense minister whose task is to protect the sauna from the Russians, there is a metsä minister who makes sure there is firewood and a makkari minister who makes sure there is something edible. Two people are ministers of culture, their job is to make bad Finnish jokes. The propaganda minister is responsible for various events, the reaktorii minister is responsible for the reactor itself (ie the unit). As the president, I rule and make decisions. We are an association for everyone’s well-being and our goal is just for everyone to have fun and enjoy themselves!

 

Before formal sittings, the sauna is of a slightly more specific character. Then you have to speak with a Finnish accent, regardless of which language you speak.

– The sauna is popular among the exchange students too, says Petter Tillberg.

 

The association’s sauna has attracted at most 40 people into the humid heat. The sauna has reached an impressive 110 degrees Celsius.

 

The association cuts the wood themselves. The school owns a forest outside Umeå where the students can clear and thin. When Akademiska hus, which owns the land around the school buildings, recently cleared, the Finnish association also had to take care of the wood.

 

The Finnish association has existed in Umeå since 2006. The sauna is available for rent for those who want to see the world’s only reactor with the ForestX logo on it!

Fact box

Top rating for Finska föreningen on Google:

 

The association’s facility is consistently rated five when the visitors have their say. Here are some of the reviews:

 

Fantastic place. Took a swim in the Gulf of Finland, stepped up as a new person.

 

Nice atmosphere, nice sauna, nice relaxation area. A high-quality spa facility suitable for all ages.

 

Very nice and genuine sauna, large selection of drinks and friendly staff! Highly recommended to anyone who wants to try the real Finnish culture here in Sweden!

 

Very pleasant and pleasant experience in the rustic and genuine establishment. The staff are service-oriented and accommodating in everything from refreshing health drinks by the pool to tasty snacks in the steam sauna. The relaxation area with its own fireplace and open floor plan invites you to convivial discussions in the company of good friends as relaxation after strengthening exercise in the adjacent ecological wooden outdoor gym.

 

A warm and pleasant sauna that opens up possibilities for a truly unique community.
Should the sauna still feel a bit too hot, you can always cool off in the luxurious “Gulf of Finland” hot tub!

Do you also want to help the students?

The University of Forestry’s Kårhus in Umeå needs a new roof! If you are able to support, contact Patrik Ulvdal .

Sponsored sauna warms the students in Umeå Read More »

Scroll to Top