Stenvalls Trä: "APM Terminals in Gothenburg is the sharpest"

Stenvalls Trä, a leading player in the wood products industry based in four cities in Norrland, underwent a groundbreaking change three years ago by switching from a traditional feeder solution to rail transport. Here, Roger Bergman, Marketing Manager at Stenvalls Trä, shares some insights into the demand for timber products, expansion plans and his experiences of the new logistics solution.

The demand for your products exploded during the pandemic. How are things today?

The purchasing power of our end consumers has decreased, especially in the furniture and construction industries. We've done well in handling the challenge, by increasing exports to other continents and actively seeking new business opportunities. During the pandemic, we were forced to decline some deals, but now we can see an opportunity to be creative and reach new customers. This is in harmony with our efforts to build a completely new sawing line, which will increase our total production by 50% within a three-year period.

It sounds like you're really looking forward to the future. Tell us more about the initiative!

Stenvalls Trä started in Sikfors and has since revived discontinued sawmills in another three towns in Norrland, and invested in modernising them. By building a new sawing line in Sikfors, we're not only doubling production there, but also equipping ourselves for future expansion with four state-of-the-art production facilities.

Three years ago, you took the groundbreaking decision to switch from a feeder solution from Norrland’s east coast to a railway solution to APM Terminals in Gothenburg. What do you think about that decision now?

During the pandemic, there was a huge need for a robust and reliable solution, which led to the decision to redirect our entire flow via the railway to APM Terminals in Gothenburg. We were pioneers in Norrland, and we're pleased to see that more freight owners are joining the railway with different types of freight, which further increases the flexibility of the line. Railways offer real security and reliability. Climate calculations show that the train also saves an incredible 83% in climate emissions, which supports our vision of building a fossil-free society. The new terminal will mean that we can fill two additional sets of trains, and there's no reason to return to the feeder solution – the train is the obvious choice for us for the future.

What's your perception of the service at APM Terminals?

APM Terminals has shown a lot of care about the Norrland connection and we're always given excellent service when we arrive there. We use a lot of train transports and of course things can happen along the way, but our perception is one of genuine adaptability and we're very grateful for the smooth handling.

Finally, what would you say to other freight owners who are thinking of relocating their flows via APM Terminals in Gothenburg?

There are good opportunities for joining in this model now, even for companies with smaller volumes. I want to encourage landowners in Norrland to use and develop the line between Norrland and Gothenburg. This is where the best conditions are for growth, to become really competitive, and to be able to deliver a more cost-effective product. There are of course other ports to choose from, but APM Terminals in Gothenburg is the best. There's no need to redirect your entire flow, even if we're satisfied with our choice to do so.