"Development is what drives us"

Ten years ago, Fridh & Hell's Bygg started as a two-man company in Bengtsfors. Since then, the company has grown and challenged the industry in both sustainability and digitalization.
- It's easy to be satisfied with the way things are, but by thinking about development and innovation, we don't get stuck, but can constantly make things better. I want to develop the traditional construction method to enable more efficient and climate-smart solutions," says Jonas Fred Hell, CEO of the company.

It was during a study visit to Halden five years ago that they were introduced to CLT, a climate-smart material that is produced from renewable raw materials and also has a very high load-bearing capacity in relation to its own weight. Jonas decided to invest in this material, and since then Fridh & Hell have built two preschools and several energy-efficient residential buildings entirely in wood.

- I saw great potential in working with CLT, a material that provides high quality but can also contribute to more sustainable construction. At the time, there was not much interest in CLT, but in recent years both interest and demand have grown enormously.

VR studio for more efficient work

The company was also an early adopter of digitization of the construction process, including laser scanning of buildings. This makes it possible to make decisions much earlier than normal in the construction process. Fridh & Hell's Bygg is currently rebuilding its office and will, among other things, make room for a VR studio.

- By visualizing a project early on, work becomes more efficient with fewer errors and a more predictable budget. This results in more satisfied customers because they know what they are getting early in the process. A VR environment also makes it possible to visualize changes during the design phase.

Collaboration pays off

Fridh & Hell's Bygg has been part of Tillverka i Trä since the start, and Jonas highlights how the network enables development and creates synergies between different industries.

- The collaboration with University West and Innovatum gives us updates on the future situation and it is of great value to learn, for example, about the automotive industry's methods and processes for developing our industry. The network also gives us a meeting place where we can meet around twenty people from interesting companies at once, which is both effective and rewarding. We have had many good discussions between large prefabrication producers and traditional construction companies in Tillverka i Trä.

In conclusion, Jonas emphasizes the importance of innovation for companies to cope with the ongoing transition.

- I believe that any company with a longer horizon needs to think innovation, especially in today's environment where sustainability and digitalization are so central.