Suzuki Garphyttan invests in its employees together with QleanAir

For Suzuki Garphyttan, good air quality is an integral part of a sustainable working environment. By partnering with QleanAir Scandinavia and installing industrial air cleaners, the company has managed to improve air quality in production with excellent results; a strategic investment designed to safeguard the health and well-being of employees and create an attractive workplace.

Suzuki Garphyttan is a world-leading producer of advanced steel wire products. The company develops and manufactures high-quality wire for the automotive industry and other sectors with stringent quality requirements. Being part of the global Nippon Steel group means that sustainability is an integral part of the operations.

High demands on the production environment

Manufacturing oil-tempered valve spring wire and precision components places high demands on the production environment. The processes naturally generate metal dust and other aerosols, such as welding fumes and oil mist, which require effective management to ensure a sustainable working environment over time.

Henrik Sätterbacka is Site Manager at Suzuki Garphyttan. During his 20 years with the company, he has seen how health and safety has evolved to become a central and integral part of the company’s strategy.

“Today, a strong focus on safety permeates the entire organisation. We work transparently and adopt a systematic approach to ensure we are constantly improving. It goes without saying that you should come home just as healthy as you were when you left for work,” says Henrik.

Investing in what matters most – people

Suzuki Garphyttan works systematically and proactively to stay one step ahead of legal requirements, not least when it comes to the working environment.

“I’m very results-oriented, but we have to achieve our goals in the right way. No one should be harmed or adversely affected by their work. Our machines are important resources, but our most important resource is our people,” explains Henrik.

“No one should be harmed or adversely affected by their work. Our machines are important resources, but our most important resource is our people.”

Thomas Eriksson, is Health and Safety Specialist at the company and agrees. He says the strategy is also about securing the future.

“For us, staying one step ahead is key. Although we already maintain a comfortable margin to current occupational exposure limits, we still choose to continue investing in our staff as they are our most important resource. By staying one step ahead, we ensure peace of mind, quality, and a strong foundation to meet the increased demands of the future,” Thomas explains.

Striving for an even better working environment

When QleanAir Scandinavia presented a solution with industrial air cleaners tailored to the company’s operating conditions, Suzuki Garphyttan saw an opportunity to further improve air quality. To ensure the desired outcome, a thorough evaluation was conducted. Finding a partner able to demonstrate expertise in handling the specific particles present in the operation was critical.

“It is important to have a partner who knows what they are talking about. The fact that QleanAir could provide references and let us try out the equipment before we made our decision gave us a great sense of reassurance,” says Thomas, and adds:

“The fact that they also provide the solution as a service and are responsive when our needs change allows us to focus on our business and rest assured that the air is being cleaned continuously.”

Eleven industrial air cleaners are installed in different areas of the production facility and are tailored to address various challenges: metal dust, welding fumes, and oil mist. The air cleaners have a separation efficiency of 99%, meaning they remove 99% of the particles that pass through the filters. In a production environment, new particles are constantly generated by ongoing operations, making it important to measure air quality throughout the entire facility.

“Following the installation of the air cleaners, independent measurements taken by the occupational health service showed a reduction of around 90% in inhalable and respirable dust particles in the production environment,” says Thomas.

“Following the installation of the air cleaners, independent measurements taken by the occupational health service showed a reduction of around 90% in inhalable and respirable dust particles in the production environment.”

 

“The difference is clearly noticable. We have seen a clear improvement in the production environment and have received very positive feedback from staff who feel that the air is now both cleaner and fresher,” says Thomas.

Well-being leads to greater efficiency at work

Henrik sees a strong connection between well-being and productivity.

“A good working environment is essential for success. Engagement and well-being lead to better results. If we have a good working environment, we get good efficiency in return,” he says.

The investment in the working environment has also become a strength in recruitment. He notes that today’s job seekers have higher expectations on their employers when it comes to sustainability and the indoor environment.

“There is much more focus on these issues today. Many people choose us because we actively invest in the working environment. This allows us both to retain and attract the best talent. I believe it is important for any company that wants to remain attractive in the long term to invest in this,” Henrik concludes.

Suzuki Garphyttan

• Business operations: World-leading manufacturer of oil-tempered valve spring wire and wire products for transmission and steering.
• Location: Garphyttan, Sweden (Corporate Office and production).
• Challenge: The presence of metal dust, welding fumes, and oil mist in the production environment, combined with a commitment to proactively work to improve the working environment while also preparing for stricter legal requirements in the future.
• Solution: Installation of 11 QleanAir FS 70 industrial air cleaners. Each air cleaner is tailored to the specific needs of the respective section of the production hall.
• Results: Reduction of approximately 90% in inhalable and respirable dust particles, leading to an improved working environment and positive feedback from staff.