Nowadays, the company works with sustainability both in its own operations and by helping customers to reduce their environmental impact. Aided by Wibax, over the past three years customers have spared the environment some 400,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
"We help our customers to become fossil free. We sell a concept wherein we plan and remodel their installations to run on fossil-free fuels. This is an area in which we're seeing tremendous growth," says Jonas Wiklund, CEO of Wibax Group.
One of the largest carriers of fossil-free fuels
Wibax is now one of the key players when it comes to transporting liquid products and leads Sweden in the transport of fossil-free fuels. The company has a network of terminals throughout the country: Piteå, Skellefteå, Örnsköldsvik, Härnösand, Skutskär, Norrköping, Malmö and Uddevalla, as well as Jakobstad in Finland. Customers are found primarily in basic industries across Europe. The company has an annual turnover of about SEK 850 million.
Already when the company was founded in 1986, the business concept was centred on sustainability, even though the term wasn’t used back then. Founder Bo Axel Wiklund took a residual product from the forestry industry, lignosulphonate, which was otherwise released into the sea, and instead sold it as a material for binding dust on gravel roads.
A partnership was entered into with SSAB to transport caustic soda, after which Wibax continued to acquire vehicles and terminals in its role as a carrier for basic industries. The company has grown dramatically, especially in recent years.
Major growth phase
The company produces, sells and transports liquid chemical products. The workforce now totals 175 employees, and some 85 percent of all shipments are made using company vehicles.
“We’re experiencing a major growth phase. These are extremely interesting times. We have a clear focus on growing the company. We aim to reach a turnover of one billion Swedish crowns within the next few years,” says Jonas.
This growth has taken place with retained profitability.
“We operate in a sector weighed down by small margins, so you have to win large volumes. Our approach is to leverage aspects of vertical integration. We earn a little from many different steps, which together make for good business,” says Jonas.
Sustainability an important part of the business
One important part of the business is sustainability.
“For us, sustainability is more than just a by-product. It’s the entire process; it involves our shipments and it involves our interpersonal relationships, being a good employer,” says Jonas.
“We have to earn money. But it’s also a driving force, to be able to give the next generation a better chance and more favourable living conditions. If you can both earn money and provide for the future, then that’s a good thing.”
