One of WIBAX's objectives is to increase turnover to SEK 1 billion within a couple of years, which will require focused initiatives from all WIBAX units and companies. One are of focus is to increase the percentage of products manufactured in-house. Over the years, WIBAX has extended its product portfolio with several products manufactured in-house, and work is continuing on further developing the business.
We use the following manufacturing procedures: chemical reaction, mechanical processing and liquefaction. One example is the manufacture of WIDAQ, a product used within the pulp industry to increase pulp yield and reduce the burden on the recovery cycle. This plant has increased its production capacity fourfold since operations began in 2000.
In 2005, WiAL was launched, an iron and chlorine-free aluminium sulphate solution used as a coagulant in water purification and applications in paper manufacturing and other industrial processes. Great demands are placed of the choice of materials in the production equipment for manufacturing WiAL. Some of our production is also subcontact work for external customers.
Over the years, several production plants have been added, while the terminal in Piteå has also been developed. Today we are able to receive raw products and send finished products by the railway within our area. Over the last few years, we have increased our total storage capacity by a total of around 2,000 tonnes.
Proportion of products produced in-house increasing
More specialised products require more plants and Production is performing the project planning, construction and quality assurance for this in collaboration with WIBAX Tech and WIBAX Industrial. In the coming year, we are facing the commissioning of two new plants, including the production of defoamers.
Production process streamlining operations
At the beginning of 2014, we launched a pilot project in which we are applying the Lean approach in Production. The aim is to improve our working methods by looking at our flows and the elements that affect results in our processes. We have also initiated a method of working we call Order & Method where we adapt our work stations by having the right tools at each station with designated places. We have assembled our stored equipment in one place, clearly marked out, and also appointed a store manager.
An expression that WIBAX’s founder Bo Wiklund has frequently used over the years is “order leads to profitability”, a truth that is as relevant now as it was before.
