Companies in Focus: Forsell Maskin
We continue to highlight companies in northern Sweden in our Companies in Focus series, where we share stories of how ideas become reality and create new business opportunities. This time, we meet Forsell Maskin in Skellefteå, which, after nearly 50 years of custom machine building, is taking the step from bespoke machinery to its own products – with ambitions to reach a global market.
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From Custom-Built Machines to Serial Production – Forsell Maskin Sets Its Sights on the Global Market
For nearly 50 years, Forsell Maskin in Skellefteå has been building machines that cannot be bought anywhere else. Every project has been unique, every solution designed from scratch. Now, the company is entering a new chapter in its history. Under the name Forsell Systems AB, a new company is being launched to serially produce its own machines for the first time, targeting the housebuilding and prefabrication industries.
“This is something completely different from what we have done before. My entire career has been about starting with a blank sheet of paper for every machine. Now we are selecting what we know works and turning it into products,” says CEO Jörgen Forsell.
The venture is being carried out together with new co-owners who bring international networks and business connections. Preparations are already underway for a construction trade show in the United States, where the machines will be showcased for the first time.
“There are always markets somewhere that are doing well. With our new owners, we are immediately connected to opportunities around the world.”
A Father-and-Son Team
Forsell Maskin was founded by Arne Forsell in 1977 under the name Bergsbyns Mekaniska Verkstad. His son, Jörgen, grew up in the workshop and began developing his own solutions at an early age.
“It was a natural choice for me. I loved seeing the machines, welding, and working at the lathe. We worked from morning until evening during the first 20 years. You could say the workshop was where we lived,” Jörgen recalls.
The next generation is represented by Linus Forsell.
Over the years, the company has built machinery for everything from floorball stick production to large hydraulic presses and equipment for the mining industry.
“You could say we develop a completely new ‘car’ every time. We don't even know whether it will have four wheels when we start.”
That has been both the company's greatest strength and its main limitation.
“It's incredibly rewarding work, but every project means starting over. With the new company, we can repeat, refine, and continue developing what we have already created.”
From Projects to Products
Forsell Systems will operate as a dedicated product company, while Forsell Maskin will continue focusing on custom-built machinery.
“Forsell Maskin will keep doing what we have always done – building machines that cannot be bought off the shelf. Forsell Systems will build the same type of machine multiple times.”
The focus is on prefabricated housing and off-site construction, areas where the company already has extensive experience.
One of the products now being commercialised is an automated solution for tiling bathroom walls – a so-called tile-laying robot.
“We call it Modutile. It is a robot that repeats the same movement every time and delivers exactly the same quality. A human simply cannot maintain that level of consistency,” says Jörgen.
The machine is already in use at Lindbäcks for tiling in its house production process.
“We have built three of these machines and know every parameter. We have great confidence in this product.”
Experience as a Competitive Advantage
Jörgen describes himself as a machine designer at heart.
“I'm largely self-taught. I learned by making mistakes – you could say my father paid several million kronor for my education.”
Today, he runs the business together with his son Linus, who is responsible for personnel, materials, and turning designs into finished machines.
“I come up with the ideas and designs; he makes sure they become reality. We complement each other very well.”
The company employs six people and has very low staff turnover.
“We are good at seeing projects through to completion, and not everyone can deliver on time. Today, customers expect far more documentation, compliance work and CE marking than they did in the past. You need to provide electrical schematics, manuals and ensure everything comes together. I think that is something our customers value.”
Today, Forsell Maskin has six employees.
Machines Built to Last
The company's machines are designed for longevity.
“It's quite common for our machines to remain in operation for 20 years. Ultimately, it is the customer's product that determines the machine's lifespan. If the product disappears, the machine is adapted to something new.”
As a result, the company's work is centred on robust processes, precision and long-term reliability rather than high-volume production.
“In many ways, the most sustainable approach is to build it right from the start, so the machine can be used to its full potential for as long as possible.”