Fine Scandinavia operates as a trusted, versatile provider for industrial metal solutions (including warehouse trolleys, roll containers, and industrial workstations etc.) alongside quality mixed-material residential furniture. Vietnam-based, this Swedish-founded manufacturer is on a continuous journey of business development and long-term growth that has soon reached twenty years.
From Material Handling to Multi-Material Manufacturing
It all began with a modest range of material handling products to a few Scandinavian customers. Gradually, the business has since then grown from small-scale manufacturing with a limited spectrum of processes into a large-scale modern provider. Fine Scandinavia now uses a wide range of materials and manufacturing processes and it has a highly skilled engineering department to assist its customers in product development.
“Our main differentiation is that we work on a fairly broad variety of materials and processes in-house; for example, steel, stainless steel and aluminium. We work in many different segments; from heavy duty material handling to medical, health care and outdoor furniture. That’s what makes us unique,” says Swedish founder and CEO Johan Sundberg.
Now a multi-material specialist, this manufacturer has gained vast experience in managing complex, mixed-material supply chains: “Within the segments that we cater to we have developed quite a few close suppliers in various materials and processes, enabling us to provide products that we otherwise would not have been able to. With this capability we have become a quite broad supplier.”
Advanced machinery and skilled craftsmanship ensure consistent quality across every production stage:
On offer: end-to-end manufacturing and OEM capabilities, combining precision engineering, advanced production technology, and deep technical expertise to deliver uncompromised quality.
Where Customers Set the Standard
The main markets the clients come from are Europe, North America and Australia – where Fine Scandinavia’s partners enjoy getting the same quality as any European factory but with lower cost.
The steel used is supplied with an MTC (Mill Test Certificate) for traceability and to verify quality. Wood purchases are made exclusively from timber with EUTR certificates, and the manufacturing plant holds ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015 certifications.
“Additionally, we perform product testing upon request to meet each customer’s specific requirements and applicable standards.”
The company name reflects two core reference points rooted in Scandinavia: it honours the company’s very first customers, while mirroring its foundational origin, values and identity.
“Scandinavia has been very important. Our first customers were Scandinavian, whom we’ve been working closely with since the start. We learned a lot along the way on how to serve our customers in the best possible way and to make it easy for them to work with us even though being far apart geographically. And our long-term Scandinavian customers have also been very good references for our other customers around the world,” Johan emphasises.
“I think the most important points have been that we’ve always tried to keep developing, widening our materials and processes to stay on top, e.g. not being afraid to try new ways, but also not promising things that we are not sure we can handle. Trust is a main key in a good partnership.”
When Capability Found a New Market
A pivotal milestone in their growth has been the successful expansion from industrial products into furniture manufacturing: “It started around 2015 when we were getting more and more enquiries to manufacture mixed material indoor furniture. It evolved quite fast and I realised that in order to take this opportunity to the next level we needed an in-house furniture development department with the right experience. So, in 2017 we established that, and today furniture stands for roughly 30% of our turnover,” he added.
The CEO also notes that the foundational capabilities developed in industrial manufacturing proved invaluable during this transition: “We’ve been very process-focused in making the industrial manufacturing as efficient and quality-consistent as possible, so that we could penetrate into the medium-high furniture segment in a relatively short time.”
Building for the Next Twenty Years
The company was born out of the Swede’s desire to build an enterprise he truly believed in and could stand behind, a vision shaped by several years of gaining invaluable local experience working in Vietnam.
The new headquarters represents another step in their long-term investment in its people and workplace:
Reflecting on nearly 20 years in business, Johan has navigated numerous market shifts while successfully introducing Scandinavian leadership ideas and work culture to the operation: “In the beginning I realised it was more important to micro-manage. But then again, the company was new and I pretty much had a hand in all areas. As the years went by, I tried to create an environment with responsibility and ownership in all areas. Today we operate with a management team that drives all the day-to-day sides of the business.”
This commitment to a flat organisational structure is highly visible across the factory floor: “We all need to work well together to develop and manufacture good products. Then it’s always important to keep the cooperation well between different departments like admin, engineering and production. All departments are equally important.”
Fine Scandinavia takes immense pride in its high retention rates, with numerous staff members celebrating over a decade of service with the company.
“Our management team and I have always aimed to have an equal and fair working environment where we listen to ideas and thoughts and you can grow within the company. This gives people a chance to develop both personally and professionally. We have strived to have as equal numbers of men and women in many areas as possible. This creates a better working environment, even though it’s not always easily achievable in our type of industry.”
With the brand-new purpose-built 11,000 m2 manufacturing plant, and with two large
automated powder coating lines, Fine Scandinavia has doubled its previous footprint. It is fully equipped to scale operations and onboard new partners.
“The new facility is more than a milestone in Fine Scandinavia’s growth; it is an opportunity to reintroduce the company not as a furniture manufacturer or an industrial manufacturer, but as a trusted manufacturing partner for both,” ends Johan.
Good manufacturing starts with the right partner.
Fine Scandinavia works with some of the top furniture brands and material handling companies in Europe, the US, and Australia. Over time, they’ve learned that successful manufacturing partnerships are built on one thing above all else: doing what you say you’ll do.
If the fit is right, let’s talk.
Explore more: finescandinavia.net
Contact
Johan Sundberg
[email protected]
