Alfa Laval production remains strong
(Posted on 12/05/20)
Aalborg, Denmark, is the production site for Alfa Laval PureBallast 3 ballast water treatment systems. Having quickly adapted to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures from the Danish government, the factory continues to meet global production demands – and has even surpassed expectations.
“While the world has slowed down, the implementation of the ballast water management convention remains unchanged,” says Peter Sahlén, Head of Alfa Laval PureBallast. “We simply must continue meeting our customers’ needs, regardless of the obstacles.”
Considering that PureBallast 3 has a leading market position and many orders outstanding, those obstacles have been large indeed. The Aalborg facility normally bustles with manufacturing teams, customers, class society representatives and visitors. Nevertheless, Alfa Laval is securing customer deliveries, even with far fewer people on the factory floor.
Alfa Laval’s approach has been a combination of rapid response and innovative thinking. The company took swift action to implement protective measures for employees, but also to secure components and materials that would be needed in the coming months. When the Danish government imposed a strict lockdown on 11 March, the factory in Aalborg was well prepared.
“We moved quickly from two shifts to three shifts, working in smaller teams that can easily maintain a safe distance,” says Søren Nord Larsen, who manages the factory in Aalborg. “There’s no contact between shifts. So, if one of our workers should be infected, we can lift the entire shift out without impacting the others or any customer deliveries.”
Even meals and breaks are taken individually, at different times. Tools are carefully handled and disinfected regularly, and support functions like purchasing and production planning are managed digitally to the greatest extent possible.
“It’s tough to change so quickly and dramatically, but colleagues have really taken the situation with a positive attitude and adapted to the new routines,” says Larsen. “Many come with their own ideas for improving things, because everyone wants this to happen for our customers.”
The success of these efforts is undeniable, especially as Alfa Laval has managed to increase production during the same period. “We’ve proven that this can be done, and we’re not simply maintaining the status quo,” says Larsen. “In March we set a record of 400 systems produced for the quarter, and our deliveries for the quarter were yet another all-time high.”
For Peter Sahlén, the high productivity in Aalborg builds on Alfa Laval’s long-term planning. “We’ve made extensive preparations for ramp-up in the last two years, and that readiness has served us well in this unusual situation,” Sahlén says. “We already had a systematic overview and allocated resources, which made it easier to recalibrate. Together with our customers we will make it through this situation – and our production will be even stronger on the other side.”
Latest News
Latvian port receives electric KG MHC for lower-emission operations
(Posted on 15/06/25)Stena Line Ports Ventspils JSC in Latvia has taken delivery of its first electric Konecranes Gottwald... Read more
Wärtsilä hybrid propulsion solution for four new Dutch vessels
(Posted on 15/06/25)Technology group Wärtsilä will supply an integrated hybrid propulsion solution for four... Read more
Electric Liebherr LHM 280 strengthens Saga Fjordbase’s sustainable port operations
(Posted on 15/06/25)Saga Fjordbase’s investment in the Liebherr LHM 280 mobile harbour crane underscores its... Read more
Tymor Marine transforms draft surveying with AI-powered DRFT MRKS App
(Posted on 06/06/25)Tymor Marine has unveiled a groundbreaking solution to one of the maritime industry’s most persistent... Read more
Telestack’s instrumental role in groundbreaking Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project
(Posted on 06/06/25)Telestack has played an instrumental role in the supply of two mobile shiploading systems to one of... Read more
NAVTOR partners with Chris-Marine to enhance data collection
(Posted on 06/06/25)NAVTOR has taken another step in its mission to ‘make life easier’ for shipping crews and... Read more
Kaiko to streamline bulker hold inspection with an AI-powered app
(Posted on 02/06/25)Kaiko Systems has announced the launch of a new product to provide an efficient and more streamlined... Read more
PT Bahtera Bahari Shipyard’s innovative milestone in transshipment
(Posted on 30/05/25)PT Bahtera Bahari Shipyard (PT BBS) has taken a bold step in advancing Indonesia’s maritime capabilities... Read more
Bruks Siwertell ship loader order for major cement and clinker facility
(Posted on 30/05/25)Bruks Siwertell has secured a new Siwertell ship loader order from Akcansa, one of Turkey’s principal... Read more
MacGregor to deliver electric cranes for Vertom’s multipurpose India built vessels
(Posted on 15/05/25)MacGregor has secured an order from the Vertom group, a Netherlands-based shipowner and maritime service... Read more
