Invest where the industry is already growing
Kronoberg’s machinery industry is growing faster than the national average, delivers high productivity and operates at costs below Europe’s major industrial cities. The suppliers and skills are already here. Perhaps that is why we are one of Sweden’s strongest export regions. We have a long tradition of global trade and international relations – and we know how to get newly established cogs turning.
Machines have been made in Kronoberg for over a hundred years. The companies that manufacture here – such as Volvo CE, NIBE and Electrolux Professional Group – have grown into international players, but development, production and many jobs have stayed here. Today almost 7,000 people work in the industry, which is one in every eight employees in the county’s business sector.
Around the large companies, a network of subcontractors and specialists has grown up. This means manufacturers can find capacity, skills and fast adaptation close by. Distances are short and people know each other, which makes it easy to build contacts and make things happen.
The industry is also facing change. Products are becoming increasingly digital, and with them come new services, aftermarket business and skills needs.
There is therefore room for new companies that want to be part of an industry that is both built on experience and on the move.
Six reasons to invest in Kronoberg – where it already works
A growing industry
+19%
more employees 2013–2023, against +6% for the industry nationally. Value added grew by 92%. The machinery industry accounted for 21% of the county’s increase.
High productivity
+61%
productivity growth in ten years, against +35% for the county economy as a whole. The level is above the national industry average.
Lower costs
–17%
lower labour cost than Stuttgart, 30% lower than Copenhagen and 6–7% lower than Stockholm for an advanced manufacturing facility.
An established ecosystem
275
companies, anchored by NIBE, Volvo CE and Electrolux Professional. A broad network of subcontractors provides specialists, capacity and fast adaptation.
Access to skills
16,000
full-time students at Linnaeus University, which offers mechanical engineering and researches Smart Industry and AI. Teknikum trains around 623 students a year in industrial technology and automation.
Specialisation that attracts
4.0
specialisation index, meaning a higher concentration than the national average. The industry accounts for 12% of private-sector employment in the county.
Kronoberg compared with Sweden
| Machinery industry 2013–2023 | Kronoberg | Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Growth in employees | +19% | +6% nationally |
| Growth in value added | +92% | Stronger than nationally (+38% nationally) |
| Growth in productivity | +61% | Stronger than nationally (+31% nationally) |
| Share of job growth in the county | 13% | Accounts for 21% of the increase in value added |
Source: Dun & Bradstreet, 2023.
Establish yourself in an environment that already works
Market leaders have built their operations here over decades. This gives new companies business contacts, suppliers and confidence in the decision to invest.
| Company | Employees | Value added |
|---|---|---|
| NIBE | 1,597 | SEK 3,316m |
| Volvo Construction Equipment | 694 | SEK 3,197m |
| Electrolux Professional | 515 | SEK 1,012m |
| Wica Cold | 313 | SEK 294m |
| IV Produkt | 280 | SEK 770m |
Source: Dun & Bradstreet, 2023. Other companies include Konecranes, Rottne Industri, AP&T, Hydroware and Getinge Disinfection, as well as fast-growing technology companies such as Micropower, which recently built a new 25,000 m² facility in Växjö.
We support you all the way
Business Region Kronoberg is your point of entry when you want to establish or expand your operations in the region. We answer questions about permits, municipalities and planning, and help you find available industrial sites and premises in any of the region’s eight municipalities. We also support you in finding the right funding options and put you in touch with companies, clusters and academia, as well as support for your export efforts.
Tell us what you need and we will show how Kronoberg matches
We prepare a case for your operation, covering costs, skills, suppliers and premises. Get in touch and we will take it from there.
Contact our investment team
