How to build a legacy
When you step into the Rottne Industry factory, don’t expect flashy robots or a frantic pace. Instead, you’re met with calm focus, friendly greetings, and a sense of pride so strong it feels like part of the machinery. This is how one of the world’s leading forest machine manufacturers operates — with heart, heritage, and hands-on dedication in the forests of Småland.
It all started in 1955, when Börje Karlsson, the son of a farmer, saw the foresty job for what it really was: hard and heavy. There had to be a better way to get timber out of the forest. With a touch of ingenuity — and a mix of creativity, laziness and a desire to help his father — he built a crane to make the work easier. The solution quickly caught attention. Neighbours soon wanted to buy his invention — and production began. The first machine didn’t even have a name, until someone pointed at the competitor’s machine, made by a man named Brown, and joked: “Well then, is this the blonde one?” The name stuck — and Blondinen became the start of a legacy that is Rottne Industry.
From that moment, Rottne Industry became a name known far beyond the forests of Småland. The company has continued to innovate — for example in 2006, when Rottne Industry was the first in the world to introduce a cabin damping system. Today, Rottne Industry is the fourth-largest forest machine manufacturer globally.
The power of being an underdog
Still privately owned by Börje’s children, Anders and Maria, the company remains deeply rooted in the region. All profits are reinvested. No dividends. No shortcuts. Just long-term commitment — to development, to sustainability, and to the village it calls home.
Assembly takes place in Rottne, with components made nearby — like the cabins built in Åseda. Around 200 machines roll out each year, with plans to increase capacity in the coming years. Rottne works with as many local suppliers as possible, despite increasing global competition and a tightening market.
There’s a certain underdog spirit at Rottne Industry. While competitors may have greater resources for expansion and innovation, little Rottne is a global player — constantly reinventing itself with new solutions. Thanks to one simple principle: built by Smålanders — who care.
Read more about Rottne Industry.
