We are happy to present the Garantell blog. Here, our staff from various departments will share their thoughts and tips on a variety of subjects. Hopefully you will get a good read, something to think about and also a little entertainment. The blog posts will also be shared on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook as well as in our newsletters, so choose the way of following us that suits you best! You find the links to subscription at the bottom of the website
At Garantell we produce everything on demand. We design our mesh decks based on a lot of parameters such as the desired dimension, the weight and the type of load. A lot of customers ask us specifically for mesh decks with omega profiles. The supporting plate of the traditional mesh deck has flattened ends that rest on the pallet racking beams, which is called the omega profile. As these profiles are so common, they are almost perceived as a necessary component of the mesh deck. Which they are not …
This year, many traditions have had to take a back seat. Due to the spread of the coronavirus, there are restrictions regarding the maximum number of people permitted to gather in one place, and festive events have had to adapt. This has affected the ability to hold everything from weddings to funerals in the usual way. Online funerals have become common in Sweden, while holidays such as Midsummer, crayfish parties or birthdays have been celebrated within the immediate family instead of as is usually the case with the extended family and friends. Christmas, which is considered the major holiday period in much of Europe, is now on the horizon. That too will be different for many people this year, as older relatives are unable to participate in the festivities in the same way as usual.
When I cycle to Garantell in the mornings, I pedal through a typical Småland landscape (if you’re curious about Småland, open a book by Astrid Lindgren: our national hero and Pippi Longstocking’s mom). Astrid Lindgren’s descriptions of the Småland landscape are still accurate today: forests, gravel roads, cows feeding in pastures, red cottages with white trim, all accompanied by birdsong. Foxes and deer are frequently spotted, and if you hear a loud crack and crash in the forest, it’s guaranteed to be a moose or wild boar. I also cycle alongside Lake Vidöstern and, if I’m lucky, I see a naked Smålander enjoying a morning dip. For us Swedes, a morning dip is quite natural, but my colleagues have said to me that it’s a quintessentially Swedish thing to do. So what is a morning dip? Basically, you get out of bed and go down to the lake (wearing a bathrobe if you have neighbours, naked if you don’t). In Småland, the lakes are placid and dark, and an early morning swim in the light of dawn is something absolutely amazing that I hope you all get the chance to experience at some point.
When I open the door to Garantell, I leave Småland behind and enter a melting pot of diverse cultures. I find it fascinating each and every morning to be able to greet all these wonderful people from across the globe. In the Sales department, we fluently speak 17 languages, and the number of different cultures is roughly the same. This is Garantell, and it’s fantastic. Cultural clashes are a daily occurrence. I sometimes hear that Swedes are quiet, introverted, and difficult to approach. What happens then when we meet Spaniards with their lively gesticulations, the French and their delicious food, the Italians with their own olive oil, the diplomatic Belgians, Germans who cherish precision and structure, hospitable Hungarians, humble Greeks, and friendly Polish? We can certainly get annoyed with one another and we’re not psychologists, but because we are Garantell we share a culture in which acceptance and understanding are paramount. We’re here to make things simpler for each other, which means we have to continuously improve how we communicate and listen.
You are probably wondering now how all of these cultures ended up in Värnamo and why a Swedish company with offices in remotest Småland employs so few Swedish-born? Of course the people I employ can be from Sweden, as long as they are service-minded, go the extra mile for our customers and have the right language skills.
We exist to make everyday life easier for YOU, our customers. To do so, we must be able to speak your language, and we also believe that by understanding your culture there will be less friction. Since you, our customers, are located across Europe, we have employed sales representatives who speak your languages fluently and who often share your nationality. I’m sure you are wondering what drives someone to move to the cold North with its introverted inhabitants. It’s usually because of love. Most of our foreign-born sales reps have Swedish spouses or partners. Although, some of our employees basically closed their eyes, pointed their fingers at the map and ended up in Sweden. After moving here they heard that Garantell desperately required language proficiencies, which made applying for a job with us an obvious choice.
You’re probably wondering why we don’t do the same thing as every other company and establish a subsidiary in the countries we want to operate in. We honestly believe that in order to simplify your everyday life, you need fast service and the best solutions. We think we can best provide this if our sales reps are located close to our development department. Together, they can create optimal solutions for you, while also learning from each other and developing in their roles.
When I pedal home in the evening, the morning bathers have given way to swimming children, with the aromas of barbecues emanating from backyards. It makes me realise how privileged we are to be able to see each other every day at Garantell, share our perspectives, and discuss the things we can do to give you even better service.
In today’s world, it is important to keep on your toes and be well-prepared for whatever the day has in store. This is so much easier to achieve when you have employees around you with different experience and knowledge. Perhaps you have read the previous blog posts “Different Nationalities, Shared Strength” and “Shared Breakfast, Nourishment for the Soul”, written by a couple of my colleagues. They give the impression that we are like a bag of mixed sweets – a great many people from different countries and different departments. And that really is true. Garantell has all functions and departments under one roof, from Production to Sales, from Development to Painting.
Everything started when I left my beloved Iraq in 2015 and came to Sweden. I had to leave a life, a family, a career and a future. Everything. To start anew. In the middle of summer 2018, I entered Swedish working life. It was Garantell who opened the doors for me. I can clearly recall the day I biked through the fragrant and dense forest to get to Speditörvägen 8. Things I knew for certain: That day was the beginning of a new chapter in my life in Sweden. I was more than ready, full of gratitude and brimming with curiosity. I had great expectations and felt a strong drive.
Time is one of the few things in life that is truly equal – no one can complain or insist that the quota is unfair. Although, the 24 hours a day we all have at our disposal can be utilised or wasted in various ways. However, only the things we manage to accomplish endure over time.
This year, many traditions have had to take a back seat. Due to the spread of the coronavirus, there are restrictions regarding the maximum number of people permitted to gather in one place, and festive events have had to adapt. This has affected the ability to hold everything from weddings to funerals in the usual way. Online funerals have become common in Sweden, while holidays such as Midsummer, crayfish parties or birthdays have been celebrated within the immediate family instead of as is usually the case with the extended family and friends. Christmas, which is considered the major holiday period in much of Europe, is now on the horizon. That too will be different for many people this year, as older relatives are unable to participate in the festivities in the same way as usual.
What actually is the purpose of digitalisation? In today’s society, it’s the rule rather than the exception that companies are constantly looking for new IT solutions. Perhaps you’ve seen employees sighing over some “new invention” introduced by their own company or its partners.
The winter is now approaching and in Småland we can look back on magical August evenings when the sun went down at half past nine. Sitting by a reflective dark lake watching the sunset behind the treetops is really something magical. For those who believe in lake monsters, it goes without saying that August evenings, with their shadows and fantastic sunsets, are the height of lake monster season.
Looking after staff is considered a matter of course for many companies in Sweden, and it’s done in various ways. Not only by, for example, providing breakfast, but also by offering employees a sum of money to enable them to purchase a gym membership or treat themselves to a back massage. We also enjoy exercising together in our lunch break. A short run or a tabata session can be squeezed in before lunch. Sounds strange? Maybe. However, we don’t just see it as exercise. It’s also a chance to socialise with our colleagues. Just like Friday’s after-work session can be of value because it increases the sense of well-being within the team.
Can we lower the height of the safety mesh here? Can we add hinges and angle the mesh here? Can we increase the clearance as there are conveyor systems that go in and out of the machine here? Can we create a fitting for this type of switch? Yes, of course we can! There’s always some kind of obstacle when creating a safety layout. This can be anything from an uneven floor to the fact that there are already several structures, such as beams, blocking the locations of the safety mesh.
Both as a company and as individual employees, we must respond to a world in which technology is developing at an increasing pace, with an accelerating flow of information. Our products and services must constantly develop, change and improve. Ideally, we should be presenting innovative solutions that our customers had no idea they needed.