Skala Fabrikk - From Norwegian Farms to Stainless Steel Quality
You don’t have to be a dairy farmer to recognize the iconic tanker trucks with the TINE logo driving along Norwegian roads, transporting milk from farms to dairies. Since 1963, Skala Fabrikk has been developing Norwegian farm tank systems and has delivered more than 90% of the tanks used in Norway. The company, which has the food industry as its primary customer group, operates under strict requirements for execution and quality. Stainless steel is their main material, and today they are specialists in this field. In addition to the well-known transport tanks and farm tanks, Skala Fabrikk also focuses heavily on custom manufacturing and refrigeration technology.
Skala Fabrikk is located in Heimdal, south of Trondheim. The company was originally established in Trondheim’s Bakklandet district as early as 1900 under the name Eriksen Mechanical Workshop. In 1928, the Berg family took over, and Bergs Maskin A/S became a well-known name in the dairy industry before Landteknikk A/L acquired the company in 1976. The name was changed to Skala Fabrikk in 2012. Today, the company has 70 employees, 6,500 m² of production facilities, and reported a turnover of NOK 118 million in 2021.
Stainless Steel and Customized Solutions
Skala Fabrikk has maintained a strong partnership with Tibnor AS for many years. Since 2015, they have been a contract customer, including storing large volumes of customer-specific materials at Tibnor’s warehouse in Trondheim. In 2021, Tibnor delivered 935 tons of plates to the company, of which 325 tons were stainless, customer-specific plates.
In addition to customized plates, Tibnor supplies steel plates of the 355 Laser+ grade with oiled/pickled surfaces. These plates are laser-cut, bent, and welded by Skala Fabrikk before being delivered to end customers, including Orkel AS. Over the years, the company has made several significant investments. In 2014, it invested in fiber laser welding, and in 2019, it invested in a new Bystronic fiber laser system with an automated high-bay storage and picking system for finished parts. The company also operates two Bystronic CNC-controlled press brakes and is now in the process of investing in a third.
This enables Skala Fabrikk to produce large volumes of products. Annually, they manufacture approximately 20–22 chassis bodies or trailers, and in total, the company has produced around 45,000 farm tanks. In addition, they deliver stainless steel specialty products to a wide range of customers across various industries, with the food industry and aquaculture being the largest customer groups.
Strict Requirements for Food Applications
Sigurd Amundsen, Product Manager for Stainless Steel at Tibnor AS, is very familiar with the strict requirements associated with food applications that Skala Fabrikk must meet.
“There are strict requirements for materials that come into direct or indirect contact with food. If the material contaminates the food, it is highly undesirable—but this is exactly where stainless steel truly excels,” explains Amundsen.
He continues:
“When exposed to air, stainless steel forms an invisible, self-repairing, protective oxide layer. Depending on the grade, it can withstand most corrosive environments where other types of steel would rust. Stainless steel provides excellent protection for food from external contamination, does not contaminate itself, and is easy to clean.”
A Reliable and Stable Supplier
Skala Fabrikk is very satisfied with its collaboration with Tibnor as its steel supplier.
“Tibnor has proven to be a reliable and stable supplier of plates in terms of both pricing and delivery times. We have developed a strong and healthy relationship with their sales team, with whom we are in contact almost daily,” says Frode Husby from Sales/Purchasing. He is positive about continued cooperation.
“We depend on having a steel supplier that is available and can provide us with plates quickly, as this is crucial for our customers. We are confident that in the years ahead we will continue to have an excellent partnership with Tibnor as our steel supplier,” Husby concludes.
In Short
Skala Fabrikk AS
Skala Fabrikk has its roots in more than 100 years of production with stainless steel as its main material. Today, it is a supplier of specialized products and product components.
Challenge
With the food industry as its primary customer group, the company faces strict requirements for execution and quality. Additionally, fast product delivery is essential.
Solution
With Tibnor as its steel supplier, the company receives stainless and customer-specific plates, as well as 355 Laser+ grade steel plates. These materials can be processed in-house before delivery to end customers and meet the strict requirements associated with food applications. With Tibnor as a partner, the company is confident that products are delivered at competitive prices and with short lead times.