“A strong business requires strong people”

– Elmia Subcontractor is fundamentally a business arena, but for us it is also a place where we can meet future colleagues. Customers, professionals, students and industry colleagues gather here – many of whom could become future employees or partners for the industry.

For Viktor and his colleagues, the business and the employer brand are closely linked.

– Employer branding is not about standing on the sidelines of the business, but about strengthening it. When we show what we develop, how we collaborate and what we stand for, we also show what kind of environment and culture we offer. In short – a strong business requires strong people, and it starts with showing who you are as an employer, even in contexts like Elmia.

Cross-border collaboration

HR and employer branding are a natural part of the whole at SSAB. The collaboration between HR, Marketing and Sales shows that we are stronger together – something that is clearly visible in the way they communicate during the fair.

– When we showcase our innovations, it is also about showcasing the expertise and driving force behind them. Our role is to support both support functions and core business, and in the long run we build a strong employer brand by collaborating across borders and towards common goals, says Viktor.

It is precisely in the intersection of technology, people and culture that SSAB sees its strength. At Elmia Subcontractor, all these parts meet.

Creating curiosity for the manufacturing industry

The steel industry is facing major skills challenges. For Viktor, it is about showing the industry as it is today – but also how much it has actually changed.

– The steel industry looks completely different today than it did just ten years ago. Back then, blast furnaces were the norm, something people used without question. Now we are approaching fossil-free steel production. It is a huge change, and by showing both the history and the future, we want to ignite the spark in the next generation, he says.

To arouse interest, SSAB collaborates with schools, universities, municipalities and organizations to increase interest in technology among young people. At universities, the company works particularly with students in materials design, automation and mechanical engineering – areas that lie at the heart of the industry’s development.

– We want young people to get a realistic but inspiring picture of what a career in industry can entail. That is why we invest heavily in internships, degree theses and trainee programs – to create natural pathways for new, driven people, he says.

By combining pride in its history with insight into future opportunities, SSAB shows that the steel industry is both exciting and relevant.

Pride as a driving force

When visitors meet SSAB at Elmia Subcontractor, the company wants to convey just that feeling – pride, commitment and faith in the future.

– We want people to get a clear picture of SSAB as a workplace where pride is not just something we say, but something we really feel. We are proud of our role in the green transition, but equally proud of the culture behind it, says Viktor Hammarström.

For him, employer branding is not about campaigns or individual initiatives, but about everyday life.

– It is about how we behave in everything we do. The trust we have built – as an employer, customer and supplier – has grown over time thanks to the way we act. That is how we continue to build our brands, by creating value together, doing the right thing and staying one step ahead.

A future built on people and opportunities

When Elmia Subcontractor opens its doors, SSAB is on hand to show that the future of industry is about both technology and people.

– For us, the two go hand in hand. We want to show that a strong business requires strong people – and that the future is shaped by those who dare to combine tradition, innovation and commitment.