Life jackets of the future are developed in Töreboda

On a sailing trip with friends, on a kayaking excursion on Lake Vänern’s rolling waters, or during a quick ride in a motorboat—the one thing you should always bring is your life jacket! And chances are it was designed in the small community of Älgarås outside Töreboda in the Skaraborg region.

“It feels fantastic to work for a company that saves lives! We talk about it every day, and there is a sense of pride in the organization around our mission.”

Baltic is Europe’s leading manufacturer of safety products for water activities. Joel Sellén works as a sales representative at Baltic and is based at the office in Älgarås. The company’s headquarters are located here, and 25 people work on site. In addition to a large warehouse, the heart of the operation is here - product development.

“There are many standards to consider when developing a life jacket, and my colleagues who work on producing the prototypes are extremely skilled in their craft and fantastic seamstresses,” Joel explains.

Developing life jackets based on customer needs

In his role as a salesperson, Joel spends part of his time visiting the company’s retailers, marinas, and fishing shops. Another part of his job is to help lead projects developing new life jackets for customers whose needs are not covered by the standard product range.

“We have customers such as the Swedish Sea Rescue Society, the Coast Guard, and the Swedish Maritime Administration. Sometimes they need specially adapted products for parts of their operations. In those cases, we work together with the customer to develop a new life jacket that suits their needs.”

But it’s not only authorities and companies that occasionally need new life jackets. New needs and opportunities arise, and Baltic’s goal is to stay at the forefront of product development overall.

The company was the first in the world to design an inflatable life jacket specifically for women, and has recently launched several life jackets made from recycled materials.

“They are made from 100% recycled material wherever possible. For certain components, such as buckles, there are regulations that prevent the use of recycled materials for those specific parts. But most of the jacket can be made from materials already in circulation, and the emissions from producing such a jacket are 24% lower than for a standard one. We hope that more people will start to demand this type of solution in the future.”

A career within the company

Joel started at Baltic nine years ago after speaking with a friend who worked for the company.

“I called the owner and asked if he had a job for me. He did! I worked in the warehouse for four years, but I had a desire to develop within the company - and they supported that! I think it’s fantastic to build a career within one company. It’s a great feeling to be able to grow together!”

In addition to its operations in Älgarås, the company has an office in Gothenburg and a subsidiary in England. The company also works closely with its production partners, where the life jackets are sewn, in Ukraine and Hungary. Baltic has had the same manufacturers of life jackets for 30 years, and Joel describes how long-term partnerships are key to a well-functioning business.

“Just as our product developers are experts at creating new life jackets, our operations in Europe are experts at manufacturing them. Quality is very important to us, so their experience is invaluable.”

Balancing work and leisure

But what does a life jacket salesperson do in his free time? Could it have something to do with boating?

“It’s almost considered a professional offence here, but I really enjoy being on land!” Joel laughs.

“When I’m off work, I like being at home with my partner and our dog. I enjoy doing things around the house and being outdoors. For me, work is full speed ahead - so it’s nice to be able to unwind at home, where it’s calm.”

This text has been translated with the help of AI.