Peter builds fire trucks in Floby

Many of the country’s fire engines began their service at the company Floby Rescue outside Falköping. Here, Peter Setterberg and his colleagues build custom fire trucks for emergency services across the country.

How is a fire truck built? The answer to that question can be found at Floby Rescue.

“What’s special about working here is that every vehicle is unique. All customers have different requirements and wishes, and we constantly adapt. Of course, there are steps that are always the same, but I think there’s a joy in building a complete vehicle. That means it never gets boring!”

It starts with a chassis - a truck base - being adapted. At the same time, a custom-built “body” is constructed, the large box mounted on top of the chassis behind the driver’s cab. Inside the body is everything from the water tank and fire hose to compartments for equipment.

When both the chassis and the body are finished separately, a large crane lifts the body onto the chassis and all components are connected. Additional equipment is also installed on the roof, and the vehicle is finished with its markings.

It may sound simple, but since everything must be customized, each vehicle requires a great deal of work.

“We deliver around 35 vehicles per year to fire stations across the country. From the time we start building, it takes a team about ten to twelve weeks to complete a vehicle. But it’s important to remember that what we do is craftsmanship. When the vehicle leaves us, it’s ready to go straight into service.”

Peter and his colleagues work in teams of four. Each team includes an electrician, while the others are vehicle builders, many with previous experience from other industries.

“I worked at another factory for 30 years before I started here. Looking back, maybe 20 of those years were too many,” Peter laughs.

He describes how much he enjoys his job, mainly thanks to the family-like atmosphere.

“Around 40 people work in this part of the production - and everyone is really friendly! We work together and can always ask each other for help; there’s no prestige.”

From Gothenburg to Skaraborg

Peter has worked at Floby Rescue for 7 years, but the former Gothenburg resident has lived in Floby for 36 years. He says he used to walk past the company every day, but it wasn’t until an open house event that he saw the opportunity to work there.

“I used to commute half an hour to work, and then half an hour back again. Now it’s just a couple of minutes by bike. It makes a big difference in everyday life to avoid that travel time. And on top of that, I enjoy it so much here - that’s what matters most. Having fun at work.”

Peter moved to Floby for love, and he enjoys living there. He thinks it’s a big advantage that the Western Main Line railway runs through the locality.

“I like good food, and my partner and I enjoy going out to eat. We usually go into Skövde. My adult son lives in Gothenburg, and we like to visit him. It’s so convenient - barely an hour by train and we’re right in the middle of everything! When we go there, we check the White Guide for a really good restaurant, and then we go and have a meal!”

Expanding

Floby Rescue dates back to 1918 and has always focused on quality and safety. Today, the business is entirely dedicated to rescue and firefighting vehicles - fire trucks in everyday terms. Right now, the company is expanding with a new hall that will serve both as a showroom for visitors who want to view vehicles and as a testing facility.

“When you buy a vehicle from us, you get a fully complete truck, and all the practical matters like registration and inspection are already taken care of. We also carry out a wide range of tests to ensure high quality. The customer should be able to use the vehicle from day one!”

This text has been translated with the help of AI.