Innovation system

Triple Steelix is a tool in the steel industry for the Triple Steelix Industrial to develop. This tool must be used by working together in project form to implement activities and to work in a way that is guided by demand. Triple Steelix have a flexible way of working and a flexible structure of people to work with.

Our players are small, medium-sized and large companies, they are the Research and Development process, and also the public sector. Triple Steelix have four filds of operation, the filds are Sheet steel, Stainless steel, Machining and Services & Service

Examples from our operations:

Need-motivated research
All development and cooperation projects between industry and universities are directly linked to concrete needs arising among companies. This involves continual improvements and development of ideas based on the production of the various companies.

Equal opportunities
Triple Steelix works towards promoting equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities for women and men. By highlighting distinctive examples of women, known as “Steel Stars”, and describing companies that have succeeded in their equal opportunities work, Triple Steelix endeavours to inspire others to follow suit.

Interactive research
The interactive research pursued continually at the Dalarna Research Board is aimed at ensuring that Triple Steelix follows the right path.
With eyes on the future, it participates along the way and gives impulses in the right direction.

This means that the work is focused on giving feedback to the Management Board, the Principal and the process management for strategic decisions on the orientation and development of Triple Steelix.

Competence development
Triple Steelix runs seminar days spanning fields ranging from leadership and personal development to the procedure for welding stainless steel. The activities lead to the broadening the contacts and to a growing network.
“The competence advice we were given by a large company has enabled our profitability to improve by 30% on only one order.”
“I made five new contacts in the steel industry, which I would
never have otherwise managed to make!”

Development of machining technology
“The benefit of the contact network of Triple Steelix is decisive to us.”
The steel belt in the Bergslagen region includes Ortic AB and Hydroforming Design Light AB (HDL) – two unique companies that use their individual methods for promoting the development of machining technology. Triple Steelix has contributed to giving them access to the right contact network. There is great potential here
for the future market of both companies.

HDL customers now include Volvo Trucks and Electrolux. Ortic offers roll forming machines to customers around the world. The Machining Centre at the University of Dalarna now has a hydroforming unit and the world’s first test equipment for three-dimensional roll forming. The interest of the automotive industry is keen, to say the least.
“We recently had a visit from Spain. Our visitors declared that there is nothing like it anywhere else in the world.”

Materials development
“The contact with the university has given us totally new angles of approach. The result could become enormous.”
Triple Steelix can offer financial support, so that a small company can obtain assistance to develop together with the university. The Läsk & Ölteknik i Norden AB company is a good example. They are working on the installation and service of serving systems and production of soft drinks dispenser batteries. A research project is now in progress to determine whether high strength steels could be used in soft drinks dispenser batteries. The project includes areas such as stainless steel, machining technology, new thinking and new forming techniques.

Metal working technology
The Metal working Centre has been set up as a result of cooperation between the University of Dalarna, Borlänge Municipality, the Swedish Steel Producers’ Association and Triple Steelix. The KK Foundation is now also investing SEK 2 million, which will enable the University of Dalarna, together with the Royal Institute of Technology, to set up a Masters course in Forming and Surface Technology. Roll forming will be included as an important element in the course. The reasons that
the KK Foundation has decided to join in the financing of the Masters course is that roll forming has great relevance and that the academic and research environments are appropriate.

Commercialization
Triple Steelix participates in the annual Elmia Subcontractor Fair, which is one of the most important Swedish arenas for small and mediumsized engineering companies. In 2007, twenty companies exhibited on a joint stand at the Fair, together with Triple Steelix.

Growth is created by all projects and activities in which Triple Steelix participates ultimately leading to better, larger and more numerous business deals.

Internationalization
The steel belt includes large and small companies in the steel and engineering industries, which are both world leaders and unique in their respective fields or their products. Many of the companies have achieved major successes by focusing on advanced niche products that are in keen demand on the world market. The work of Triple Steelix is based on international perspectives and contexts, and is pursued by establishing contacts aimed at acting and thinking internationally. This work is distinguished by faith in the future, involvement, a businesslike approach and internal and external cooperation.

The international strategy of Triple Steelix contributes to:

• Developing competence in order to support small companies in the Triple Steelix region.
• Assuring the small companies in the steel industry of better international competitiveness.
• Assisting in revitalizing the image of the Triple Steelix region.