“A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”

Helen Eldstål and Jan Severinsen both have long careers in the steel industry behind them. Over the years, they have both chosen to remain in Boden and commute to the jobs available within their field of expertise.

“I’ve held roles in several different areas, including continuous casting, desulfurization, ladle handling, and later the basic oxygen furnace. I also worked as acting manager,” Helen says.

Sixteen of her 18 years in the industry have been shared with colleague Jan, who brings 23 years of experience.

“I started working in charge of the serving operations, and for many years I also worked as an equipment operator. I was then appointed acting operations manager and later became operations manager,” Jan explains.

Several of their former colleagues in both production and research have taken the opportunity to be part of the green industrial transformation in Boden.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If you don’t take it now, you’ll be standing on the platform when the train has left,” Jan says.

Building something new

They describe how they discussed their thoughts back and forth when Stegra was established in Boden and they realized the project would actually be carried out.

“I felt that I really wanted to be part of this. To help build something completely new. This is real, and we get to work with experienced people with knowledge from all over the world,” Helen says.

They weighed the pros and cons before deciding to leave a large employer they had worked for many years to step into the unknown.

“I was skeptical until I got to come and see everything and meet the people in charge. Then everything changed,” Jan says.

Transparency and trust

They got the impression of a serious initiative, genuine expertise, and security. They describe receiving clear and factual answers to all their questions, met with transparency that inspired trust. Shortly after one another, they started at their new workplace last spring. They were met with a completely different working environment than they were used to, both socially, culturally, and professionally. With an American manager and employees from all over the world, English quickly became the everyday language.

“At first, all the technical terms were a bit difficult, but you learn them quickly,” Jan notes.

Helen highlights the dynamic environment where Boden has become a melting pot for experience and specialist expertise from many different countries and large-scale projects. A natural part of daily work is combining global knowledge in problem-solving, adapted specifically for Boden. She has also visited the steel plant in the United States that serves as a model for Boden and where several of their international colleagues were involved in its construction.

Shift work in a close-to-home life

Jan and Helen are both employed as operations managers at the steel plant and will be responsible for their respective shift teams once production starts. Their current role is to prepare and participate in the build-up process in all areas related to their work.

What they may miss is working shifts, which provide longer periods of time off between work rotations. But that will come when their meltshop 61 is operational and, according to plan, there will be five shift teams.

Being able to work locally also means a new private life—no commuting, more time at home, and more time for life outside work.

“I have two children and there are many sports activities in my free time. Everything is so much easier now that everything is close by,” Helen says.

Jan’s son has also been employed at Stegra, which means that he too—previously working away for entire weeks—now has more time at home in Boden.

“What is happening now is amazing. This is just ten minutes from home, and when we are fully up and running there will be all kinds of jobs,” Jan says. Together with Helen, he feels increasing local support for what is happening and hopes more people will understand the scale of what is being built.