NIKAB is a fast-growing industrial services company based in Sweden working mostly in service and maintenance, refurbishment, and new construction as well as consulting services.
Two young powersport aces lead the business with the same courage, creativity, and persistence that has characterised their sporting careers.
Fast-growing success company
NIKAB was founded by Tim Marklund in 2015, at the time best known as a successful and daredevil snowmobile and motocross driver. After a broken back, at the risk of being crippled, Tim made his way back to the sport with a lot of persistence while also exploring new opportunities for the future. One of the projects was Norrlands Industri och Konsult AB otherwise known as NIKAB.
NIKAB’s services were quickly appreciated and the company grew rapidly with the three resorts of Piteå, Skellefteå, and Umeå now established and assignments all over the world. Just over a year ago, Tim's racing buddy Adam Thomelius joined as a partner. Together they have built a strong team of around 40 employees to date with the business continuing to grow both in Sweden and the rest of the world as more and more customers discover the company’s capabilities.
Creative solutions and sustainability
There are always new things going on at NIKAB so we at Water Jet Sweden took full advantage of the chance to have a chat with Ida Määttä, Head of HR and Organisational Development who explained: “We work with welding and industrial repairs, all forms of maintenance and new construction. We solve most things for industrial plants. In the immediate area, customers largely consist of the large industries such as mines and pulp industries, but we work on all kinds of exciting projects. It can be projects as diverse as creative bar interiors or an individual who needs a special staircase.”
NIKAB helps a wide range of businesses from local companies to major international players such as Smurfit Kappa, Northvolt, Skanska, ABB, WT Energisystem, and LKAB.
Ida Määttä explained: “We are quite well known in Norrland and Sweden but what is not so well known is that we have customers all over the world. For example, now we work in Kazakhstan where we weld in ABB’s electric motors, and soon we will be going to Peru. These customers come to us because we have such skilled welders and can deliver welding assignments with high quality and precision. Plus sustainability is important."
Recently NIKAB has invested in new premises and the addition of a water jet cutting machine. Ida explained why: “We represent creative solutions and sustainability. If it is possible, it is better to repair instead of buy new. We’ll figure it out most of the time. Nothing is impossible. That's why it is good to have a water jet cutter.”
Waterjet specialist Johan Ceder in front of his NCT 30 from Water Jet Sweden.
Waterjet cutting for improved service
For NIKAB, waterjet cutting was a completely new technique. In connection with the procurement of a new machine, Johan Ceder, who has many years of waterjet cutting experience, contributed with special expertise. Today Johan is employed at NIKAB with responsibility for water jet cutting.
Johan said: “The basic idea is that you can do most things with a waterjet cutting machine. We work with industry in a very expansive region, with companies such as Northvolt, LKAB, and several paper mills where downtime costs a lot of money. They want their parts now and not in three weeks. With our own waterjet cutting machine, we get short lead times and can ensure that we deliver the best products. With our own machine, we can be more innovative and test new solutions.”
Just as in NIKAB’s own operations, quality, guarantees, support, and spare parts were important in the choice of waterjet machine supplier where reliability and sustainability was key.
Johan added: “Everything has worked out exactly as I expected since we installed it two years ago. No strange surprises. The old machine could sometimes mess things up by itself, but it never happens with the machine from Water Jet Sweden. It always delivers according to plan.”
As a natural process, there is much to be gained by fine-tuning the settings used for water jet cutting to optimise the cutting result. “I notice that the support team really knows their stuff and has been around for many years. They are quite skilled. I always get good help and the spare parts always come quickly when I order,” concludes Johan.
Towards new goals
Lennart Svensson, CEO of Water Jet Sweden, concludes: “NIKAB is a young organisation and the company has the future ahead of it. We are proud to be part of helping them on their journey of success.”
Left: NIKAB’s sought-after welder in action. Right: Customers in the immediate area can be large industries such as mines and pulp industries
Left: Adam Thomelius makes a volt on snowmobile. Right: Nikab founder Tim Marklund competes in Piteå Watercross
Tim Marklund and Adam Thomelius, young entrepreneurs behind NIKAB’s success
For more information or to get a quote on any waterjet cutter machine just call us on 01937 845499 or send us an email to info@wjsuk.com
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NIKAB is a fast-growing industrial services company based in Sweden working mostly in service and maintenance, refurbishment, and new construction as well as consulting services. Two young powersport aces lead the business with the same courage, creativity, and persistence that has characterised their sporting careers.