About us
ÄFAB is engaged in environmental - and resource economizing, with a main focus put on bio energy issues. The company is therefore to be considered a national - and local development company for both small and big companies in close co-operation with both authorities, universities/colleges and interests of the consumer. Today, ÄFAB has a close co-operation with the majority of the manufacturing companies on the Swedish market, within wood log - , grain - and pellet combustion technology. Bengt- Erik Löfgren was on Svebio`s (Swedish Bio energy Association) board for 13 years and 9 years in the Swedish Energy Agency's steering committee within the program Small-scale Bio energy as representative for the use of small-scaled bio energy. Bengt- Erik is often hired as consultant in different assignments for i.a. the National Environment Protection Board, the National Board for Consumer Policies and the insurance companies. In 2002, Bengt- Erik was awarded the energy advisers ' energy - and environment award.
Future goal
Sweden is leading within bio energy technology in Europe and the centre for the development in Sweden is located in the region of Västra Götaland. A conversion of the energy system therefore means not only difficulties but also large possibilities both for ÄFAB and Swedish industry. The bio energy sector is probably the largest growing industry that we have in Europe, and Swedish pellet technology has an almost explosive development. ÄFAB has during the coming years the ambition to strengthen its position as peak competence company within small-scale bio energy technology. The work within EnergyCentre. Info, the Swedish Energy Agency etc. gives a good knowledge about where the peak research in the country stands and where you can look for partners in assignments that require knowledge outside our ordinary field of work. The co-operation with manufacturing companies also gives a unique possibility to implement the research results from the colleges directly to the industry.
In the region there is an important research institute within the energy field at SP and Chalmers, here we have manufacturing companies that can produce attractive products and many users who are in need of more efficient energy and a conversion. At the same time it is close to the big markets in Central Europe. Ă„FAB's goal is therefore to also contribute to an increasing growth by offering a creative environment in combination to a technical knowledge where the actors of the market can meet and create the products of the future. When scientists, manufacturers and users meet there are conditions for new and better products. Since the spring of 2003, Ă„FAB has broaden the company by in connection to our lab establish a staffed permanent exhibition with the best of the modern bio energy technology.
Contact Ă„FAB when it comes to burning interests
ÄFAB is a freestanding consultancy firm with focus on technology, benchmark tests, development and education within the field small-scale bio energy. The company was founded in 1984 as a technological development company to Mora Pellet Factory with 4 industrial companies and the Municipality of Älvdalen as co-owner. Since 1994, all practice is moved to Lidköping in the region of Västra Götaland with Bengt- Erik Löfgren as CEO and principal owner.
History
The company was founded in 1984 as a technological development company to Mora Pellet Factory by 4 local companies with interest in the sector and that together with the Municipality of Ă„lvdalen started Ă„FAB with residence in the Counties of Ă„lvdalen and Dalarna. The company was supposed to function as an independent technological development company to Mora Pellet Factory and help with tests and development of combustion technology for the new fuel. For this purpose a central heating plant and development laboratory were built in Ă„lvdalen.
With dramatically falling oil prices and an extension of nuclear power in the late 1980's, the electrical heat increased its market. Bio energy for heating more or less disappeared and with that also the basis for ÄFAB' s development work with new technology. In1990, ÄFAB was restructured and Bengt-Erik Löfgren bought 80% of the shares, at the same time a co-operation with BPA-Energi AB and Länsförsäkringsbolagen, was initiated. For lack of development assignments, the work became more focused on education issues and the company came to, more and more, be about actions to prevent fire damages, within the insurance sector.
After the UN-conferences in Rio (1992), Kyoto (1997) and Johannesburg (2002) the environment - and climate issues have again been put in the focus. The greenhouse effect and ozone holes have again contributed to make bio energy an interesting alternative for heating. The Swedish market increased first and most in West Sweden, why ÄFAB 1994 moved all its activity to Lidköping. The location to Lidköping became final in a co-operation with VL- energi (today Odal lantmän) that already in the early 1990's was very active within the bio energy sector. Because of the location to Lidköping ÄFAB's lab was also moved and rebuilt at the same time as important investments in i.a. new instruments and education premises were being made. Since the move, the lab activity has given a little more than one full-time employed person and the assignment volume is increasing every year. Today, ÄFAB owns the industrial premises where the lab activity and the exhibit are and is renting the office and conference premises from Svenska Shell AB in close connection. Despite its broad activity, ÄFAB is a small company. In the fall of 2003 there were 4 full-time employees and the sale is about 3,5 million SEK per year.
Our business concept
» ÄFAB's activity is focused around product development and benchmark tests of combustion technology and of education for experts as well as for persons in authority. ÄFAB does not have an own selling of products but is an absolute development - and education company where the company functions as a link between scientists and industry and between authoritiy and end user.
» ÄFAB's customers are mostly found within the manufacturing industry for boilers, stoves and pellet technology on the equipment side and the Swedish Association of Heating, Water Sanitation and Cooling System Contractors, certified chimney-sweepers, municipalities and other authorities on the education side.
» Today, ÄFAB is one of the leading technology development companies in the country within small-scale bio energy technology. Often hired as expert in bio energy issues.
» ÄFAB is independent and open to all manufacturers or agents who want to try or develop their products.
» ÄFAB offers a wide market experience and peak competence and can in a co-operation with individual companies in the sector, take charge of and mediate knowledge that contributes to successful efforts. Since the fall of 2003, ÄFAB has been responsible for the secretariat of PellSam (association for pellet interested parties).
» ÄFAB continuously realizes different kinds of assignments for small companies as well as for authorities and organizations. It can be assignments within widespread markets and areas from education to technology development. ÄFAB is part of the work with developing P-marking regulations for pellets - and wood log combustion technology. ÄFAB has developed the basis to i.a. the information material of Länsförsäkringar regarding combustion of solid fuel and OH-material for the Energy Agency within small-scale combustion technology.
» ÄFAB annualy realizes information - and campaign assignments around the country. Together with KanEnergi, ÄFAB is the leader of the Västra Götaland Region's Pellet Project which is a cluster consisting of approx. 15 projects with the purpose of creating growth in the industry of the region.
» ÄFAB annualy realizes 3-4 own research projects financed with funds from the Energy Agency, the National Environment Protection Board, LRF and others.
» ÄFAB annualy has assignments from the manufacturing industry to develop or improve the combustion technology and is hired by the Energy Agency to present Swedish technology at international conferences and trade fairs.
» ÄFAB has, at the expense of the Energy Agency, developed a computer program with a calculation function and data base consisting of approx. 1100 boilers, pellet burners, pellet stoves etc. Today, the program already exists in Swedish and English but will be translated to Greman and via Opet be spread to a number of countries within the European Union.