Sustainable thinking in a small workshop

Wallåkra Mekaniska is a family-run workshop with a clear sense of pride in their craft and their way of doing things. They know their machines, their materials and their processes inside out. They’re open to digital tools, not because they want to be modern for the sake of it, but because they genuinely enjoy finding better ways to work.

Their owner takes a clear interest in how new tools can strengthen the workshop by giving the team better insight into what happens in production. That attitude sets a direction: digital tools are explored because they help the work and because learning something new is seen as a natural part of running the business.
Also, when it comes to sustainability, for them, it is not a separate topic or a project that sits on the side. It shows up in the way they think about materials, planning, and how they use their resources. It’s a continuous process of asking: Can we do this smarter? Can we reduce waste? Use less steps? Get better control of our processes?

For Wallåkra, working sustainably is basically good business sense, a decision that supports both efficiency and long-term stability. When visiting them, it became clear that they are very comfortable exploring new approaches. For example, several of their machines are connected so they can monitor energy use in real time. It is not complicated, they simply want to understand where the power goes and whether something can be adjusted.

They also use Vericut Optimizer to fine-tune their CNC programs. The goal isn’t only to save energy (although that happens too), but to make sure their processes are stable and to reduce cycle time. Also, the cutting tools are used efficiently and last longer. Again, nothing fancy, just a practical way of reducing waste and getting the most out of what they already have.

Even in things like cutting fluids, they choose sustainable alternatives that are kinder to both the environment, the machinery and to the people working with them.

A few things that we learned from working with Wallåkra:

1. Sustainability grows from everyday choices.
   Asking questions and taking small steps often leads to bigger improvements than any big sustainability declaration.
2. Sustainability also means caring for the people on the floor.
   A healthier, safer, more comfortable workspace is as much a part of sustainability as saving energy.
3. Sustainability is simply good business sense.
   When resources are used wisely and waste is reduced, the workshop becomes more efficient by nature.

Spending time at Wallåkra gives a clear impression of a company that develops through steady, practical steps. Their focus on understanding their processes, trying new tools and improving the conditions for the people on the floor creates momentum over time.

It’s a way of working that suits many businesses: start with what you see, act on what you learn and let progress build from there.