Their dream was closer collaboration with customers, building good relations and self-improvement – and all while having fun. Fifteen years later, Stefan Holmberg and Håkan Erlandsson have both retired – but they look back on their time at HydX with fondness. They both wanted to have fun and build a good team and that feeling is still part of the company. They were part of the team that founded HydX in 2009. They were not happy with their previous jobs and felt that their values did not meet those of their employer at the time. They wanted a change. Together with Mikael Andersson, Patrick Broman and Henrik Pålsson, they had the courage to make a new investment and build the foundation for the company they wanted to work at. “We knew that we were good at our jobs and had expertise and we brought these assets with us to HydX. We made sure we were all on the same level. We have always been able to talk about everything and help each other grow. HydX was founded on our shared values,” says Håkan Erlandsson. A conversation with Håkan and Stefan is mostly about togetherness, friendship, respect, commitment and flat hierarchy. Those were the values HydX was founded on and which still hold true in the company today. “Learning has always been important for us as well, we have always made a point of sharing our knowledge and it is ok to make mistakes as long as you learn from them and then move on,” says Stefan, who used to be CEO of the company up until his retirement in 2018. Håkan Erlandsson has also retired, but he is still available as a sounding board for the company and, when needed, is happy to share his knowledge and experience. “I think that is how people should work; the expertise and experience should stay in our company and be transferred to the younger generations,” he says. “But the nicest thing, in my opinion, has been the unbelievable trust our employees and customers have shown in us. In the first tough years, we got employees to hop on board even though we barely had any rails to drive on. That involved a huge amount of trust and that is something I am very proud of.”
When the company was founded, Stefan Holmberg devised a solid business plan which convinced our current owner Volito to invest, giving HydX a nice start. As a matter of fact, that plan has stayed with the company almost all these years. “The plan was a bit too ambitious, but we lived up to it, although it took a bit longer than planned,” says Holmberg. “Back in 2009, there was unease in the hydraulics industry and through the years I have learned that if you have the opportunity and the courage, it pays to start a company at a time when the market is a little unstable. Timing is key; you can grab a bigger share of the market and after you have survived the first years, success awaits you. At the same time, it is important to point out that we could not have made such a big investment without Volito. Their support was crucial and without them we would have needed another approach.” Were you as sure of succeeding then as it seems now? “None of us even considered not succeeding, there was no plan B,” Håkan recalls. “Well,” Stefan interjects. “Plan B would have been to dial down our ambitions after a few years, but it never came to that. The strengths of our group, the commitment, the expertise and the ambition, boosted our self-confidence and our trust in succeeding.” What, in your opinion, is behind HydX’s success? “The pleasant atmosphere and the flat hierarchy have been essential. No-one knows everything, everyone needs to ask for help from time to time. Having the courage to ask and sharing your own expertise are the building blocks of a good workplace atmosphere,” explains Erlandsson. “We put together a big group of people with expertise in different but related fields, and that is a combination that is hard to beat.” What do you think Stefan? “HydX’s ability to design and build hydraulics and control systems in a smart and cost-effective way is a vital part of our success. The collective application expertise and experience of our employees is, in my opinion, unique in our industry. It is a question of how you use the pieces you have and how you apply them on the market.”
HydX – From Idea To Success - An Interview With Henrik Pålsson
The First Order That Laid the Foundation for Success - An Interview with Patrik Broman
The Formula Behind the Success - An Interview with Mikael Andersson