They dreamed of working closer to their customers, building strong relationships, growing professionally, and having fun along the way. Fifteen years later, Stefan Holmberg and Håkan Erlandsson have retired, but they look back on their time at HydX with great joy.
"We wanted to have fun, build a great team, and that spirit is still very much alive in the company," they say.
Both were among the founders of HydX in 2009. They were dissatisfied with their previous employment, felt their values no longer aligned with those of their former employer, and wanted a change. Together with Mikael Andersson, Patrik Broman, and Henrik Pålsson, they dared to leap – and laid the foundation for the kind of company they themselves wanted to work for.
"We knew we were all skilled in our roles, we knew and brought that into HydX. We also maintained a culture of humility among us – we could talk about anything, help each other grow, and it all stemmed from our shared values," says Håkan Erlandsson.
A conversation with Håkan and Stefan often revolves around community, camaraderie, respect, commitment, and humility. These values were present when HydX was founded and remain central to the company today.
"Learning has always been important to us. We've always emphasised sharing knowledge, and it's okay to make mistakes – as long as you learn, grow, and move forward," says Stefan, who served as CEO until his retirement in 2018.
Håkan Erlandsson has also retired but remains involved as a sounding board and is happy to contribute his knowledge and experience when needed.
"That's how it should be – knowledge and experience should stay within the company and be passed on to the next generation," he says.
"What I'm most proud of is the incredible trust we've received from both employees and customers. In the early years, when things were tough, we had people join the company before there was even a track to run on. That kind of trust means a lot, and I'm proud of it."
A Successful Business Plan
When the company was founded, Stefan Holmberg created a business plan that proved highly effective. It gave the current owner, Volito, the confidence to invest and gave HydX a strong start. In fact, the plan has guided the company for nearly all of its years.
"It was a bit bold, but we fulfilled it – even if it took a little longer than expected," says Stefan Holmberg.
"Looking back at 2009, the hydraulics industry was in a state of uncertainty. Over the years, I've learned that if you have the opportunity and the courage, starting a company during a shaky market can be an advantage. Timing is everything – it allows you to capture a larger market share, and if you can survive the first few years, success will follow. That said, we never could have made such a bold move without the support of Volito. Their backing was crucial – without it, we would have had to take a different approach."
Were you as confident in success back then as you sound today?
"None of us ever considered that it wouldn't work out. There was no Plan B," recalls Håkan.
"Well," says Stefan,
"Plan B would have meant scaling back our ambitions after a year or so – but that never became necessary. The strength of our team, the commitment, the knowledge, and the ambition gave us great confidence and belief that we would succeed."
What do you believe laid the foundation for HydX's success?
"The positive atmosphere and humility have been essential. No one knows everything – everyone needs to ask questions sometimes. And when people feel comfortable asking and sharing their knowledge, it builds a great culture," explains Håkan Erlandsson.
"We brought together a large group of people with deep expertise in different but related areas – and that combination is hard to beat."
What's your view, Stefan?
"HydX's ability to design and build hydraulic and control systems smartly and cost-effectively is a vital part of our success. The collective application of knowledge and experience among our employees is, I would say, unique in the industry. It's all about how you apply that expertise and translate it into value for the market."
