Caverion moved into a new building five years ago. Just before construction began, they realized that the building would be too small and added an extra module at the last minute in Building 256. Now they once again require more space.
"The reason is our focus on engineering and system services. We require additional office space as we have an increasing workload in these services," says Stian Svendby, the manager of Caverion at Herøya.
"We have an automation department located in temporary buildings nearby. It's not an ideal solution for us. Now, he hopes the building owner can find a prompt solution to the expansion needs.
"If you move to Herøya, you'll have to expand shortly afterwards," he chuckles.
Started small
Svendby reminisces and mentions that they started at Herøya with premises in temporary buildings with changing rooms. Initially as ABB, later they were sold to YIT.
"Then we moved on to Building 45, which has now been demolished. After that, we moved on to Building 145 before ending up where we are today. Initially, the primary service was electrical, but soon automation became one of our core pillars."
Heavy workload
Caverion in Herøya is a technical contractor that provides advisory services, engineering, systems, electrical, high voltage, automation, instrumentation, tubing, technical gas installations, switchboard construction, and various mechanical services.
"We experience great optimism in the industrial park. We have plenty of projects," says Svendby. He believes that being established in the industrial park is a significant advantage. "The fact that we are easily accessible and can respond at short notice, I believe the process industry appreciates that."
Recruiting in a tight market
The company has steadily expanded its workforce throughout the years they have been at Herøya. Caverion locally has around 60 employees, with about half of them working at Herøya.
The competition for skilled workers and engineers is tightening. "We're noticing now that it's challenging to find electricians, automation specialists, and engineers. There is also competition for apprentices, and we're very grateful for the apprentices we have here. It's an important source of recruitment for us," he says.
"We're already at a point where we can't say yes to everyone requesting our services, but we try to help everyone who asks."
Excitement over growing tenants
Kristian Solberg was the project manager for Building 256 when it was constructed and handed over to Caverion in 2018.
"It's very exciting to see that Caverion needs more space in the industrial park. We have a strategic plan for the area and are now working on how a solution involving expanding the existing buildings can fit into the plan," says Solberg.
02. August 2023