As Swedev celebrates its 40th anniversary, CEO Pernilla Melén reflects on the journey so far—and the work still ahead. With several years of experience as a CEO in the manufacturing industry, a background in management and audit, a strong belief in people and purpose, she leads the company with a clear focus: to stay close to customers and colleagues while continuously improving both processes and communication.
When Pernilla took on the role as CEO five years ago, she didn’t step into a blank slate. She inherited a company with a strong brand, a solid foundation with sound values, established quality, and a proud history of innovation.
“Swedevs core is high and consistent quality – and it has always been” she says. “My contribution has been about refining the connection between production, automation, and people – to get the best out of that combination.”
Swedev now works increasingly in a process-oriented way. Pernilla highlights the ongoing lean work across the company as a key piece of the transformation.
“We’re mapping our processes, identifying what really matters to the customer, to make sure everyone knows why we focus on certain areas,” she explains. “When people understand the purpose behind a change, it becomes more meaningful – and more motivating.”
The company’s five strategic focus areas -sustainability, high product quality, innovation, strong customer service, and a respected brand—are all tied to these processes. “It’s about clarity. Everyone should know what matters and how their role contributes.”
For Pernilla, leadership is not about control – it’s about conversation. And her proudest moments often come down to a simple idea: getting people around the same table.
“During a Distributor meeting we had a dinner with all our distributors—and everyone from the company was there too. Not just the sales team or management. Everyone. That image of us all sitting around the same table—that’s what I work towards. That’s what Swedev is.”
It’s not just symbolic. That openness has practical effects. “When you involve people early— when you give them opportunity to contribute and share their thoughts before a decision is made – it gives everyone time to think, react, and improve the outcome,” she says. “It becomes ours, not just a decision from the office.”
Pernilla describes Swedev today as a “curious and agile 40-year-old.” The foundation -quality, consistency, and deep technical knowledge is strong. But the company is also fast-moving and open to new directions.
“We’re deeply rooted in Munkfors, and we want to stay here,” she says. “That’s why we focus so much on efficiency, automation, and doing things right. To stay local while working globally.”
Looking ahead, Swedev continues to explore new possibilities and refine what we do best- always with a focus on long-term value and strong customer partnerships. “We want to keep working with customers who care—who understand that better products last longer, and that consistency is a kind of sustainability in itself.”
What does Swedev’s tagline “Consistency through quality” mean to Pernilla?
“It’s not just about the product. It’s in how we treat people, how fast we respond, how reliable we are,” she says. “It’s about being steady, professional, and caring in every part of what we do.”
And that, she believes, is why customers keep coming back—year after year.
“We say what we do, and we do what we say. That’s the core of it. And it only works if you care”.