Boda Smide going forward in Virserum - "Interest is high and growing"
[Article on Boda Smide. Source: dagenshultsfred.se Photo: Lotta Madestam]
Boda Smide resurfaces in Virserum after being dormant for many years. With the help of old drawings and photographs, well-known handicrafts will be produced again.
- "We have decided to make a new investment and start producing the products that have been made for over 60 years," says site manager Håkan Sundell.
Boda Smida AB was born in the heyday of the Småland glassworks and builds on old forging and glass traditions.
Now an old tradition is being revived at Virserum, in premises on Fabriksgatan.
- Boda Smide was previously located in Johansfors glassworks in Broakulla, where it operated until the end of 2013/2014 when the glassworks went bankrupt. This meant that Göran Nilarp, owner since 1988, had to move from the premises and the company ended up in Virserum instead, says Håkan Sundell and explains the circumstances:
- Boda Smide is part of the Exp Group, which includes Termolux. Today the companies share premises here in Virserum.
Dormant for many years
At the time of the bankruptcy, everything such as archives and stock as well as parts and machinery were moved to Virserum. However, the business was put on hold, you could say, and remained dormant. Until now.
- "Now we are starting everything up again and making a new investment, where we will start producing the products that have been manufactured for more than 60 years," says Håkan Sundell. "The whole idea is that the products manufactured in the 60s should be manufactured in the same way and look the same more or less as best as possible.
Preserving tradition
The company currently has three employees, in addition to the site manager, a salesperson and a blacksmith who will make all the products in the forge, which is also located on the premises in Virserum.
Here, tradition is preserved by shaping the iron into utility items such as chandeliers, candlesticks, lanterns and sconces. Each product is unique thanks to the blacksmith's skill and craftsmanship. The glass parts, on the other hand, are manufactured and hand-blown on behalf of Boda Smide at Bergdala Glasbruk, which is also located in Småland, and a small collaboration has recently begun with Liljeholmens in Oskarshamn.
- We have a historical collaboration with recognized Swedish artists and designers such as Bertil Vallien, Rolf Sinnmark, Kjell Engman, Björn Nyberg and the founder himself, Erik Höglund who have all developed a number of products over the years.
Had its heyday in the 70s
Boda Smide was started in 1961 by Erik Höglund, a glass artist and designer. He thought forging would complement glass well and made it an integral part of the company, which had its heyday in the late 1970s when there were over 20 employees at Boda Smide.
- Erik Höglund designed many of the products himself and teamed up with Axel "Acke" Strömgren, who became the master blacksmith in Boda Smide," says Håkan Sundell, pulling out one of many binders from the archive.
This is a cultural treasure. Until now, everything has been cataloged so there is a good historical basis for the products designed over the years through archives, drawings and photographs. Now the objects will have their "renaissance" in Virserum.
What do you think about the chances of the business taking off again?
- We believe there is a market. We are hopeful, the interest is great and growing. These are timeless products that have their place in the home," says Håkan Sundell.
- We see that customer contacts and questions by email have an increasing trend since we came out with the information that we are starting up the business again. We also know that there is great interest in Swedish crafts abroad, in Germany, the Netherlands, the USA, Japan and so on. It is just a matter of reaching out, but we have good help from our web shop on the website. It is a complement and a prerequisite for reaching the market.
Read more
Read the article in full on the following link: https://www.dagenshultsfred.se/nyheter/naringsliv/e/136280/pausat-foretag-far-nytt-liv-i-virserum -interest-is-great-and-okay/