The Finnish company GRK has quickly become one of Boden’s largest employers. Since 2019, the company has grown from 25 employees and SEK 200 million in revenue to over 100 employees and SEK 2 billion. This growth journey highlights both the company’s expertise and Boden’s attractiveness.
On January 17, the Norrbotten Chamber of Commerce will host a networking event in Boden focusing on Finnish-Swedish collaboration in construction, infrastructure, and energy. The event will bring together 35 selected Finnish companies, invited regional businesses in the sector, and Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade, among others.
An example of what such collaborations can lead to is GRK, which has successfully established itself in Boden and become an important player in the region’s development.
Their success story in Boden began in 2020 in connection with the project to rebuild road 97 between Södra Sunderbyn and Sävast into a meeting-free road. For this project, the company chose to leave its previous base in Luleå and establish itself in Boden. The move, together with the strategically important road project, became a turning point that accelerated the company’s expansion and created new opportunities.
Founded in Finland, GRK has since grown beyond the country’s borders. Today, GRK Sweden is headquartered at Boden Business Park in Sävast, a location that has become central to the company’s continued growth. The move has also helped to strengthen its presence in northern Sweden, where many of its projects are based.
– “Boden proved to be a perfect location for our business. It offers a unique combination of strategic location, good infrastructure and a forward-looking attitude, which has contributed to our growth,” says Mika Mäenpää, CEO of GRK Sweden.
Mika Mäenpää, CEO of GRK Sweden. Photo GRK
Major projects drive growth
One of the projects that has been crucial to GRK’s growth is its contract with Stegra. GRK is responsible for carrying out the earthworks for Stegra’s green steel plant at Boden Industrial Park, a contract that runs until the end of 2025 and is valued at over SEK 2 billion. This is the largest contract in the history of the GRK Group and employs between 200 and 300 people.
– It is a very large area and a complex assignment, but we have succeeded thanks to our broad expertise, close cooperation with local contractors and excellent collaboration with Stegra’s management,” Mäenpää says.
GRK is responsible for carrying out the groundwork for Stegra to build the world’s first large-scale green steel plant in Boden.
GRK’s project portfolio is broad, and although the company operates throughout Sweden, the emphasis is on the northern part of the country. Future prospects in Norrbotten are considered to remain good, not least thanks to the many planned industrial investments in the county.
– Competitively, having local resources can be an advantage. Fly-in fly-out is a more expensive solution, but it is needed when local resources are not enough. We see Boden as a strategic location to start from, although we have several other offices in Sweden that are important for our long-term strategy,” Mäenpää explains.
Challenges and opportunities
Although Mäenpää sees great potential in the Swedish market, he highlights challenges such as Swedish bureaucracy and regulations. According to him, these factors can hamper innovation and efficiency, but also increase the threshold for foreign companies to establish themselves in Sweden.
– The processes for setting up in Sweden could be faster and less bureaucratic to facilitate access to resources from other countries. This is particularly important given the shortage of resources in the industry,” says Mäenpää.
An inspiring example
GRK’s success in Boden is an inspiring example of the opportunities for international companies to establish and grow in the region. With its strong infrastructure and strategic location, Boden offers a platform for future industrial investment. The green transition is already underway here, paving the way for companies like GRK and others to follow in their footsteps.
