Tim and Sigrid's journey, from city life to thriving careers at Ovako in Hofors

The coffee machine hums pleasantly in the kitchen of Tim Juréen, 25, and Sigrid Karlsson, 28. For the past year, they’ve lived in a semi-detached house in Hofors, western Gästrikland. Four rooms, a kitchen, and a fairly large garden. They moved here shortly after starting their jobs at Ovako’s steel plant nearly a year and a half ago. 

“We rent the house from Ovako. They own a few properties here in Hofors, so when we decided to take the jobs, housing was offered right away. It was a huge relief not to have to buy something immediately, allowing us to see how we liked it first. Eventually, we’ll probably look for something of our own,” says Sigrid. 

Ready for the Move 

They met during their materials engineering studies at KTH in Stockholm and quickly realized that their chosen professions were not likely to keep them in a big city. 

“I figured out within the first few weeks that the program is heavily focused on steel, and steel producers are mainly located in old industrial towns. So, I was already prepared to move somewhere after graduation,” says Tim. 

Sigrid, however, was initially less convinced about both steel and relocating. She had expected the program to cover materials on a broader scale. 

“But then I realized how significant Sweden is as a steel-producing nation, and I saw how exciting and impactful a steel plant environment could be. Working in the steel industry meant I could really make a difference. That’s when I started to think about where I might want to live,” she explains. 

Close to Work 

Hofors wasn’t their only option. They had considered working both farther north and farther south in Sweden. Their thesis was completed at Alleima in Sandviken, and when Ovako’s recruiter contacted them, it was initially about positions at the Smedjebacken facility. 

“But since both our families have summer houses closer to Hofors, we said this location would suit us better. And as it happened, there were positions available here too,” says Tim. 

Good thing, as they’re both thriving in Hofors. 

“It’s big enough that you don’t run into someone you know every time you go grocery shopping. There are several restaurants, a liquor store, a ski slope, and lots of other things to do,” says Sigrid. 

Most importantly, they live just a few minutes’ bike ride from the steel plant and have gotten off to a great start in their careers. Tim works as a process engineer at the ring mill, solving problems and ensuring smooth production processes. Sigrid is the section manager for the ring mill’s "post-processing" department.

“My section handles the final processing before the products go to the customers. We set properties for steel rings, which are primarily used in various types of bearings,” she explains. 

And Stockholm? Do they miss the city buzz? 

“No, not at all, actually. We have everything we need here, and if we ever need something that’s only available in a larger town, both Falun and Gävle are just half an hour away,” says Tim. 

Sigrid agrees. 

“I feel like I experience more of Stockholm now. When we go there, it’s to do things we can’t do here. Before, we just lived there,” she says. 

Byline: 

Text: Johanna Paues Darlington / Splay One 

Photo: Richard Paulsson / Ovako