ABAB Sverige builds Sweden’s industrial backbone through engineering-led scaffolding and long-term industrial partnership
An integral part of Telinekataja, the Nordics’ leading group for scaffolding, weather protection and temporary structures, ABAB Sverige (ABAB) plans and delivers solutions for renovations, new construction, infrastructure construction and industrial projects. Guided by strict work environment and safety standards, the company boasts diverse industry expertise, long-standing customer relationships, and a skilled workforce. Roger Sellgren, Head of Sales and Marketing, provides an overview of ABAB’s structure and history.
“Ten years after our inception in 2009, we were acquired by a Finnish group that happens to be one of the Nordics’ three largest scaffolding firms. Our journey in Sweden began in Gävle, Skutskär, which remains our headquarters today. Since 2019, we have expanded our presence across Sweden with new offices in Stockholm, Örnsköldsvik, Umeå and Boden. At the moment, we employ around 100 people in Sweden and work with 250-to-600 subcontractors annually. Our core services revolve around providing scaffolding and weather protection for the Swedish market, mainly serving large industries and projects. While we do offer construction scaffolding for various works, our main emphasis is on larger schemes. One of the factors that make us special in the Swedish scaffolding sector is our dedicated technical department, which comprises engineers capable of designing, calculating, and creating 3D models of the scaffolding solutions we provide to our customers,” he opens.
On the topic of geographical presence, Roger explains how establishing new operations in Örnsköldsvik made strategic sense for ABAB. “The main reason for our expansion in Örnsköldsvik is that we won a contract for a pulp mill. Additionally, our presence there directly aligns with our strategy to secure agreements in medium to large industries.
We continuously evaluate additional locations where customer demand and long-term frameworks make sense, and we are in ongoing dialogue with several industrial stakeholders to support multi-year projects. We have several interested parties in the area, and we are engaged in discussions aimed at long-term agreements. Our main focus is to win contracts, maintain existing agreements, and secure significant projects with commitments of two-to-three years in new cities, which will drive our growth.”
Impressive project portfolio
For ABAB, growth encompasses more than just geographical expansion. As part of this initiative, ABAB is currently supporting a large-scale green industrial project in northern Sweden, delivering scaffolding and weather protection, with a strong focus on quality, productivity, and safe execution across the full project lifecycle. In addition to this project, ABAB is preparing for further growth by expanding into the nuclear sector. The parent company, Telinekataja, successfully completed a multi-year contract for the construction of a nuclear facility in Finland. One of the project managers from that initiative is currently collaborating with ABAB in Sweden, bringing vital internal knowledge to the team. ABAB plans to leverage its extensive in-house experience in building nuclear plants and apply that expertise to the Swedish market.
Whether big or small, ABAB prioritises safety in every project, making sure that everyone goes home safely. “When working on larger projects, we have an HSE manager and HSE officers overseeing safety on a daily basis. Alongside our own safety protocols, we employ a system called MaxSafe, which includes comprehensive checklists, risk assessments, daily meetings, toolbox talks and follow-up meetings with our staff, clients, and subcontractors. All scaffolders must possess a certificate that demonstrates they have completed training to construct scaffolding at heights of nine metres or higher. We enforce this requirement with all subcontractors, demanding that they provide certification for their scaffolders before any work can begin. Moreover, we conduct specific training for each large project we undertake, since not all sites have the same regulations,” Roger elaborates.
Prioritising safety
With our conversation coming to an end, Roger tells us more about ABAB’s aspirations and plans for the near future. In Northern Sweden, some of the country’s largest steel and mining companies are driving major green industrial initiatives, with a strong outlook for continued development. We aspire to be a part of these initiatives and aim to be selected as one of the scaffolding suppliers for the clients. Additionally, we are focused on expanding our presence even south of Stockholm. While we have yet to finalise our direction, we are actively exploring strategies for this growth.
“As we look to the year ahead, our priority for 2026 is to at least maintain the levels of growth we have achieved in 2025 and, ideally, secure some larger project agreements. When it comes to growth, we are constantly looking at the long-term, and our main goal from now until the end of 2028 is to establish ourselves as one of the biggest scaffolding companies in Sweden. To achieve this, we strive to secure at least one or two major contracts every year until 2028. While we are aiming high, workforce security and safety will still remain our number one priority. Our primary focus is to ensure that there are no accidents and that everyone returns home safely at the end of each day,” he concludes.
Through its ambitious expansion plans and commitment to safety and quality, ABAB is strategically positioning itself for significant growth in the Swedish scaffolding market. By leveraging its expertise and pursuing major contracts, the company continues to expand its geographical footprint and diversify its service offerings, strengthening its role as a trusted partner in the construction and industrial sectors.