Page 8 - Mantena Annual report 2019

Message from the CEO
A year of changes and opportunities
2019 was a year of changes both within the Group and in
the world in which we operate. In Norway competition for
rail passenger service contracts became a reality and on
15 December, services started on the Sørlandsbanen line with Go-Ahead as the operator. On the same day, in Sweden
SJ also launched the new ER1 trains for Mälardalstrafik. As a maintenance partner under both contracts, Mantena is proud to help define the railway of the future.
As a Group, we signed several important contracts in 2019. The contract for ‘Traffic Package 1’ with Go-Ahead was a highlight in Norway, while the agreement with SJ for Öresundståg was the focal point in Sweden. With the Öresundståg contract, Mantena will establish a whole new organisation around a new workshop in Hässleholm. Start-up is scheduled for the end of 2020.
There have also been changes within the organisation, including a change of management and the introduction of a unified Nordic organisation. At the end of the year, it was decided to transfer ownership of Mantena from the Ministry of Transport and Communications to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries from 1 January 2020.
Sustainability, social responsibility and growth
With all this in mind, we are entering 2020 full of optimism. In the future, we will stand out even more clearly as a sustainable and responsible company with a clear strategy for further growth in the Nordic region. We have the assurance that our expertise and experience support our goal of “Sustainable and efficient transportation through optimal maintenance”.
With growing climate challenges, it is becoming increasingly important for all transport of both people and freight to be run in a sustainable way with the least possible consumption of resources. To achieve this, new transport solutions need to be introduced and we must ensure that existing solutions are made more efficient and have a longer service life to avoid waste. This is especially important in terms of increasing the use of railways where the expected and desired increase in traffic will depend both on new stock and on prolonged use of older stock.
Our core competence is efficient maintenance of railway rolling stock. This puts us in a position where our resources and expertise support the needs of society for sustainable transport.
Innovation
At the same time, there is a need to develop new and better methods for optimal maintenance. This includes everything from analysing masses of data to defining the optimal maintenance intervals, introducing new and innovative methods for both planning and carrying out maintenance, and using modern technology to extend service life and avoid waste. With a vision of being the most innovative full-service supplier in the Nordic region, further investment in innovation will be essential to the future development of the Group.
The most important resource
Our focus going forward is on sustainability, responsibility, growth and innovation. Nevertheless, there is one factor that is more important than anything else for our success, and that is all our capable employees. Mantena aims to be an attractive workplace which enables all employees to work together to achieve our goals and to meet the needs of our customers and
8 Annual report 2019