Ptec helps 3M Svenska with a special project for the Swedish market

Patrik Ljungkvist, or Budda as he is often called, is a well-known name in motor sport. He has been part of the road racing elite in Europe and has worked as a professional motor sport commentator for several years. Delivering noise on wheels has been a mission that Budda and Ptec have worked with. We took time out to chat with Budda to learn more.

How did your journey at 3M start and how has your career developed since then?

“My past in motor sport interested 3M PELTOR and I had the great pleasure to work with Peltor’s motor sport range for 8 years. My assignment was, among other things, to get feedback from the world’s best drivers and riders in rallying, racing and motor sport. Intercom equipment and hearing defenders are needed for everyone who is part of a racing team – not just the driver. In total, I’ve worked 16 years at 3M, as it’s now called.

I’ve also worked on the marketing side and have the stimulating job of working together with WorldSkills Sweden, among other things. They call themselves Sweden’s most important national team and I can say one thing for sure: The members of the WorldSkills Sweden team have exactly the same drive as the world champions I’ve met in motor sport.
In addition to working with WorldSkills, I function as a product specialist for 3M’s Personal Protective Equipment division. This means that I, often together with distributors, present personal protective equipment such as welding helmets, fall protection, rescue equipment and headsets for heavy industry.”

What’s the best thing about your job? What makes your heart beat that little bit faster?

“The best thing about my job is that I have the pleasure of helping the customer solve their problem. Not only do I love meeting customers, but I’m driven by finding solutions to challenges.

I remember one occasion when I had spent a pretty long time trying to sell headsets with integrated communications to a relatively defiant CEO who clearly showed his scepticism. He asked questions like “Why shouldn’t we buy this directly from China?" and “In what way is this going to streamline our production in your opinion?”

When we had delivered the communication solution, it didn’t take long before the CEO called. I felt discouraged when I saw his number on the screen, but it turned out that he wanted to tell me that they had already benefitted from the solution after just 20 minutes. ‘One thing is that the forklift has a tendency to disappear. It’s never there when you need it, but now we could talk without needing to look for one another and so the truck was quickly found, he told me.

I must mention the audio bus too! The bus is a mobile vehicle that delivers noise. Or more precisely; the bus is fitted with a mobile sound room with a real sound system that can play known noises such as the sound of a chain saw or a helicopter rotor. These noises reach decibel levels that are harmful to the human ear, just like the noises in heavy industry.

Representatives from occupational health and safety visited the audio bus and after the demonstration, all of them realised the importance of hearing defenders and what a difference they make. They experienced it first hand as an aha moment, and they became excellent ambassadors for the importance of personal protective equipment.”

Patrik “Budda” Ljungkvist, inside the demonstration bus that is fitted with safety equipment from 3M. Ptec has adapted the interior solution according to 3M’s wishes.

What’s important for you when you choose a supplier?

“For me, creative and rapid solutions are important. Ptec is the epitome of ingenuity that the Småland region is famous for. Regardless of whether you have an idea that requires displays or fittings to show off products at their best, you can be sure that Ptec is going to improve your idea many times over.”

As we’re now talking about Ptec, how did you come into contact with one another?

“I think that Ptec was already a supplier to 3M Peltor when I started working there. In any case, it was a colleague who tipped me off about Ptec when I needed smart fittings for a trade fair trailer for the Nordic market.”

You mentioned the trade fair trailer. Is that how all your projects proceed? You can have an idea and Ptec sends a proposal as to how the idea can be achieved?

“In the case of the trade fair trailer, it was a trailer that had been bought for 3M PELTOR for an entirely different purpose. I saw the possibilities with the trailer and thought that we might be able to create a trade fair/exhibition trailer. The trailer has to be able to tour all of the Nordic countries and demonstrate our products as well as possible. But I lack the expertise on how to present the products in the best possible way. Ptec has that expertise.

You could well say that that’s how a joint project happens. I have an idea and Ptec refines and improves it to become a success. The trade fair trailer and audio bus are both shining examples of this.”

Have you got a favourite among the displays?

“That’s a difficult one as I think that everything has been a success actually. But! If I had to pick just one favourite, it would have to be the desktop display LEP 100.”

Last but not least.
If you were to dare to do a little trendspotting; which of 3M’s products do you think we’re going to see more of in the future?

“I think that communication products are going to take on a more important role. We’ve seen this not least at present during the pandemic. With the right communication product, not only does efficiency increase, as in the case of the sceptical CEO, but safety too. You can keep your distance when talking and you have control over where people are without needing to look for them.