My life

Tidaholm, Sweden

After having gotten my university degree I applied for job at Saab Dynamics, Electrolux and Swedish Match (where I together with some fellow students had made an organisation study some time earlier) in Tidaholm. Later I would learn that all three companies offered me jobs, but I started to work at Swedish Match because they offered me a job almost directly.

The job interview was carried out by Risto Pentikäinen and Lennart Jönis (two old heroes in the match division). Jönis though that I was joking with him when I stated Lennart Jonius as a reference at Saab Dynamics. The interview went well and I started in August 1996 as a trainee.

Soon it was discovered that I had a natural talent for computer work and I wrote a program for production planning and a template system for Word (which are both still running). After a lot of work with the factory budgets and similar work tasks I started working more with production technique. I participated in a number of construction projects in the production area, among others in the 13/23 line. In relation to this I designed the APS (Automatic Package Separator) machine, of which I was very proud. Even though the machine was simple, it was the first I designed in 3D.

The APS machine in 3D

Swedish Match did not have a website at this time and I made a couple of suggestions, which however were never used (and maybe this was a good thing). I also created a suggestion for an Intranet, but this was a bit problematic since I wanted to create dynamic pages but did not dispose of a web server.

My interest for Internet kept growing and finally I got a 56.6Kbit/s modem for my home. I created several different web pages without publishing them, but finally I rolled out my first personal website, Babar Overdrive.

During the first half year in Tidaholm I worked a lot, ate junk food and did not have time to stay in shape. I quickly gained weight and weighed 82 kg when things were at its worst - at least 5 kg too much. Finally I got myself together and started exercising again - the paths in the forests at Hökensås were well treaded by me.

Read more here: < The school | Vetlanda >