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NO 
The days are hectic in the sales department at Norske Backer in Kongsvinger. This spring, sales and marketing manager Stian Gundersen and his colleagues have set one record after another.
- Things have really picked up this year. Not least, the offshore industry has regained momentum after quite a few lean years. But there are several places where optimism and willingness to invest are now back to their old levels," says Stian Gundersen.
Significant expertise
The sales offices of Norske Backer's four sales engineers have considerable expertise. Three of them are based at the SIVA head office just outside Kongsvinger, while Roger Hammoda has a sales office in Moss.
Roger joined the team after an acquisition around the turn of the millennium, and has such a long track record that he has long since been awarded a gold watch for long and faithful service by Norske Backer. Hammoda specializes in the plastics industry, particularly mica elements and infrared heat.
Working together as a whole
The three Kongsvinger-based salespeople also each have their own areas of expertise, although they largely overlap and collaborate on projects.
- "We work together as a whole. It's the totality that we are concerned with, both in terms of deliveries and results," emphasizes Sales and Marketing Manager Gundersen, who also has an office on the second floor of Norske Backer's head office.
The mood in Norske Backer's sales department is distinctly upbeat, with laughter and smiles aplenty.
- No one leaves here before they have to retire," says Jon Bull, an electrical engineer who, at 10 years old this summer, is the newest member of the team, which specializes in heating various liquids.
"The demand for climate-friendly heat sources is growing."
Active and knowledgeable department
Espen Birkely is the other electrical engineer in the team and specializes in air heating and temperature control. He draws the control cabinets that the heating elements need to function properly.
- "All the focus on the environment and the green wave has meant that electric heating has really taken off. The demand for climate-friendly heating sources is growing," says Birkely.
Solving customer problems
The sales team tries to solve the customer's problems as early in the process as possible.
- Often we can answer the question there and then when a customer comes to us with some kind of heating need.
- "We can definitely boast that we have an active and knowledgeable sales department," confirms Stian Gundersen, who says that around half of sales are so-called off-the-shelf products and repeat orders for major customers.
Green wave, process industry and maritime sector
It's not just the green wave that has led to jubilation and an all-time high for Norske Backer's sales department.
- The process industry and the maritime sector are the ones that have picked up the most. And it's about time something started to happen with oil-related businesses, which have been virtually dormant since 2015.
"Many of them are now forced to take measures to prevent them from falling into disrepair," says Jon Bull, who explains that Norske Backer AS has no competition from Norwegian companies.
"Backer or better"
- "We only have foreign competitors, and Backer is also big on a global scale. A few years ago, what was then Statoil required that the quality had to be "Backer or better" in an invitation to tender. You can't get a better seal of quality than that," says Stian Gundersen, who explains that the sales staff are keen to gather as much information as possible from the customer so that they can deliver the best possible quality.
- We have almost no complaints. I guess that says something.
Pride in your workplace and products
It's 30 years since Levi Rybråten had his first day of work at Norske Backer AS, making him the oldest member of the team. In addition to various heating elements, Levi has particular responsibility for the mechanical side of things, or, as he puts it, everything that has nothing to do with heating. Not least, Rybråten has provided several large installations for Avinor's airports.
- No two days are quite the same here at Norske Backer. People stay here because it's a good place to work. There is a common culture throughout the company, a pride in the workplace and the products we make. We are all committed to doing the best possible job.
- "We are all committed to doing the best possible job. We have almost no complaints. I guess that says something."