Van on the road - short delivery time
December 5, 2022
Norwegian-made, locally sourced and sustainable commercial vehicle interiors with long traditions
"Our new electric demo car that will be shown in both Norway and Denmark in the fall of 2023"
With roots dating back to 1971, the Norwegian company Rico has evolved from the production of camper vans to the production of interiors for commercial vehicles. In collaboration with various professional groups, the company has developed a range of sustainable interiors over several years.
Copywriter: Ole Peter Galaasen - Content marketing and trade journalism
- In the face of fierce competition from foreign suppliers of camper vans in the 1990s, we switched production to interiors for vans and commercial vehicles for craftsmen. In recent years, we have been supplying interiors made of gray film-coated plywood in a modern design. Since we use wood in our products, we have a much lower carbon footprint than the major European manufacturers who use powder-coated aluminum and steel. But this is just the beginning of our environmental ambitions," says Daniel Tolås, CEO and partner of Rico Gruppen.
The company is currently run by Daniel Tolås and Nils Olaf Osnes, together with the Danish investment company X10.
Up to 40 times lower emissions than competitors
In collaboration with climate forestry company Trefadder, the company has prepared an environmental report comparing wood interiors with aluminum interiors. The report concludes that aluminum interiors produced with aluminum from Norsk Hydro, the world's most environmentally friendly manufacturer, have 10 times higher CO2 emissions than wood interiors. Compared to average emissions from European aluminum production, aluminum interiors have 40 times higher CO2 emissions than wood interiors.
- Since wood has already captured large amounts of CO2, our customers drive around with a carbon stock. This means that a craftsmen's company can have 40 vans with our interior and have the same emissions as a car with an aluminum interior. That says something about the importance for the environment," he says.
Benefits for both the environment and people
Tolås explains that the environmental benefits come not only from reduced emissions from production, but also in the form of reduced vehicle weight and a better working environment.
- Our interiors are considerably lighter than their aluminum counterparts, resulting in reduced fuel consumption for fossil fuel vehicles and longer range for electric vehicles. In addition, wood has sound-absorbing properties that create a much better driving environment compared to aluminum, which absorbs road noise and creates echoes in the car. "We've carried out analyses that show huge differences in noise levels with wood interiors compared to aluminum interiors. With our interior, it's almost like driving a passenger car in terms of noise levels," he says and continues:
- We have also conducted crash tests and are ranked very high because wood is flexible and captures the energy from a collision better than aluminum and steel. We think about sustainable production and use, but also about the working environment.
Great interest in the products
The company has already signed major agreements in Norway and Denmark, and will eventually launch the products in Germany, Sweden and Finland.
- The requirements for documenting the CO2 footprint are increasing. Previously, we didn't have the same knowledge and many thought, for example, that a certain proportion of electric cars in the car fleet was enough. Now it's more about climate reporting and documentation of the footprint.
- "Our interiors make a positive contribution to the carbon footprint and give you a stronger position in public tenders or tenders for larger companies. I think part of the explanation for our success is that our interiors give our customers a climate-friendly competitive advantage compared with other solutions on the market," says Tolås.
Emphasis on sustainable production and social responsibility
In 2021, the company moved production from its own factory on Karmøy to new modern production facilities at Tekteam in Drammen.
- In the past, hundreds of trailer loads of fittings were transported over the mountains for assembly and delivery to the Port of Drammen and car transporter Axess Logistics. Now, the factory is located 10 minutes away from the port and provides major savings in terms of emissions.
- At the same time, Tekteam is committed to sustainability in production, which is in line with our philosophy and closely related to our product. We would never have been able to produce so sustainably given the growing demand. In order to achieve our growth and climate goals, we rely on a partner to make it as sustainable as possible. In addition, Tekteam is committed to work inclusion and works closely with NAV to offer jobs. Together with Tekteam, we take social responsibility and contribute to society," he says.
Challenges with access to raw materials
Before the war in Ukraine, Russia accounted for 50 percent of birch plywood on the European market. Today, there are few suppliers of birch plywood in Europe.
- Since the outbreak of the war, we've been working closely with developments to find smarter and more efficient production methods to keep costs down. Fortunately, the suppliers of plywood are also concerned about sustainability and climate reporting. As Northern Europe's largest consumer of plywood, it's important to have control over the entire value chain.
- "At the same time, it's better for wood materials to be used in products over time than for them to be used in the construction industry, where they are often discarded after use. In this way, we contribute to the circular economy," he says.
Reuse and circular economy
Tolås explains that in the past, they glued the interior to the cars, and that they were often damaged during dismantling.
- With today's assembly solution, van racking can be reused in different vehicles. "We've delivered 17,000 van racking systems with a 10-year warranty and haven't received a single complaint. That says something about the strength and longevity of our products.
- In addition, we collaborate with Norsk Gjenvinning to receive waste from the factory and used products from customers. We are also considering offering handed-in products for reuse in private garages or elsewhere.
- Fortunately, society is working in tandem in terms of sustainability, sorting and reuse," concludes Tolås.
