When safety is taken seriously, it shows. Employees feel valued. New hires feel confident. Customers trust that we’re committed not just to quality, but to ethical operations.

Henrik Söderback, Automation Engineer, Kanthal.That responsibility becomes deeply personal when you hear stories like Henrik Söderback’s.

An automation engineer, maintenance specialist, and safety ambassador at Kanthal, Söderback knows exactly what’s at stake. During a routine task in 2006, his glove got caught in a pillar drill. The result was devastating: his thumb was shattered and could not be saved. “I didn’t fasten the part properly. I was stressed. I didn’t think much,” he recalls. “Afterwards, I realized wearing gloves with rotating tools is unsafe.”

Henrik received quick help from his colleague, and the ambulance was called instantly. But the injury has left a lasting impact, physically, emotionally, and professionally. Everyday tasks, like buttoning a shirt or opening a package, became unexpectedly difficult. At work, he had to relearn how to grip tools. A passionate musician, Söderback even had to adjust how he plays the guitar and drums.

But he also gained something: a new purpose.

“I want to help others avoid what I went through,” he says. Today, Söderback is a key voice in shaping Kanthal’s machine safety protocols and risk assessments. “We work inside disassembled machines, where normal safety features aren’t in place. You must think through every step.”

His best advice? “Work calmly and methodically. Follow the instructions. Don’t take shortcuts. That’s when something goes wrong.”

While Söderback’s experience forms the heart of Kanthal’s internal safety campaign, the message extends far beyond our factory walls.

Safety isn’t just an internal priority

Susanna Henriksson, EHS Manager, Kanthal.Kanthal operates in industries where safety and environmental impact must be carefully managed. EHS policies safeguard employees, reduce risks, and ensure that the company remains a trusted partner in the market.

In simple terms, Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS) protects people, the planet, and business continuity. Companies that fail to prioritize it risk financial penalties, reputational damage, and operational disruptions.

“My role is to ensure that working conditions enable employees to work safely. That includes conducting audits, investigating incidents, and developing safety programs,” says Susanna Henriksson, EHS Manager at Kanthal’s main plant in Sweden.

Managing compliance is a central part of her job. The company has also seen a measurable improvement in workplace safety. Over the past year, its Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) dropped from 12 to 5, a major achievement. “That signals real progress,” Henriksson states.

Culture matters

When safety is taken seriously, it shows. Employees feel valued. New hires feel confident. Customers trust that we’re committed not just to quality, but to ethical operations. “When people feel safe and respected, they become ambassadors for your company,” Henriksson explains.

Safety also connects directly to sustainability. “We're now involved earlier in machine and production planning to evaluate environmental impacts,” Henriksson stresses. “We’ve started developing a new waste management strategy. And we’re working toward reducing our carbon footprint as part of our five-year plan.”

But like Söderback’s story shows, creating a safe workplace is never finished.

“Every improvement we make, every conversation we have, it matters,” adds Henriksson.

“Because at the end of the day, safety is about people. It’s about creating a workplace where no one has to go through what Söderback did.”

At Kanthal, we’re committed to that goal, not just on April 28, but every single day.