KORP & SON IS A FAMILY BUSINESS THAT STANDS FIRM WITH HYDRASPECMA AS ITS HYDRAULICS PARTNER

In Brastad, a piece of Swedish industrial history lives on with a focus on quality, innovation, and long-term relationships. Industri AB Korp & Son has been building sludge suction trucks since the 1960s and is today considered one of the most experienced niche players in the Nordic region. A crucial success factor is strong partnerships with suppliers who share the same view on quality and delivery reliability.

FROM FAMILY WORKSHOP TO SPECIALIST IN SLUDGE SUCTION TRUCKS
With a strong drive to find smart technical solutions and previous experience in running companies in the field of mechanical engineering, Helge Korp and his son Rune founded Industri AB Korp & Son in 1962. During their first year of operation, they developed the pile joint, for which they also obtained a patent. This invention significantly simplified piling during new construction projects and laid an important financial foundation for their next venture. Helge and Rune had identified a growing new market in waste management, where new requirements had emerged. It was now time to take the next step and develop a suction truck.

In 1963, just over a year after establishing the company the start, the first sludge suction truck was delivered to a customer in Sweden and, in 1969, to the first customer in Norway. Sweden and Norway are still the target markets for Korp & Son, which is located in Brastad, in the Lyskil municipality, where they have gradually grown in the very place where it all started.

INDUSTRI AB KORP & SON

Located: Brastad, Sweden

Employees: 44

Business: Develops and manufactures sludge suction trucks.

Today, Rune is still involved in the company but it is run by his three children, Mikael Korp (CEO), Cecilia Korp (Administrator) and Patrik Korp (Designer). The family business has 44 employees who together possess a high level of expertise and long experience. Many employees have worked at the company for more than 25 years, which has contributed to the warm, family-like atmosphere. It is clear that the people care about one another and that the staff is a top priority.

  – We have extremely skilled employees, and that provides a great sense of security. The vehicles are complex, and it takes several years to learn the entire production process. The technical challenge of following a vehicle through the entire production process is, I believe, one of the reasons why employees enjoy their work and remain with the company, says Mikael Korp, CEO of Industri AB Korp & Son.

TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND QUALITY IN EVERY DETAIL
Korp & Son has truly found its niche and produces customized sludge suction trucks as well as a combination vehicle that features both sludge suction and high-pressure flushing. In total, they build approximately 22–25 vehicles per year, which is roughly the same number of newly produced vehicles the company has delivered annually over the years. The difference today is that each vehicle requires significantly more working hours. Each project involves a total of 1,500–2,500 working hours.

  – The vehicles we manufacture today are considerably larger, which means that all components are larger and more extensive. In addition, there are more electronics, electrical work, remote control systems, and so on, all of which take time to install, Mikael explains.

The company performs almost all work operations in-house and, in addition to the actual production of sludge suction trucks, all cabinets, tanks, and details are manufactured internally. This ensures high quality and flexibility.

COLLABORATION WITH HYDRASPECMA PROVIDES SECURITY AND DELIVERY RELIABILITY
Top priorities for Korp & Son are quality and customer service. This places high demands on internal competence at every stage of production. At the same time, it is crucial that suppliers meet these requirements and do not jeopardize production. Korp & Son therefore values long-term relationships where trust is built and growth happens together. HydraSpecma has supplied hydraulic components for many years, and a strong partnership has developed.

  – For us, delivery reliability is essential, as production downtime can be very costly. Our established collaboration with HydraSpecma helps us minimize risks. We are able to provide clear forecasts, while HydraSpecma supports us with high delivery reliability and a local warehouse – a combination that has ensured uninterrupted production , says Gustaf Corneliusson, Warehouse and Purchasing Manager at Industri AB Korp & Son.

In the autumn of 2025, the collaboration with HydraSpecma was expanded to also include fluid conveyance components.

  – We want a collaboration with our suppliers that benefits both parties and allows us to grow together. Since we already know that HydraSpecma offers both high quality and reliable deliveries, the choice was easy since they could also offer competitive pricing on fluid conveyance components, says Gustaf.

QUALITY ENSURES LONG-TERM CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS

Over the years, the company has built a stable customer base in both Sweden and Norway. Several customers have been with them for many years, which has led to strong partnerships and has contributed to Korp & Son’s growth.

  – Our relationships with customers are one of the things I value most. We have known each other for many years, we understand one another, and we can work together efficiently. This makes our encounters both pleasant and rewarding, says Mikael.

One of the most recent orders is a good example of both strong relationships and the importance of quality. The truck was delivered to a customer in Svalbard, making it the northernmost delivery to date – and probably one of the northernmost sludge suction trucks in the world. The customer had previously operated a used Korp & Son vehicle, so when it was time to replace it, they would not consider any other brand. The fact that the vehicle performs well in extreme climates is strong proof that it is well designed and of high quality.

A PARTNERSHIP THAT CONTINUES TO GROW
Korp & Son has found a good balance, and their ambition is to maintain and further develop the quality and user-friendliness that have made them appreciated for more than 60 years. This is something they want to achieve together with HydraSpecma.

  – We enjoy working with HydraSpecma as a supplier, and our goal is to continue growing together. By including more competitive products, we can further increase quality and customer satisfaction, Gustaf concludes.