As a true family man, it’s not surprising that Dan Järrendal feels right at home in a family business. But what made Stringo’s new Senior Mechanical Engineer leave the big city behind and return to his Northern Swedish roots?
How did you end up at Stringo?
“I essentially got headhunted by Stringo’s CHRO Lena Thelin, who is a friend of my sister’s. When Lena heard that my family and I were considering moving from Stockholm to the Nyland area, she called me to ask if I’d be interested in joining Stringo’s R&D team.”
What made you and your wife decide to move up north?
“I’m from the area myself originally, and still have extended family here. Family ties and being part of a local community are very important to both my wife and me. We also felt that the countryside would offer a better environment for our children to grow up in.”
What does your role at Stringo entail?
“My main job is constructing new solutions and maintaining our existing ones, to ensure the machines we produce function optimally from a mechanical perspective. I also help out with internal processes to find out how we can work more efficiently. But as I’m quite new on the job, I’m still getting familiar with our various products and the capabilities of the systems we use.”
What’s the best part of your job so far?
“Definitely the people. Even though I’ve only been here a short time, I can already tell that the team is fantastic and that Stringo really cares about their employees. It’s a family business at heart, which resonates with me on a personal level.”
What’s the most challenging aspect of your work, compared to previous roles?
“I feel my role as a Mechanical Engineer is more critical to the products at Stringo than it’s been at other companies. I’m used to mechanics being one of several aspects, along with software and electronics. Sure, those things are increasingly important in our vehicle movers as well. But whether a machine will function or not ultimately comes down to the mechanical components. There’s no room for shortcuts, and my expertise is given a lot of weight. That comes with a lot of responsibility.”
Any upcoming projects you’re particularly excited about?
“The most interesting one right now is for a major European car manufacturer looking for a customised Stringo that will help them tackle challenges involving autonomous vehicle-moving and manoeuvring cars in tight spaces. Overall, I’m very impressed with the size and caliber of clients and projects we get to work with. It’s quite incredible, considering we’re a relatively small company.”
What do you like to do outside of work?
“With three children aged five, two and a half, and ten months, there’s not much room for hobbies. Instead, I try to involve them in day-to-day activities, such as cooking, cleaning, or repairing things around the house. I want to teach them early on that food doesn’t just come from a shop—it’s something you can make yourself by baking, hunting, and growing your own vegetables.”
Any passions you’re planning to take up again as the kids get older?
“I’m a board game enthusiast. Especially miniature games like Warhammer, where you create your own landscapes and adventures, and a single session can go on for years. The kids are a bit young for that, of course. But I have a well-stocked cabinet with about 200 different games, including some that toddlers can play. They already love rummaging around in there.”
