An industrial success story in wood

Today, the Talgø Group is a major player in timber products and is particularly well known for the MøreRoyal brand, produced by Talgø MøreTre. The Group is also a major supplier of prefabricated building elements through Talgø Bygg. Group CEO Terje Talgø is the fourth generation to lead the family business, which has its head office, factories and builders' merchants in Surnadal in Nordmøre.

'With valuable support from us, we have built a strong name and delivered a product that is in demand. MøreRoyal is available from most builders' merchants across Norway,' says Talgø.

He says that Norway is by far their largest market, but they are now expanding internationally. Rather than setting up their own sales offices in new markets, the company plans to partner with organisations that have the right expertise.

'As most of the raw materials we buy come from Sweden, it was natural to begin our export journey there. We have hired two people, which has helped us gain a strong foothold in the market and created potential for further growth,' says Talgø.

The company has also decided to establish partnerships in Germany, Lithuania and the Czech Republic. Talgø is also looking to begin exporting to several other countries in the near future.

Talgø has embraced new technology and streamlined its industrial production from the very beginning. The company was an early adopter of electricity to power its machinery. Access to energy remains important today, but the company now places far greater emphasis on using energy efficiently and managing resources sustainably.

The company was also an early adopter of mass production, and as technology has advanced, computer-controlled machinery and modern industrial robots have become firmly established.

'The three most important factors for long-term survival are adaptation, adaptation and adaptation. You need to keep up with what is happening and seize opportunities as they arise,' the CEO emphasises.

The Talgø Group has worked closely with businesses and public-sector funding partners, and we have supported the family business for many years. We have helped them plan and deliver industrial projects by providing access to expertise, as well as support with risk assessment and funding for projects both large and small.

'Close dialogue with our local team in Møre og Romsdal has been part of everyday life for us at Talgø, and the mutual trust we have built has played an important role in our development,' says Talgø, before continuing:

- We have received support that has been crucial to developing the technology, including funding for a new planing facility and a new impregnation facility for MøreRoyal.

It is difficult to predict the future, but the company is prepared for the major challenges ahead – particularly when it comes to the climate and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

'These are key requirements we need to meet, and we are already investing significant resources in developing environmentally friendly and sustainable products and production methods – throughout the production process and the product's life cycle, right through to potential recycling or reuse,' says Talgø.

He emphasises that the employees are the most important resource in achieving this. Through education and training, creativity and knowledge, they will make sound, forward-looking choices.