Manufacturing
Norway will have a profitable, innovative, highly efficient and sustainable manufacturing industry which, based on expertise and the Norwegian model, delivers high-quality, low-impact products worldwide.
Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries. (2022). Roadmap – The green industrial initiative.
Agder’s Manufacturing Powerhouses
Norwegian industry encompasses a variety of companies producing a wide range of physical products. These products are either sold directly to consumers (e.g., textiles, chairs, ploughs, paint) or used as components in composite products (e.g., car parts, boat propellers, circuit boards, navigation systems). Additionally, Norwegian companies manufacture technology and production equipment essential for other businesses (e.g., 3D printers, packaging machines, robots, machining equipment, control systems). This sector is collectively known as manufacturing, which in Norwegian refers to industrial production.
Agder’s manufacturing industry is a vital sector. Employing nearly 12,000 people, it is a significant contributor to the regional economy. The industry is composed of a wide range of companies, each excelling in their respective fields.
- One of the most notable is Aludyne, located in Farsund, a leading global manufacturer of aluminum, magnesium, and iron cast and machined automotive components, with regional production facilities in North and South America, Europe, and China.
- Another prominent company is 3B Fibreglass, a leading developer and supplier of glass fiber products, operating manufacturing facilities in Battice (Belgium), Birkeland (Norway), and Goa (India).
- Umoe Advanced Composites (UAC), part of the Umoe Group, is also a key player in Agder, producing large type IV glass fiber pressure vessels and transportation modules for CNG, biogas, and hydrogen.
- Kitron, Scandinavia’s leading Electronics Manufacturing Services company, operates in multiple locations including Southern Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Lithuania, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, India, China, Malaysia, and the US.
- GE HealthCare, a supplier of medical technology, operates in more than 160 countries, with one of its Norwegian production facilities located in Lindesnes, Agder.
- Mandals, based in Mandal, is a world-leading supplier of hoses, exporting 85% of their production globally.
- Lastly, Nøsted & design produces and delivers chains, forest tracks, tractor implements, and equipment for lifting and mooring, with a head office in Mandal.
These industry leaders exemplify Agder’s robust and diverse manufacturing sector, driving economic growth, global competitiveness, and the future of advanced manufacturing in the region and beyond.
3B Fiberglass
Learn more about the cluster comprising 60 member companies from sectors such as metals, ceramics, chemicals, and recycling.
Umoe Advanced Composites
Learn more about how expert communities in Southern Norway are specializing in battery materials and technology.
Mandals
Learn more about The University of Agder’s application-oriented research projects, focusing on six major aspects of the battery life-cycle.
Battery
Process Industry
Maritime industry
Offshore wind
Hydorgen
Data centers
CCUS
Bioeconomy