Ejendals has been developing and marketing JALAS® safety shoes and TEGERA® safety gloves for 75 years. Today, the company employs nearly 500 people and operates in 30 countries.

“The future looks interesting and generally positive. Awareness of personal protective equipment is growing, and more companies are starting to understand the importance of taking care of their staff,” says Erik Levisson, Logistic Manager at Ejendals.

Ejendals takes a comprehensive approach to environmental responsibility. In addition to transport, materials and production processes are key factors. One concrete example Erik highlights is the combination of long-standing supplier relationships, sharp forecasting, and a well-managed warehouse. This enables better planning and higher container fill rates.

Speaking of containers, about 800–1000 TEUs arrive at the Port of Gothenburg each year, then travel by train to Insjön and finally just under 10 km by truck to Ejendals’ warehouse.

“Having the terminal so close is a huge advantage. It allows us to minimize truck traffic and the strain on road infrastructure. The fact that there’s a terminal in such a relatively small location shows that Leksand attracts companies with the right volumes,” says Erik Levisson.

The terminal is owned by another company, Bergkvist Siljan, but that’s not something that causes friction. On the contrary, Erik sees it as a reflection of Leksand’s collaborative business climate, where companies work together whenever possible.

Although Insjön is quite far from Gothenburg, Erik has no concerns about the reliability of the trains. He emphasizes that the collaboration with other partners – such as Vänerexpressen – ensures a stable flow of goods.

“Once the cargo reaches the Port of Gothenburg, rail transport to our site usually works very well,” he says.

When explaining why Ejendals chooses rail, environmental benefits are a key driver. The capacity of the trains is also essential to handle the large volumes the company imports. Truck transport is still used to complement rail, and the focus is on using renewable fuels to reduce emissions from road freight.

Erik would like to see even greater flexibility in the rail network. Ejendals already sends a significant number of containers suitable for rail, but he would welcome more options for outbound transport to European customers and shorter routes. This would enhance the intermodal solutions they use.

“We have global customers in places like the U.S. and South America that we serve by sea, but within Europe, it's all by truck. If we had a rail solution that matched our customers’ requirements, we’d be very interested,” Erik says.

The Port of Gothenburg is vital for Ejendals in both directions. It ensures the inflow of goods and is the most cost-efficient and environmentally sound way to access distant markets.

Recent years have brought geopolitical turbulence, fluctuating prices, and other challenges to ocean freight. The detour around Africa impacts pricing, lead times, and environmental footprint, but as long as it doesn’t lead to extra transshipments or delays, it’s manageable. Thanks to careful planning and close cooperation across the supply chain, Ejendals has been able to stay on top of the volatility.

“Direct calls to the Port of Gothenburg always feel safer,” says Erik, drawing a final parallel to rail.

“Having direct trains from the Port of Gothenburg is a major benefit. Every handover point is a potential bottleneck or risk of disruption. The fewer stops, the more reliable and secure the transport – that’s why direct rail is so important to us.”

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