It’s all about connections
Heat treatment may not be the most visible part of chain production, but it is one of the most critical. The balance between hardness and toughness determines whether a chain performs reliably over years of heavy use – or fails when it matters most. By modernising its induction hardening and tempering process with support from ENRX, Nøsted & AS has gained precise process control, significantly higher throughput, and a more robust foundation for long-term production continuity.
At Nøsted & AS, everything is about connections – not just between the links in their chains, but between people, processes and long‑term partnerships. This simple idea lies at the heart of this Norwegian industrial company, which has been rooted in Mandal since 1939. For more than eight decades, the company has designed, developed and delivered chains and equipment that must perform when conditions are at their toughest. When your products are relied upon in some of the world’s harshest environments, there is no margin for error.
“We design and manufacture high‑quality products for very demanding conditions,” says Jan Kristian Benestad, Chief Commercial Officer at Nøsted &. “Our chains must perform reliably in severe weather and rough terrain – whether they are used in forestry, fisheries, lifting operations, or offshore.”
For Tommy Gulbrandsen, System Specialist at Nøsted &, that responsibility is closely linked to reputation.
“When people think of Norwegian products, they often think of something solid – something they can trust,” he says. “And trust is built by doing things properly, every single time. There are no shortcuts here.”
Chief Commercial Officer Jan Kristian Benestad at Nøsted & AS.
Built link by link
Producing a high‑performance chain is a complex process with many carefully controlled steps. Steel wire is first drawn to the required dimensions, then bent into links before entering the welding stage.
“The weld is absolutely critical,” says Gulbrandsen. “If it doesn’t hold, nothing else matters. Chain failure is not an option – customers depend on us to get this right.”
After welding, the chain undergoes heat treatment to achieve the right balance between strength and toughness. This includes hardening, to increase wear resistance and load‑bearing capacity, and tempering, which reduces brittleness and ensures the chain can absorb shock without breaking.
As part of its ISO‑certified quality system, Nøsted & maintains full traceability and testing throughout production.
“All chains leaving our factory are tensile tested,” Gulbrandsen explains. “We know exactly how many tonnes each chain can withstand.”
Removing bottlenecks – and risks
Like many long‑established industrial sites, Nøsted & operates a mix of legacy equipment and modern production technology. Over time, some systems had become less well-suited to today’s demands for uptime and efficiency.
“In a large production facility like ours, bottlenecks will always appear,” says Benestad. “The key is to identify them early and deal with them before they affect delivery schedules or operational continuity.”
One such bottleneck was an ageing hardening and tempering installation.
“With outdated components, even a small failure could have caused weeks or even months of downtime,” says Gulbrandsen. “That’s a risk we simply couldn’t accept.”
To future‑proof this critical part of the process, Nøsted & decided to invest in a major upgrade of their induction hardening and tempering system, working closely with ENRX.
Induction heating that delivers control and confidence
At the core of the upgrade were new, high‑power inverters that control the energy delivered to the induction coils.
“Induction heat treatment is a highly specialised field,” says Gulbrandsen. “It allows you to heat the steel very precisely, exactly where it’s needed, and with excellent repeatability. That level of control makes a real difference to both quality and productivity.”
For Nøsted &, ENRX’s role went far beyond supplying the hardware.
“Working with ENRX has been an excellent experience,” Gulbrandsen continues. “They understand the process in depth and are genuinely interested in optimising the system, not just restoring what was there before.”
“They respond quickly, give constructive feedback and are always ready to help. With a supplier like that, you feel secure – and that matters when this part of the process is so critical.”
More capacity, same commitment
The objective of the upgrade was clear.
“When we invested in the new system, the aim was to increase throughput and to process more chain each day,” says Benestad.
“For some chain dimensions, we have effectively doubled our previous capacity,” Gulbrandsen adds. “And we’ve achieved that without compromising on quality – quite the opposite.”
The modernised system has also reduced the risk of unplanned downtime, improving reliability for both production planning and customer delivery.
Tommy Gulbrandsen, System Specialist at Nøsted & AS.
Connections that go beyond technology
Walking through the factory, one thing stands out as clearly as the machines: the atmosphere. There is an easy, friendly tone among colleagues, combined with a strong sense of shared responsibility.
Three Norwegian words printed on the back of an employee’s shirt capture this spirit:
“Medarbeiderskap, vilje, innovasjonskraft” – cooperation, determination and innovation.
“For me, it is important that everyone understands that their daily work is part of something bigger,” says Benestad. “Work is more meaningful when people feel connected and pull in the same direction.”
And that brings the story back to where it began.
“Yes, in the end, it all comes down to connections – with our employees, the local community, our customers and partners like ENRX,” Benestad concludes. “Together, we build solutions and relationships that are strong, reliable and made to last.”