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Cover Story
No trade-offs: How Alleima R & D
In a world increasingly defined by material complexity and climate urgency, few industrial players have embraced the future with as much clarity and conviction as Alleima. With over 250 professionals, Alleima’ s
R & D team bridges cutting-edge materials science, customer intimacy, and an unrelenting commitment to sustainable innovation. In a conversation with key members of the team,
Eva Lindh-Ulmgren, Karin Forsling, Daniel Gullberg, and Eleonora Bettini, Heat Exchanger
World explores what makes this division the silent force behind some of the industry’ s most advanced developments.
Alleima’ s Tube R & D function comprises more than 200 employees working across product and process development, quality assurance and materials testing.
By Iryna Mukha, Heat Exchanger World
Formerly known as Sandvik Materials Technology, the company has long stood at the forefront of metallurgical innovation. With a legacy that reaches back to 1862 and a track record of alloy development that spans from traditional stainless steels to cutting-edge solutions for hydrogen, renewables, and beyond, Alleima’ s Research and Development( R & D) team plays a foundational role in both its past and future. Yet, despite its reputation, many of the company’ s most transformative efforts are happening behind the scenes. At Alleima, these“ hidden heroes” of R & D are redefining what advanced materials can achieve— quietly, expertly, and in close partnership with industry.“ We are a global team of researchers and developers, united by a single purpose— to solve the unsolvable and to develop materials that meet tomorrow’ s industrial challenges today,” says Eva Lindh- Ulmgren, Vice President and Head of R & D for Alleima’ s Tube Division.“ Our R & D capability is the backbone of Alleima’ s leadership in sustainable, high-performance materials, with the vast legacy of innovation stretching back over 160 years.” This declaration sets the tone for a compelling journey into the heart of Alleima’ s R & D engine, a department deeply integrated into the company’ s
DNA and critical to its position as a world leader in heat exchanger materials.
Forged in history, built for the future To understand Alleima’ s modern R & D strength, one must begin with its roots. Founded in Sandviken, Sweden in 1862, the company began as Sandvikens Jernverk, pioneering the Bessemer process in Sweden and building a foundation of steelmaking excellence that would shape generations of metallurgists. Throughout the 20th century, the company expanded its research capabilities alongside its product lines. By the 1920s, it had begun developing corrosionresistant alloys, paving the way for its leadership in stainless steel. The post-war era saw the introduction of seamless stainless steel tubes, followed by a wave of duplex stainless steels that would eventually include hallmark grades like SAF™ 2205 and SAF™ 2507, which have since become standard-bearers in harsh industrial environments. This deep heritage culminated in a major strategic shift in 2022, when Sandvik Materials Technology was demerged from the Sandvik Group and rebranded as Alleima. As Karin Forsling, R & D Manager for Tubular Products, puts it:“ Our history gives us confidence, but our team is always looking forward. We are
8 Heat Exchanger World July 2025 www. heat-exchanger-world. com