Global supplier of mission-critical products and services
“Setting science in motion to create a better world” is the guiding principle of Avantor – a global leader in manufacturing and distributing high-quality products, services, and solutions to professionals in the life sciences and advanced technologies. In Sweden, Avantor has built a strong team of employees and invested in a state-of-the-art distribution center that supplies the Nordic market with products within life sciences and advanced technology.
As a leading provider of life science tools and a global supplier of mission-critical products and services to the life sciences and advanced technology industries, Avantor works side by side with the world’s foremost biopharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostic companies, as well as other advanced industries, to enable breakthroughs in medicine, healthcare, and technology.
– “Setting science in motion to create a better world” is not only Avantor’s vision but also something we work toward every day. The entire value chain – from leading biopharmaceutical and medical technology companies to hospitals, universities, and ultimately patients – relies on us. We take great pride in carrying out our mission with the highest quality, explains Johan Borg, Managing Director of Avantor’s Swedish organization.
The Swedish organization, known by many under the company name VWR, which became part of Avantor in 2017, is headquartered in Kista but has in recent years strengthened its presence in Gothenburg with a service office at GoCo Health Innovation City.
– A great deal is happening in Gothenburg right now around Sahlgrenska University Hospital and GoCo Health Innovation City, and we want to be part of that development. That is why we have expanded our presence in the region. We also maintain our strong base in Stockholm and our product specialists at Medicon Village in Lund.
According to Johan Borg, Avantor has over the years built a highly competent organization where the company’s account managers maintain close relationships with customers to fully understand the needs within their organizations.
– Even though we frequently communicate with procurement managers and purchasing teams, our account managers also spend a great deal of time speaking directly with end-users – researchers, healthcare professionals, and laboratory staff – to identify solutions and ensure we meet all needs.
Dedicated account managers
Account Manager for the public sector from Ystad in the south to Falun in the north, covering Kalmar, Örebro, and western Sweden, is Nina Hansson, who has developed an extensive network within hospitals, universities, and colleges.
– It is a growing network where we support entire departments or individual researchers with a wide range of needs. For example, at the University of Gothenburg, many doctoral students contact us when they complete their PhDs and are about to set up their own laboratories, says Nina Hansson. – They know we have the right expertise and products – everything from large-scale laboratory equipment to a small DNA sequence – to help them get started quickly.
Her colleague Pekka Ylitalo works closely with Avantor’s corporate customers in biopharma, including pharmaceutical companies and other life science organizations.
– Just like Nina, I dedicate much of my time to meeting both procurement managers and end-users to learn about the customer’s operations and build strong relationships. I cover the entire Swedish market, and with the positive developments in Gothenburg, I now have several customers here, says Pekka Ylitalo. – In addition to biopharma, I also work with major industrial companies such as Volvo Cars.
The account managers and their customers work closely with Avantor’s team of product specialists in fields such as life science, microbiology, chemicals, and equipment and instruments.
– These are dedicated experts who have in-depth knowledge of their areas, such as protective equipment and the regulatory frameworks that apply to our customers’ operations. And when needed, we also have access to our suppliers’ expertise on specific products.
New distribution center
With a newly built, high-tech distribution center in Örebro – inaugurated in May 2024 – Avantor can now rapidly supply the Nordic market with products for life sciences and advanced technologies.
– During the pandemic, we saw the importance of having our own distribution center in Karlskoga. With our new 9,000-square-meter facility in Örebro, we can ensure fast deliveries throughout the Nordics. As a global company with a strong European organization, we naturally have several advantages, including access to world-leading suppliers and extensive in-house expertise, says Johan Borg.
– We are a major player, which also makes us an attractive employer, offering significant opportunities for career development in Sweden and internationally.
Behind the vision “Setting science in motion to create a better world” stand five core values – Innovation, Customer Centric, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence – forming the acronym ICARE, which permeates Avantor’s organizations worldwide.
– Within Innovation, we believe the best ideas come from collaboration with customers, suppliers, and feedback from employees across the organization. Customer Centric means focusing on the customer: we actively listen to understand their needs, challenges, and ambitions. We are here to help them, explains Pekka Ylitalo.
– Accountability reflects our commitment to shared goals, while Respect is about treating all people equally and embracing diversity, both internally and externally. Excellence means we are never satisfied – we constantly strive for improvement.
