Friday, February 20, 2015

AENIB Awards 2015: Dahlberg S.A

The award for the most longstanding member goes to a company which is in fact one of the oldest nautical companies on the island. Kjell Dahlberg arrived to Mallorca when the island was just starting to discover the possibilities of mass tourism, and founded in 1972 a company, which was possibly the first one dedicated to yacht repairs on the island. Currently Dahlberg S.A has various divisions and the third generation of Dahlbergs is about to join the company. The award gave us an opportunity to interview Kjell Dahlberg in his home and share some good memories with him. 

1.- This year Dahlberg SA receives the award for the most longstanding member of AENIB. What does this recognition mean to you?

It is fantastic, as I have been around for a long time. The company was among the first ones to start repair "things" on the boats. When I arrived on the island there was nobody who understood about these things. I gained my experience when I lived and worked in Sweden (I´m Swedish by birth), I have also a skipper´s certificate for deep sea fishing, I´m a naval technician.. and also a qualified professional diver.

2.- You arrived on the island in the sixties, if I´m not mistaken. Why did a Swedish youngster like yourself decide to settle down in Mallorca and to start a company?

About 56 years ago I was sailing on a yacht and arrived in Mallorca. We had very bad weather during the voyage, sailed into a storm outside Soller and had to return back to Palma for repairs. We spent an entire year repairing the boat, and by concluding the job I returned to Sweden, although I had already fallen in love with Mallorca... I could also see that there was nobody who understood much about boats... There were mechanics, but they worked mainly with cars and only occasionally repaired boat engines. Their work processes, knowledge and tools were based on the Spanish automotive industry of the sixties. They didn´t have knowledge of the modern equipment we had access to in Sweden at that time. I saw an opportunity to establish my own company, and that´s how I started.

I think I was the first one to open a business of this type on the island. In fact it was quite a challenge legally, as there was no activity in the register that could be applied. Those days it was very difficult for a foreigner to obtain a work permit, so I sought help from a lawyer, who told me that I could obtain a work permit if I registered myself as an artisan locksmith. I wasn´t too bothered, it was a question about obtaining a licence and getting started. Any inaccuracies could be ironed out afterwards.

My first clients were all foreigners; Americans, Germans and English. I spoke English and some German, so I had no communication problems. This was something they appreciated very much. When they came to Spain they didn´t find anybody who would understand them, but there was I and we could talk about the problems they had. I worked mainly with big sailing yachts coming from America, England and Germany. There were not so many motor boats as nowadays.

3.- Do you miss something from the olden days? 

There was more freedom and less controls. As my daughter pointed out to me once - if I wanted to start the same business today, I would not be able to. 

Those days things were repaired. Nowadays things don´t get repaired, they get changed, in the American style.
When I started, everything had to be repaired, among other things because spare parts simply didn´t exist in Spain. I had to devise something myself and try to use my contacts in Sweden and in England to get sent what I needed. This system worked pretty well.

4.- What would you have thought 55 years ago if somebody had told you where the company is today  and that a third generation of Dahlbergs would be involved in the business?

In all honesty I didn´t think much about the future. You had to do your bit every day and work hard. Little by little I became very well known among the yacht owners - without spending a cent in publicity! The clients were happy and that was the best marketing I could have. Today I can say that I´m very proud of both the past and the present of the company, and that as a family we have been able to get through the different periods of crisis, celebrating our 30th anniversary of Dahlberg S.A last year. The future is exciting with the third generation ready to step in, but it is not going to be easy.

5.- In your opinion, how has the nautical sector developed during these past 45 years?

The development is very satisfying , thanks to a strategic location of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, the highly specialised companies that exist here, the natural environment and the exquisite services available in different sectors. Today the islands are a worldwide nautical reference. But there is still a lot to do, not so much at the business level, more so on the administrative side of things.

6.- On the Balearic Islands there are lots of family businesses dedicated to nautical sector. In yours three generations of the family are involved in the company. Why do you think so many families dedicate themselves to nautical businesses?

It is work for which the passion comes from within. We teach our children the love of the sea and the love and implication in our work, they grow up with this attitude. Besides, working in a nautical business is never boring, although often not easy. A lot of knowledge is essential.

7.- Currently, what services does Dahlberg S.A provide for their clients?

We supply, install and repair the brands that we represent. We also have a department of training in electronics and sanitation. We have three divisions at Dahlberg: Naval electronic equipment and telecommunications; Waste water systems, toilets and pumps; and Revision and sales of the life rafts of the brand Duarry.

8.- To conclude, how will Dahlberg face the future as a company? What challenges do you have ahead?

To start with, we need to continue acquiring skills and knowledge in all our specialties. Then to innovate, not only when it comes to the products we should have on offer, but also with the processes as a company and the needs of the market. And naturally we need to continue having excellent relationship with our collaborators and clients.

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