The everyday life of an elevator technician

Are you curious to know more about what it's like to work as an elevator technician? We had a chat with Linus Lindh, CEO of the elevator company Greve Jakob in Varberg, about why he became an elevator technician, what a typical day looks like and what it's like to run your own company in the elevator industry!

Hi Linus, tell me why you became an elevator technician?
– It was actually a coincidence. I was working as a fitter and decided to study to become a technician in order to get a job in the maintenance department at that company's factory. When it was time for an internship during the training, my intended internship did not accept interns and my plan fell through. In a panic, I contacted the only company in Varberg that was linked to the training, an elevator company. The work turned out to be varied, independent and challenging, so I spent not only the first four weeks at this company, but all six months of our internship there. After a bit of persuasion, I was hired and that's how it is.

Today you run your own company in the elevator industry, what has the journey been like?
– I started as a second fitter in new installations and worked with experienced technicians for a couple of years on various projects. When I wanted to try my hand at standing on my own two feet, I was given my own service area, which I managed for about 1.5 years before the requirement for protection in the car opening in public environments and workplaces came about. At that time, we were a few service technicians who had to support the ”MOD gang” (those who work with the modernization of elevators) in order to keep up with the increased order backlog. It turned out that I had a knack for supplementing elevator cars with protection in the car opening, because shortly after this I got my own conversion, then another, and another. Eventually I was one of the ”MOD gang” and remained so for several years. When the service manager we had was going to retire, I was asked if I was interested in taking over, it was very flattering to be asked so I immediately said yes. I was a service manager for three years before a colleague and I decided to try our luck on our own and that’s where we are today, another three years later. Still together, still happy!

What does a typical day look like for you?
– The working day starts at around 6:30 with coffee and a quick briefing with the staff. Our industry is changeable so it is rare for a planned day to turn out exactly as planned. In addition to staff being absent due to VAB (childcare) or illness, lifts can stop and then it is necessary to re-prioritize the planning so that the right things are done first. Depending on how many inquiries we have lying around or projects that are in progress, my everyday life looks a little different, but I spend about 50% of my time on planning/quoting for new installations or service as well as finances and invoicing. I support the other 50% in ongoing assembly if someone needs extra hands somewhere. It is still, after all these years, very varied, independent and challenging, even though my tasks look different today compared to 15 years ago.

”"I don't think there is any profession that is as free, challenging, fun and varied as being an elevator technician..."”

Why should more people become elevator technicians?
– I don't think there is any profession that is as free, challenging, fun and varied as being an elevator technician. There is a great variety in the workplace, you meet lots of new people and the industry is constantly updated with news. Then it's really cool to see and work with something that most people don't even get to see with their own eyes and can't even dream of how it works.

Who is the job suitable for?
– EVERYONE, as long as you have an interest in technology, electricity and mechanics. Then it doesn't matter if you are a woman or a man, weak or strong, tall or thin. It works. Did you think Technic-Lego was AWESOME when you were little (or grown up for that matter) then Elevator Technician is about the same thing, but multiplied by 10,000!

Do you have any funny/exciting anecdotes to share?
– We were modernizing the elevators at a zoo once and one of the elevators went by a wilderness area with a glass shaft. The upper levels led out into the wilderness and when you went down to the basement you went down into a lake, so to speak. Very different and exotic to stand in an elevator shaft and work and be watched by exotic animals and fish.

– I also installed two elevators at a commuter station in the middle of a field in December. It was mittens and hats weather, I can say! As I said, no two days are the same, sometimes it's tropical heat and exotic animals, the next day it's a blizzard and thorns.

You accept students for internships from the Electrical and Automation program in Varberg. What do the students usually find most exciting about elevators?
– What is most exciting is always knowing if the elevators can fall down the shaft like in action movies or what happens if the ropes break, as well as going up on the car roof or seeing the machines spinning in the machine room (if there is one).

Curious to know more about Linus' company? Visit Grevejakob.se.

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