Meet Tina Byström, operations manager in electrolysis

In the electrolysis hall in Sundsvall, advanced technology meets industrial craftsmanship in a process that runs 24/7. Here, aluminium oxide is transformed into primary aluminium under high temperatures and with strict requirements for stability and precision. At the centre of this core operation is Tina Byström, operations manager for electrolysis.

Tina joined KUBAL in 2007 as an operator, without a clear long-term plan. “I thought it would just be a summer job. There was work, shift schedules and good conditions.” The role quickly gave her a deep understanding of the process. Electrolysis is a demanding environment—hot, physical and technically complex—but also a place where experience and professional skill are essential.

After a period away from the company, Tina returned in 2011, when the electrolysis process had been upgraded to modern prebake technology. Since then, she has held several roles within the organisation, always close to production.

During her early years, she worked with most parts of the process—from anode changes and forklift operation to process monitoring. In 2015, she stepped into a shift supervisor role, and a few years later took responsibility for safety and work environment within electrolysis. Today, she leads the operation as operations manager. “I’ve made the journey from within. That makes a real difference in leadership.”

Electrolysis is at the core of aluminium production and requires a stable and well-controlled process. Even small variations can have significant consequences, making process discipline and precision essential. “We continuously work to reduce variation and create predictability. When the process is stable, the work becomes both safer and more efficient.”

Safety is a natural part of the culture. In an environment with high temperatures and strong electrical currents, people depend on each other’s awareness and sense of responsibility. “Safety is not only about rules. It is about behaviours and about looking out for one another.”

At the same time, the work has evolved through digitalisation and improved process monitoring. New systems make it possible to follow production in real time and detect deviations earlier. However, despite technological advancements, people remain critical to keeping the process running effectively. “Technology supports us, but it is people who make the difference.”

When Tina describes why many employees stay long-term in electrolysis, she returns to the sense of teamwork. Shift work means that each team takes responsibility for the process and hands it over to the next. “You are never alone here. We solve tasks together.”

For her, the electrolysis hall is more than a workplace. It is an environment where technology, responsibility and professional pride come together—every day.