Digital Cities & Citizens

Axis's new building, an investment in Lund

July 13, 2018

Founded in 1984 with the idea of connecting printers to networks, Axis Communications was one of the first companies located at Ideon. In 1996 Axis created the world’s first network camera and soon the small Lund company was an international success.

Despite great interest in Axis camera solutions around the world, the company has chosen to stay in Lund. Now Axis  is building a new headquarters in the Ideon area with space for approximately 1,300 employees. 

Axis var först i världen med att koppla upp kameror i nätverk och kameror är fortfarande centrala i verksamheten. Den första lilla kameran tog en bild i sekunden – nu finns det

Axis was the first in the world to connect cameras to networks, and cameras are still central to the business. The first camera took one picture per second. Now there is everything from large explosion-protected cameras that transmit images continuously, to discreet cameras that can be hidden in, for example, ATMs. Axis has also broadened its operations so that the cameras can be paired with things such as speaker systems, radar and intercoms. More and more is about software and most of it is linked to security.

After the attack on Drottninggatan in Stockholm, it was because of SL’s use of Axis cameras in the subway system that the perpetrator could be traced. There are more restrictions on surveillance cameras in Sweden than in many other countries and Axis’ largest market is the United States. Nevertheless, Lund is central to Axis, as is shown, for example, by investing in building a new headquarters in the Ideon Science Park with space for approximately 1,300 employees. The new office will be ready in 2019.

Björn Hallerborn is communications manager at Axis Communications, which has everything from large explosion-protected surveillance cameras to discreet hidden cameras.
Björn Hallerborn is communications manager at Axis Communications, which has everything from large explosion-protected surveillance cameras to discreet hidden cameras.

“We have been a Lund-based company since the beginning and started at Ideon. For us, it is very valuable to have the company located where it was founded," says Björn Hallerborn, communications manager at Axis. “The culture of the company would likely be negatively affected if we moved, even if it was only a few miles away.”

The location is much about being close to the labor force.

“There are good people to hire in Lund,” continues Björn Hallerborn. “We recruit a lot from the university, which increases Lund’s competitiveness and attractiveness. Things happen in Lund and there are other companies to cooperate with. It's awesome that everything is in Lund.”

Axis works hard to find new talent among Lund University students.

“Every year, we recruit about 60 prospective engineers, mainly from LTH. We are very active at LTH, participating in their labor market days and contributing to various events. Because technology and security is a male-dominated industry, we are working to achieve better gender balance. We have several initiatives through which we encourage women to invest in technical education and choose us.”

Each year, 17 per cent of the company's revenue is invested in research and development, and most of Lund's employees work in this area.

“Our new buildings will make us more integrated and will increase the possibility of cooperation between different departments,” says Björn Hallerborn. “In addition, there will be modern facilities and everything that comes with them, such as a good working environment. The buildings will be environmentally certified, which is important to us. Axis is a company that prioritises employees and the culture of the company. There will places to meet such as a gym and a café, which will make it attractive to be in the workplace.”

‍In 1996 Axis developed the world's first network camera,

Axis Communications was founded in 1984 by Mikael Karlsson, Martin Gren and Keith Bloodworth and became one of the first tenants of the newly established research village Ideon. Axis’ first important product was a print server for IBM mainframe and mini-computers. A major milestone came in 1996 when Axis created the world's first network camera, called the Neteye 200. The connected camera changed the industry and took video surveillance from analog to digital technology.

Axis now employs 2,865 employees around the world and had sales of 8.6 billion Swedish kroner in 2017. Global growth reached 16 percent that same year. Axis has offices in 50 countries and partners in 179 countries. The head office is in Lund.

Axis is currently working on different products for the Internet of Security Things. This means a wider range of cameras, analysis software, intercom services, audio systems and audio detection, as well as complementary services such as radar and built-in image stabilizers in cameras.

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