Safecto

Going beyond the safety standard is not only a sign of integrity. It is also a growth strategy. Last week I wrote about designing critical safety solutions from first principles rather than simply meeting the standard. That is the trust argument. There is also a commercial argument. It drives growth in three ways: - Differentiation. When every bidder meets the bar, the bar is not the differentiator. Fully addressing the hazard is an excellent source of product innovation. - Larger systems. If the hazard requires detection, redundancy or response the standard does not ask for, the honest solution is sometimes a larger one. - Longer relationships. A customer who understands why the solution is built the way it is comes back rather than starting again from a blank tender. That builds an installed base served beyond the initial sale, and frees up sales capacity to win new customers. Making this work is not easy. It requires deep technical expertise, full command of the standards, and the integrity to say when the certified option is not sufficient, accepting that you sometimes lose the deal. This only holds where the buyer can see the difference. Customers who carry the consequence of a failure themselves, and who have the expertise to judge what you are proposing. Not every end-market qualifies.

In critical safety, meeting the standard and fully protecting against the hazard are not always the same thing. The leaders in the industry differentiate by being one step ahead of regulation. A founder made this point elegantly to me recently, and I fully agree. The best entrepreneurs I engage with consider two perspectives when developing their solutions: The first: what do regulations and certifications require? You can look that up. It's necessary, but not always enough. The second: from first principles, what can actually go wrong, and how can we design the solution to fully prevent or mitigate these risks? To ask and answer these questions, you need a deep technical understanding. Often, these two perspectives line up. Sometimes they don't, because rules take years to change and new risks show up faster than that. Firefighting foams are one example - they met the standard and worked for decades, before the lasting harm from the "forever chemicals" (aka PFAS) they contained was understood. Regulation is now catching up. This gap is where niche leaders earn their reputation. They start from first principles, not the rulebook, and they tell a customer plainly when the certified option isn't enough, even when the honest answer costs more. That is how you build trust. Not by always being the cheapest and most agreeable, but by keeping safety as the ultimate objective.

Resilience in critical safety isn't automatic. It's built. "Safety spend is the last thing customers cut." I hear some version of this in almost every management meeting and investor conversation. It's one of the reasons we're building Safecto. The statement is directionally true - but only for the right businesses. Resilience isn't automatic. It's built through strategic choices. I've come to think resilience in critical safety is built on four foundations. 1. Niche technologies with attractive characteristics. Focus on technologies where demand is driven by regulation or compelling total cost of ownership rather than discretion. Strong aftermarket from spare parts, service and retrofits. Demand tied to opex and brownfield investment rather than greenfield projects. 2. Demanding end markets. The most resilient end markets tend to be the most demanding. Strict specifications, heavy certification and zero tolerance for failure. This keeps competitors out and makes demand sticky. 3. Active cycle management. Even a well-positioned business doesn't just ride its markets; it works them. Converting transactional sales into multi-year service and framework agreements. Building enough visibility to spot weakening demand before it reaches the P&L. Playing offense in downturns by entering new end markets and geographies when the core is soft - something that only works if the certification groundwork was laid in good times. 4. Diversification across technologies, end markets and geographies. Every business carries some cyclicality, however well chosen and well run. The remaining volatility can be further reduced by combining different technologies, end markets and geographies. For example, investments into rolling stock in Italy have little correlation with energy infrastructure in the UK. The world is becoming more volatile, not less. Trade policy shifts overnight. Regulation evolves faster. Supply chains reroute. Entire end markets accelerate - or stall - on political decisions. In that environment, resilient businesses are built long before they're tested.

Heatwaves don't just affect people; they can put extra strain on your electrical systems too 🔥 As temperatures rise, so does the risk of overheating electrical equipment, overloaded sockets and battery charging systems. A few simple precautions can help reduce the risk: ✔ Ensure plant rooms and electrical cabinets have adequate ventilation ✔ Avoid overloading extension leads and sockets ✔ Keep battery charging areas clear and well-ventilated ✔ Check cooling systems are operating effectively ✔ Stay on top of regular fire detection and suppression system maintenance Protecting your business isn't just about preparing for the heat, but about being ready for the risks that come with it.

Technology keeps advancing, creating new challenges for the safety industry to solve. Lithium-ion is one of the latest examples.

Last week we brought our leadership team together for the first Safecto Meet-up, out in the Stockholm Archipelago. These gatherings let us step back, reflect on where we're taking Safecto and how we serve our customers, and build new connections along the way. Two great days with this team, many more to come. Ben Parker Ian Bartle Mark Bresnahan Hans van Velzen Marco Alvelli Francesca Buoncompagni Jakob Holm Sasha Hakami Maja Wassén Samuel Kamryd August Runge

One of the reasons Safecto exists - to help great companies and entrepreneurs accelerate their international journeys.

Serving demanding end-markets across borders in an increasingly complex world. Our Group CEO August Runge on why and how we are building Safecto together with Nobel Fire Systems Ltd, MARINE FIRE SAFETY LIMITED, LIFEHAMMER® and G-iron Low Frequency Magnetic Shield

Just wrapped up our visit to INTERSCHUTZ - Hannover 2026. Energizing to meet and reconnect with great entrepreneurs, present what we are building with Safecto, and go deeper on many of the trends shaping the safety market. Some key takeaways: - Innovation continues to accelerate. The level of technical expertise on display was impressive. - Strong underlying trends continue to create market opportunities, including the buildout of the energy ecosystem, digital infrastructure, and regulation such as the PFAS phase-out. - Export remains both a key priority and a major challenge. Even with strong products, successful international expansion requires local presence, certification know-how, and long-term customer trust. Thanks to everyone who took the time to meet with us during the week. #INTERSCHUTZ #CriticalSafety #FireProtection #IndustrialTechnology #Safecto

Safecto welcomes August Runge as its new CEO. Read the full press release here: https://safecto.com/news