50 years and counting

Icemakers is the pioneer company of the winter test region in Swedish Lapland. We are a full-service operator, always ready to meet the highest demands of our clients. 50 years of continuous operation in the ice and snow at the Arctic Circle has made us a globally leading lake tracks constructor and -operator for automotive testing. Our experience, expertise and state-of-the-art infrastructure allow us to consistently deliver the optimal track layouts and surfaces on both land and lake ice, always tailored to the specific requests of our clients.

Icemakers provides all kinds of test-related services in order to let clients fully focus on their task – to test and improve the products and materials of tomorrow’s vehicle industry.

Business concept

“Icemakers deliver high quality test related services to globally leading companies within the automotive industry, with a personal commitment, aiming for long-term business relationships that will create greater customer value.”

Winter Car Testing | Icemakers

ABOUT US

About Icemakers

  • 1973 - 1978

    The history of cold weather testing in northern Sweden goes back to the day when representatives from Teldix (now Bosch) happened upon the founders of Icemakers, David Sundström and Per-Axel Andersson, when preparing an ice runway for their aircraft on Lake Hornavan. David and Per-Axel were quick to help the test engineers with an ice track, a workshop with an office and accommodation.

    David Sundström, preparing one of the lake tracks.

    Bosch expanded their presence in Arjeplog, furthering cooperation with Icemakers. The pioneers, seeing the potential of winter testing in the area was Roller, Blaha, Zechmann and Jonner. More Bosch customers came to the area for testing and other local service companies joined the expanding business.

  • 1984-1990

    In 1984, construction of the first land based test track area, with artificial ice and heated asphalt, commenced.
    In 1989, Icemakers worked together with Bosch constructing their own split-μ track winter test facility in Skeut.

    New customers during the eighties:
    Alfred Teves (Conti Teves), BMW, Bendix (Bosch), Continental, Delco Moraine (Delphi), Hella, Knorr Bremse, Lucas Girling (TRW), Mercedes Benz, Michelin, Porsche, Scania, Toyota

    Photo: Johan Fjellström

    Lars Sundström and Stefan Andersson took over the company from their fathers and continued the expansion. Icemakers built a new workshop facility and bought land for building more land based tracks.

    New customers in the nineties (selection):
    Bridgestone, EvoBus, LandRover, MAN, Nissan, Opel, PSA, Renault, Siemens.

    David, Lars Sundström and Stefan, Per-Axel Andersson.

  • 2000-2006

    New workshops and offices were acquired and customised for vehicle winter testing purposes.

    New customers in the 00’s:
    Hyundai Mobis, Magna, Trelleborg Tires, ZF, Dunlop.

    Icemakers Test AB, jointly owned by Michael Lindeman and Lars Sundström, was established, focusing on developing new services and winning new clients in new markets. All endurance related projects were also made part of this company.

    In 2005 and 2006, Icemakers worked extensively with BMW, assisting in the construction of a large integrated test facility. The facility was officially opened in March 2006. All BMW winter test activities are concentrated within the new test center and Icemakers operate all facilities. Icemakers also furthered cooperation with Spanish/Catalan company Idiada.

  • 2008-2013

    A split friction test hill with a μ-jump was built as an in-house project near Icemakers HQ, complete with workshops and cold chambers. Nearby is also a test hill with packed snow surfaces. Icemakers became the first company in the winter test region to offer cold chamber services for full-scale heavy vehicles.

    Icemakers was chosen by Continental as new service partner to operate test tracks for Teves as well as Tyres at their test centre in Arvidsjaur.

    A larger area of land, connecting to a lake where Icemakers already prepare tracks is purchased and construction work to build new land based test tracks commences.

  • 2013-2017

    Annual investments in the expansion of cold chambers and charging infrastructure, such as CHAdeMO and CCS fast chargers as well as Type 2 on site of the different test facilities.

    Investment in a new Split-µ straight track with heated asphalt and polished ice.
    Development of new test hills, 10%, 15% and 20% inclination.

    A long term contract with Continental Tyres regarding their land track area in Arvidsjaur has been closed.
    Enhanced cooperation with Applus + Idiada, including several projects in southern Sweden for Icemakers.
    Continuous cooperation with Daimler regarding land and lake tracks in Arjeplog.

    Development of new furnished apartments in central Arjeplog.
    Icemakers has secured a 233 ha new land area for future expansion.

  • 2017-

    Building in central Arjeplog acquired and converted into modern apartments available for short- or long term rent by our customers. See more information accommmodation.

    A new 2,5 km handling track constructed on newly acquired land at Pipudden.

    New Event House on the shore of Lake Kakel completed in 2019, with direct access to the lake tracks outside. Available to rent for presentations, dinners and other events for up to 50 people.

    Continous annual investments have been made into expanding the EV-charging infrastructure available at Icemakers’ facilities.

ABOUT US

Our History

  • 1973

    The history of cold weather testing in northern Sweden goes back to the day when representatives from Teldix (now Bosch) happened upon the founding fathers of Icemakers, David Sundström and Per-Axel Andersson, as they were preparing an ice runway for their aircraft on Lake Hornavan. David and Per-Axel were quick to help the test engineers with an ice track, a workshop with an office and accommodation.

  • 1978

    Bosch expands their presence in Arjeplog, furthering cooperation with Icemakers and refining the art of lake track construction. The early pioneers, seeing the potential of winter testing in the area, are Roller, Blaha, Zechmann and Jonner. More Bosch customers come to the area for testing and other local service companies join the expanding business.

    The Mercedes-Benz W116 becomes one of the first models in the world to feature an electronic four-wheel multi-channel anti-lock braking system (ABS) from Bosch, developed and extensively tested in Arjeplog.

  • 1984

    In the summer of 1984, under the light of the midnight sun, construction of the first land based test track area with artificial ice and heated asphalt commences. 

    Much of the research and testing during this time is focused on traction- and electronic stability control systems, with Mercedes-Benz and BMW introducing their first versions of the traction control system to the market a few years later, in 1987.

  • 1989

    Five years later, in 1989, Icemakers use their experience and work together with Bosch to help them construct their own exclusive winter test facility in Skeut, including a split-µ track. 

    Between 1987 and 1992, Mercedes-Benz and Bosch co-develops a system to control lateral slippage, trademarked as ESP. Much of the testing is being performed on-site at the new facility in Arjeplog.

    Many new companies from far and wide find their way to the frozen north during the 1980s, including Alfred Teves (Continental Automotive), Continental, Delco Moraine (Delphi), Hella, Knorr Bremse, Lucas Girling (TRW), Mercedes Benz, Michelin, Porsche, Scania and Toyota.

  • 1990

    At the turn of the decade it is time for a new generation of ice makers to take over, as Lars Sundström and Stefan Andersson take the reins from their fathers and continue the expansion. A new workshop facility is built and more land is procured to allow for the construction of additional land based tracks.

  • 2000

    As the world enters a new millennium, Icemakers move into new workshop and office facilities, customized for winter testing purposes and with enough room for both additional staff and new customers. The extra room is soon beginning to fill, as new customers including Hyundai Mobis, Magna, Trelleborg Tires, ZF and Dunlop knock on the door. 

    Icemakers Test AB, jointly owned by Michael Lindeman & Lars Sundström, is established with the focus on developing new services and winning new clients in untapped markets. Endurance related test projects become a bigger part of Icemakers business during this time, under the coordination and administration of Icemakers Test AB.

  • 2006

    Icemakers work extensively together with BMW, assisting in the construction of a large integrated test facility just outside Arjeplog. The test center is officially opened in March 2006 as the new home to all BMW winter test activities, with Icemakers operating all facilities and related services. 

    Icemakers also furthers cooperation with Spanish/Catalan company Idiada, with the main focus on providing facilities and coordination support for endurance test projects.

  • 2008

    A spit-friction test hill with µ-jump is constructed as an in-house project in connection to Icemakers’ HQ, complete with workshops and cold chambers. Nearby is also another test hill with a packed snow surface.

    Icemakers also becomes the first company in the Winter Test Region to offer cold chamber services for full-size heavy vehicles, as parts of a discontinued ice cream factory are purchased and converted for the purpose.

  • 2013

    Icemakers are chosen by Continental as their new service partner, with responsibility for operating the test tracks for Teves (Automotive) and Tyres at their test center in Arvidsjaur.

    Even more space for future expansion is secured by purchasing a large area of land outside Arjeplog, in close proximity to the already existing lake track area. Construction work in the area soon commences, with a new split-µ track and test hills being the first order of business.

    Investments are also made into the expansion of cold chamber resources and EV-charging infrastructure such as CHAdeMO and CCS fast chargers, along with Type 2 on the different test sites.

  • 2017

    A long-term contract is signed with Continental Tyres regarding their land track area in Arvidsjaur. Deepened cooperation with Applus+ Idiada includes several test projects in other parts of Sweden with Icemakers as coordination partner. 

    In Arjeplog, Icemakers continues their cooperation with Daimler/Mercedes Benz, preparing and maintaining their test tracks on both land and lake.

  • 2019

    A large building in central Arjeplog is acquired and converted into modern apartments available for short- and long term rent to our customers. 

    On the shores of Lake Kakel, with direct access to our lake track area at Pipudden, the construction of a new Event House is completed. The house offers our customers the perfect premium venue for presentations, dinners and other events for up to 50 people.

    Continuous investments are also made into the EV-charging infrastructure, including two public fast charging stations operated by Icemakers in Arjeplog and Arvidsjaur.

    Accommodation services offered by Icemakers | Icemakers

  • 2021

    Icemakers open up two new land-based handling courses in the Pipudden area, allowing test work to begin earlier in the season before the lake tracks are fully operational. They also allow for testing previously conducted on the public road network to be performed in a safer and more secure environment. BMW rents the tracks for the majority of the testing season.

    Together with other testing companies in the region, Icemakers starts the new company Testinfra Sweden AB. The main objective of this endeavor is to push the expansion and better the accessability of the EV-charging network in the Winter Test Region, both for the testing industry and the public. During the test season 2021-22, through a cooperation with ABB, Volvo, Scania and Luleå Technical University, two 350kW fast charging stations are opened in Arvidsjaur and Kiruna.

    Icemakers Test AB and their operations in Arvidsjaur become ISO-certified for standards 9001 and 14001.

Getting here

Arjeplog and Arvidsjaur are easily accessed via Stockholm Arlanda Airport, with domestic flights operated by Regional Jet/Nordica,. During winter months there are direct charter flights from several destinations in Germany.

The nearest airport is Arvidsjaur Airport, located approx. 10 km from Arvidsjaur town center and 100 km from Arjeplog. Driving to Arjeplog takes about 1 hour. There is also a local transfer service available in connection to all domestic flights.

Find out more:

Airport transfer to/from Arjeplog

In connection with flights to/from Stockholm only
+46 (0)771 100 110

FlyCar

Charter from/to München, Hannover,
Stuttgart, Hahn (Frankfurt) and Birmingham
www.fly-car.de

OUR CLIENTS

Automotive leaders that trust us

Icemakers clients are companies that produces vehicles of all kinds and companies that supplies systems, components and technical services to the vehicle manufacturers. Below a selection of our present clients. The clients in the test region are based all over the world, even though the major part are of European origin and the amount of different languages spoken in our region during the test season is immense!

 

Additional sources for information

The public health agency of Sweden

Has a national responsibility for public health issues and works to ensure good public health. The agency sets the general guidelines and issues regulations related to Covid-19 in Sweden.

Other Services | Icemakers

Emergency information from Swedish authorities

Official website that compiles the latest news, information and guidelines from responsible authorities regarding larger threats to the general public.

Wodden Hut near winter test tracks | Icemakers

The Swedish government

Official website of the Government Offices of Sweden, outlining the Government’s policy in handling the current situation.

Arjeplog municipality

Website of Arjeplog Municipality, outlining the local restrictions and guidelines. In Swedish, with translation options available at the top of the page.

Contact Us

Maskinvägen 11 (GPS:
66.0498752, 17.833078)
SE-938 32 Arjeplog, Sweden

Phone
+46 961 329 00
Fax
+46 961 329 45

info@icemakers.se

Test Tracks
Other services
Quick links
Subscribe for update