SHAPE Magazine 1 / 2013 - SCA

Most of the time she tests products at an early
phase. Sometimes they’re completely new products,
and other times they’re changes to an existing
one. “For example, if they want to change
one material in a product to a less expensive one,
we fi rst have to test that the quality remains the
same,” she explains.
MOST OF THE TESTS are about product function,
but at the moment she’s conducting expanded
tests of a method for open incontinence products.
“Soon we’ll see if the method also works for our
incontinence pants, a type of underwear.”
Lunch ends with coffee in
the department with her
colleagues Emma Lundström
Ureña and Linda Fransson.
Another colleague stops by to
tell Ulrika that the delivery she’s
been waiting for has arrived.
Ulrika does two more types
of tests in the drop-in lab.
Ulrika’s nearest manager,
Brita Jungenfelt, drops by
to discuss questions about
chemicals she’s received
from the lab in Shanghai.
“ I think you have
to be a bit of a nerd
to enjoy this kind
of thing.”
Ulrika and her colleagues work with around
60 diff erent testing methods to determine the
products’ absorbency, absorption rate, adhesive
properties and much more. Prior to each test, they
also need to check that the fl uid has the right qualities,
calibrate the measuring equipment and adapt
the software.
“I think you have to be a bit of a nerd to enjoy this
kind of thing,” Ulrika says with a grin. “I even take
my work home with me to some extent – whenever
I’m abroad I always have to look and see what kind
of hygiene products they have that correspond to
ours at SCA.”
Ulrika unpacks the new products
that have just arrived.
Before tomorrow’s tests they
need to be placed in the lab to
adapt to its temperature and
humidity levels.
Report writing and
analysis work.
12 HOURS
ULRIKA
LIBANDER
title: Laboratory engineer
at SCA’s Incontinence Lab.
Age: 43
Lives: Särö, outside
Gothenburg.
Family: Husband Patrik and
daughters Hanna, 11, and
Maja, 8.
Interests: Exercise, cooking,
opera, boating, family and
home. Lives on a farm with
hens, sings in SCA’s choir
Fabrikören.
Favorite food: Thai.
Hidden talent: Has danced
ballet for many years.
Home again after stopping
off for groceries on the way.
Looks in on the kids, checks
homework and readies things
for the following day. Later in
the evening she heads off to
the gym for a workout.
11:30 am 11:40-2:40 pm 2:40-3:40 pm 3:40-5 pm 6 pm
SCA SHAPE 1 2013 33