A proud history
Diploma engineer Werner von Seydlitz came to Sweden with empty hands in 1949. Forest, agriculture and the engineering industry were his life. When he passed away in 2016, he wished for other passionate individuals to take over where he left off.
From East Prussia to Vetlanda
From refugee, civil engineer and entrepreneur to forest owner, dairy farmer, shipowner and benefactor.
Werner von Seydlitz's life story is undoubtedly unique. Born in East Prussia (today's Kaliningrad) in 1927, he took various detours as a refugee to Sweden in 1949 and stopped at the Swedish Wood Research Institute in Stockholm. In 1953, Firma metall och plast was established in Vetlanda, which later became MP bolagen i Vetlanda AB. The business initially consisted of exporting by-products from sawmills, such as bark and planing shavings, along with one-metre firewood that was loaded onto railway wagons and exported to Germany for further processing into chipboard and wallboards.
From the very beginning, there was another area of operation within the company. A cold-rolled angle profile with an ingenious hole system was constructed. With steel bolts and a few accessories, one could easily screw together all conceivable constructions. These products eventually became the entry point to the electrical industry. The second half of the industrialist's life revolves around Småland's forests, hunting grounds and crayfish waters, but also around the harbours and waterways of the Baltic Sea.
"We shall be successful for at least 100 years after my day of death"
Werner von Seydlitz
Werner von Seydlitz – a man of action
In 1975, 90,000 m² of industrial land was purchased in Ekenässjön, and the feasibility study included a landing strip for small planes and a railway siding. This became the base for production, and at first, only a few products were manufactured. A product portfolio that has now grown to about 2,000 products. Werner von Seydlitz was a great entrepreneur with a love for the region. The municipality honours residents who have made Vetlanda known in a positive sense or made significant contributions.
In 2007, "honourable place Vetlanda" was established, and Werner received the award together with, among others, Lena Philipsson (artist), Jonas Claesson (bandy player), and Pelle Näver (poet) this year. Today, his memory lives on, and associations can apply for grants from his foundation, which promotes sports, culture, local heritage, and education in Vetlanda municipality. This provides a tremendous boost for the association life.
Farstorps farm
Farstorps farm, located just outside Vetlanda, came to replace the family estate that once existed in East Prussia. In 1968, the farm was acquired along with the surrounding land. To this day, agriculture and forestry are central activities conducted on the farm, and this is done under the auspices of MP bolagen.
The farm houses livestock of about 250 animals, of which 100 to 120 are dairy cows. A total of approximately 1,100,000 kilos of milk are produced each year. Here, Werner lived until his last days.
MP bolagen looks ahead
When Werner passed away in 2016, he left a final wish:
"We shall be successful for at least 100 years after my day of death"
So we have the path laid out before us.
