Inside the Betonvton Studio in Sweden: How Mineral Displays Are Made
Betonvton designs, produces, finishes, photographs and packs its mineral display systems in one studio in Örebro, Sweden. The workshop supports standard pieces, custom prototypes, coordinated wholesale sets and large lightweight plinths for boutiques, exhibitions and commercial photography.
Keeping these stages together is not simply a preference. It allows the studio to see how a decision made during casting affects the final surface, how a proportion behaves in a photograph, and how a beautiful object must be protected for international transport.
A production studio surrounded by woodland in Örebro
The Betonvton workshop is located within the city of Örebro, but the immediate setting feels close to nature. Woodland surrounds the building. Birds, sunlight, berries, mushrooms and wildlife are part of the everyday environment around the studio.
This setting is not used to turn manufacturing into a romantic story. It reinforces a material direction that has existed since Betonvton began: a preference for tactile mineral surfaces, calm colour and objects that feel substantial rather than synthetic.
The studio itself is practical. Shelving holds forms and samples. Worktables are used for casting, demoulding, finishing and colour work. A photography area allows new shapes and completed sets to be evaluated before they leave the workshop. Packing occupies its own significant part of the process because the finished objects must travel safely beyond Sweden.
One workshop, from the mould to the final photograph
Many display products are conceived in one place, produced in another, finished by a third supplier and photographed elsewhere. Betonvton keeps those functions close together.
That proximity improves decision-making. If a shape looks balanced as an isolated object but loses clarity under camera lighting, the proportion can be reconsidered. If a large set works individually but needs stronger height relationships as a group, the issue can be seen before the client builds the final display.
The result is a shorter line of responsibility. The studio that designed the object is also able to inspect its colour, edge, surface, stability and packing.
Why Betonvton works primarily with mineral materials
Concrete and mineral-reinforced gypsum remain the core materials because they combine physical stability with visual quietness. They are substantial enough to support small products without feeling temporary, and their matte surfaces help jewellery, glass, metal and cosmetic packaging remain the visual focus under studio and retail lighting.
The material choice also affects how a brand is perceived. Plastic and velvet can be appropriate in some settings, but they create a different visual language. Mineral surfaces suggest architecture, permanence and material depth. Their purpose is not to imitate stone; it is to use a real mineral-based surface honestly.
We avoid claiming that every mineral object is automatically “green.” Cement production has an environmental impact, and professional material communication should acknowledge that. Betonvton uses Aalborg White cement in its concrete mixes and follows the producer’s work on lower-carbon white cement solutions for the European market. More broadly, the studio focuses on durability, reusable modular forms, controlled production and materials chosen for long service rather than disposable seasonal use.
Concrete, mineral-reinforced gypsum and microcement serve different tasks
There is no single best material for every display. Betonvton selects the system according to the required weight, scale, surface and transport conditions.
Concrete
Concrete is the choice when weight, stability and a more visibly mineral character are important. Betonvton concrete formulations can include fine quartz sand or marble flour together with fibres and strengthening additives. The finish may be relatively smooth or intentionally more textured, depending on the project.
Concrete works particularly well for compact display blocks, cylinders and forms that need to remain firmly in place on a retail counter. It also gives a visually substantial base to metal, glass and polished jewellery.
Mineral-reinforced gypsum
Mineral-reinforced gypsum allows a cleaner, smoother and often lighter result while retaining a dry, matte mineral appearance. Strengthening additives are essential; the studio does not remove them simply to reduce the production cost.
This material is especially useful for precise geometric forms, coordinated colour systems and display sets that must be moved or rearranged regularly. Depending on the selected finish, tiny pores or restrained tonal variation may be visible, but the surface should remain professionally resolved.
Lightweight cores with microcement
Large floor plinths and tall presentation volumes create a different problem. Making them solid would add unnecessary weight and transport cost. For these projects, Betonvton can use a lightweight foam core finished with microcement, creating an architectural mineral surface at a scale suitable for windows, trade shows, photo studios and installations.
The material is therefore part of the design decision, not a hidden technical detail. Clients who are unsure can discuss the intended product, location, frequency of handling and delivery constraints through Custom Displays & Wholesale.
Moulds are where repeatability begins
A reliable display starts before material is poured. The mould determines proportion, edge behaviour, surface and whether a form can be produced consistently again for a repeat order.
Approximately 90% of Betonvton forms were developed by the studio. The mould library includes simple architectural volumes as well as more complex waves, arches, cavities and jewellery-specific shapes. Existing forms can provide the starting point for a custom project, but a new mould may be required when dimensions, cuts or functions change substantially.
The production sequence
The exact process changes with the material and form, but a typical Betonvton project moves through the following stages:
- Brief and feasibility. The studio confirms product type, dimensions, quantity, colour, finish, deadline and delivery destination.
- Form and mould preparation. An existing form is selected or a new solution is developed. Moulds are cleaned, checked and prepared for the material.
- Mixing and colour. The mineral base, strengthening additives and pigment are measured for the agreed result.
- Casting. The mixture is introduced into the mould with attention to the geometry and surface requirement.
- Setting and release. The form remains in the mould until it can be removed without compromising edges or structure.
- Finishing. Seams, bases and surfaces are refined according to the specified finish.
- Sealing. An anti-dust and moisture-resistant protective treatment is applied for normal display use.
- Inspection. Colour, stability, edges, surface and the relationship between pieces in a set are reviewed.
- Photography and packing. Where useful, the finished forms are checked under studio lighting before every item is protected for dispatch.
Colour is developed as part of the material
Betonvton works with a restrained standard palette and can produce custom tones for professional projects. Colour may begin with a RAL or Pantone reference, a physical sample, packaging or a brand image, but the final mineral result must be assessed in the real material.
Screen colour is not a production formula. Light, surface texture, sealer and the mineral base all affect how a tone is perceived. For a large branded set, a sample or prototype is the most reliable way to approve the direction before full production.
Mineral pigmentation offers good colour stability under normal boutique and studio conditions, and matte finishes reduce the glare that can distract from polished products. As with any coloured material, extreme or continuous environmental exposure should be considered for permanent window installations.
Photography is part of product evaluation
Because Betonvton developed through product photography, the camera remains a useful production tool. A display can look correct at arm’s length and still create an unwanted highlight, awkward shadow or confusing silhouette in a commercial image.
The studio photography area is used to review new designs, combinations of heights and the behaviour of surfaces under controlled light. It also helps us understand how a set can move between e-commerce, campaign imagery and a physical retail display.
Brands and photographers can explore the product photography props collection, while boutiques and jewellery teams can begin with the jewellery display collection.
Packing is the final production stage
Packing is not treated as an administrative step after the product is complete. It is part of making a mineral object that can reach a client safely.
Each form is protected according to its geometry and weight. Edges, cavities and protruding details receive particular attention. Pieces are separated inside the carton and the external package is selected for the complete shipment rather than for appearance alone.
This is also why a finished item is not considered complete until its packing plan is clear. A display that cannot be transported safely is not yet a successful product.
A European production partner with direct responsibility
For a client, the value of the Örebro studio is clarity. The same production system supports a single made-to-order piece, a custom sample and a coordinated repeat order. There is no chain of unrelated contractors for the client to manage.
The current studio is the continuation of the experience Betonvton began building in Kyiv in 2020. Readers can explore the full story from Ukraine to Sweden and the working principles behind customisation, quality and original design.
The location changed. The central idea did not: natural mineral materials and minimal forms can change the way a product—and therefore a brand—is perceived.
Frequently asked questions
Where are Betonvton displays made?
Betonvton displays are produced and finished in the company’s studio in Örebro, Sweden. The studio manages form development, casting, finishing, inspection, photography and packing in one location.
Which materials does Betonvton use?
The main materials are concrete and mineral-reinforced gypsum. For large lightweight plinths and installations, Betonvton can also use a foam core with a microcement finish. The material is selected according to scale, weight, surface and transport requirements.
Why are mineral surfaces useful for jewellery and cosmetic displays?
Their weight provides stability, while the matte surface reduces distracting reflections under retail and studio lighting. The architectural character adds depth without competing with jewellery, glass, polished metal or cosmetic packaging.
Can Betonvton produce a custom colour or size?
Yes, where technically possible. The studio can adapt dimensions, proportions, colour, finish, jewellery supports and selected logo details. For large or colour-sensitive orders, a physical sample is recommended before full production.