History
The Company was founded in 1862 by Göran Fredrik Göransson, who was first in the world to succeed in using the Bessemer method for steel production on an industrial scale. At an early stage, operations focused on high quality and added value, investments in R&D, close contact with customers, and exports. This is a strategy that has remained unchanged through the years.
As early as the 1860s, the product range included drill steel for rock-drilling. The Company's listing on the Stockholm Stock Exchange took place in 1901. The manufacturing of stainless steel began in 1921 and cemented carbide in 1942. Production of cemented-carbide tools was begun in the 1950s in Gimo, Sweden. During the 1960s, a comprehensive investment program was carried out at the main plant in Sandviken. In 1972, the Company name was changed to Sandvik AB, and in 1984, a decentralized organization was introduced, with a parent company, separate business areas, regional companies and service companies.
In addition to organic growth, Sandvik's expansion has also involved a series of company acquisitions over the years. Recent examples include Kanthal, which manufactures metallic and ceramic resistance materials, and Tamrock, the Finnish manufacturer of rock-excavation machinery - both of which were acquired in 1997.
In 1999, the Saws and Tools business area was divested and Sandvik's operations were concentrated on three core areas: Tooling, Mining and Construction and Specialty Steels. Since 1 January 2012 there are five business areas: Sandvik Mining, Sandvik Machining Solutions, Sandvik Materials Technology, Sandvik Construction and Sandvik Venture.
Chairmen |
Presidents |
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| Per Murén | 1868-1883 | Anders H Göransson | 1868-1910 |
| Göran F Göransson | 1883-1900 | Tord Magnuson | 1910-1920 |
| Anders H Göransson | 1900-1910 | Karl F Göransson | 1920-1948 |
| Wilhelm Sebardt | 1910-1917 | Erik W Forsberg | 1948-1958 |
| Tord Magnuson | 1917-1929 | Wilhelm Haglund | 1958-1967 |
| Karl F Göransson | 1929-1959 | Arne Westerberg | 1967-1979 |
| Gustaf Söderlund | 1959-1967 | Lennart Ollén | 1979-1983 |
| Hugo Stenbeck | 1967-1976 | Göran Ahlström | 1983-1984 |
| Ragnar Sundén | 1976-1979 | Per-Olof Eriksson | 1984-1994 |
| Arne Westerberg | 1979-1983 | Clas Åke Hedström | 1994-2002 |
| Percy Barnevik | 1983-2002 | Lars Pettersson | 2002-2011 |
| Clas Åke Hedström | 2002-2010 | Olof Faxander | 2011- |
| Anders Nyrén | 2010- | ||
Interesting dates in Sandvik's history
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The founder of Sandvik
More information about Göran Fredrik Göransson.
The Sandvik Journey
Interesting dates
Excerpt from the anniversary book The Sandvik Journey for printing and download: