History
2018 – Focus on the offshore sector
Habia makes a major investment in cables in the offshore sector. Manufacturing at the plant in Söderfors, Sweden, is expanded significantly, effectively doubling the Group’s capacity within offshore. The cables are used in different applications on oil platforms.
2017 – Focus on proprietary manufacturing
Beijer Tech makes further investments in increasing the added value offered by customizing products and through proprietary manufacturing, for example through the acquisition of Svebab, the Nordic region’s largest fire hose manufacturer. Packningar & Plast and Encitech are also acquired, both of which have proprietary manufacturing. In the existing operations, further investments are made in manufacturing in the form of hose components, refractory products and 3D printing.
2016 – Shift in the Board of Directors
After 23 years, Anders Wall steps down as Chairman and Board member of Beijer Alma. During this time, the Group has grown into a large, international operation with sales in approximately 60 markets. Johan Wall assumes the position of Chairman of the Board.
2010 – Trade once again in focus
Through the acquisition of the Beijer Tech Group, trading operations are once again part of the Group. The focus is on sales to industrial customers in the Nordic region. The company works with industrial products in areas such as surface treatment and foundries, but is also a leading supplier of industrial hoses and other fluid technology.
2006 – International Lesjöfors
Lesjöfors becomes increasingly international through acquisitions in the UK and Germany, where the company becomes a leading spring manufacturer. Later, Lesjöfors crosses the Atlantic and, through an acquisition, obtains proprietary manufacturing in the US and Mexico. Its position in Asia also advances through the acquisition of a spring company with operations in Singapore, China and Thailand. The company is now a global manufacturer with a broad offering of industrial springs.
2002 – Manufacturing relocated
Habia Cable and Lesjöfors start to establish plants in China, where lower costs make manufacturing more competitive. Both companies also have customers that have moved their proprietary production to China and therefore want access to locally manufactured products. A few years later, Habia moves all telecom manufacturing and product development to China. Lesjöfors eventually expands its low-cost manufacturing through its own plants in Latvia and Slovakia.
2000 – Growth outside Sweden
The acquisition rate in Lesjöfors increases as it purchases several companies in countries such as Denmark. Soon it becomes the Nordic region’s largest spring manufacturer. Habia Cable acquires the German cable company Isotec and establishes itself in the European industrial cable market. It also begins to develop custom-designed cables for the nuclear power market and, via collaboration with companies in Asia, becomes a major manufacturer in the area.
1998 – Expansion in telecom
The development of mobile telephony makes telecom cables a new major area for Habia Cable, particularly cables for base-station antennas. Base stations have one or several antennas and maintain contact with the telephones in a mobile network. Sales increase as the global telecom industry grows, making Habia the world-leading manufacturer. Its largest product is Flexiform, which is currently available in many variations.
1996 – New name – new direction
Over ten years after it was founded, Alma Industri & Handel changes its name to Beijer Alma Industri & Handel. At this time, the Group has between six and eight companies, and the decision is made to refine the operations to encourage growth in the large industrial companies. The smaller companies are gradually sold off while investments in Lesjöfors and Habia Cable increase.
1994 – Leader in chassis springs
Lesjöfors starts to build up a range of spare chassis springs for cars and light trucks. The initiative gains momentum through the purchase of Kilen Industri, with its proprietary manufacturing of chassis springs and exports to Germany and the UK. Profitability will grow significantly in the coming years thanks to the company’s broad range and high delivery reliability. Lesjöfors is consistently the largest player in the European market for spare chassis springs.
1992 – New Chairman of the Board, Anders Wall
During the financial and property crisis in Sweden, Upsala Sparbank decides to sell its stake. Anders Wall becomes the principal shareholder in the Group and assumes the position of Chairman of the Board. The crisis also affects the Group companies and leads to initiatives to restore profitability, secure financing and kick-start growth – initiatives that, after a few years, yield clear results.
1989 – Expanding into the spring industry
The acquisition of Stockholms Fjäderfabrik marks the Group’s entrance into spring industry. The company has developed its own standard range of industrial springs that remain best sellers in the Nordic region today. Lesjöfors, which manufactures springs, wire and flat strip components at four plants, is acquired shortly thereafter. The transaction creates Sweden’s largest spring company.
1987 – Expansion and listing
A few years later, the Group’s investments are expanded to include companies outside the Uppland region. A common denominator across all the companies is industrial customers in the areas of industry and trade. This becomes even clearer when the Group is floated on the OTC list of the Stockholm Stock Exchange in 1987 and changes its name to Alma Industi & Handel.
1983 – Foundation and early acquisitions
Alma Invest is founded in 1983 in Uppsala on the initiative of Upsala Sparbank and various entrepreneurs in the Uppland region. The business concept is to acquire blocks of shares in smaller growth companies with the potential to develop the business community in the region. One of the first acquisitions is Habia Cable, which manufactures high-performance custom-designed cables that are used in everything from advanced industrial products to military technology.
