Husqvarna Group

Husqvarna Group
Public (Nasdaq Stockholm: HUSQ B)
Industry Consumer Durables
Founded 1689 (1689)
Headquarters Stockholm and Huskvarna, Sweden
Key people
 Lars E. Westerberg Chairman
Kai Wärn CEO
Products Outdoor power products including chainsaws and trimmers, garden tractors, mowers, consumer watering products, and equipment and diamond tools for the construction and stone industries
Revenue SEK 36,193 MSEK (2015)
SEK 2,5 MSEK (2015)
Number of employees
 14,156 (2013)
Website www.husqvarnagroup.com

The Husqvarna Group (Swedish pronunciation: [²hʉːskvɑːɳa ˈɡruːp]) is a manufacturer of outdoor power products including chainsaws and trimmers, garden tractors, and mowers. Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, the Group also produces consumer watering products, cutting equipment and diamond tools for the construction and stone industries.[1]

Husqvarna Group sponsors the Swedish ice hockey club HV71 and several local community engagement projects around the world.[2]

History

1689 - Rifle factory The drillingwork at the waterfalls in Husqvarna, southern Sweden, is the first large plant. The state-owned rifle factory had some 1,000 employees at the beginning of the 18th century. The company was spun off from Husqvarna Vapenfabriks Aktiebolag in 1959. Shotguns were produced for 300 years, the last in 1989.

1872 - Sewing machines When demand declined, it turned out that the machinery for production of rifles was well-suited for producing sewing machines. The operations was divested in 1997 and Husqvarna-branded sewing machines are now produced by the VSM Group.

1874 - Kitchen equipment in cast iron Husqvarna starts a foundry to produce details for sewing machines, a large part being the base frames. Soon the assortment was broadened to include such products as kitchen equipment in cast-iron and later on stoves and ovens.

1896 - Bicycles Bicycle production begins in the Huskvarna factory. Several patents are registered. The last bicycle is produced in 1962.

1903 - Motorcycles The first motorcycle, which could reach the impressive speed of 4–5 km/hour, was produced in 1903. Starting in the 1930s, Husqvarna's lightweight engines helped make some successful track racing and motocross bikes. Husqvarna's first titles in Motocross World Championship came in 1959 and 1960. The operation was divested in 1987 and is since 2013 part of the KTM family.

1919 - Lawn mowers When Husqvarna acquired Norrahammars bruk, the product range expands to heating boilers and lawn mowers. The first test with a lawn mower powered by an engine was done in 1947.

1959 - Chainsaws As demand for bicycles, mopeds and motorcycles declines, forestry becomes increasingly important. The expertise in engines is now utilized in new areas and the first chainsaw is produced in 1959.

1968 - Power cutters A saw rebuilt to a power cutter in 1968 was the starting point of what today is the business area Husqvarna Construction.

1978 - Electrolux acquired Husqvarna

1986 - Motorcycle division sold to Cagiva

1995 - Robotic lawn mowers The world's first solar powered robotic lawn mower was launched. Sales of robotic mowers did not take-off until 15 years later.

1999 - Husqvarna acquires Yazoo/Kees Husqvarna acquires Nebraska-based lawn mower manufacturer Yazoo/Kees.[3]

2006 - On its own feet The company was spun off by Electrolux.

2007 - Acquisitions of strong brands The acquisition of Gardena in 2007 made the Husqvarna Group the European leader in consumer watering products. Acquiring Zenoah brought a strong brand and geographical expansion in Japan.

2008 - Expanded presence in China The acquisition of Jenn Feng and the construction of a new plant for chainsaws and other handheld products gave expanded presence in Asia.

2009 - Demolition robot Husqvarna launches its first remote-controlled demolition robot.

2013 - Chainsaw chains Decision is made to invest in a new production facility for chainsaw chains in Huskvarna.

Brands

A Husqvarna 350 chainsaw.

Husqvarna owns several brands:[4]

Over the years, Husqvarna has manufactured products for retailers, including Sears.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://husqvarnagroup.com/en/about
  2. ↑ Husqvarna Group Annual Report 2013
  3. ↑ "Before Husqvarna, Kees had strong Beatrice presence". beatricedailysun.com. May 29, 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  4. ↑ "More on brands". Retrieved 17 September 2014.
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