History

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About us

History

Axel Johnson International’s history goes back over two centuries. The origin of the marketing and distribution business of today can be found already in the emerging operations of Axel Johnson & Co founded in 1873.

Over the years, new operating areas have been added and old ones discontinued. This is natural in an ever changing world. As the world changes more rapidly, so has Axel Johnson International.

Our key markets are the Nordic region and Europe, our principals are some of the strongest brands in the world, our position is one of market leadership in most segments and niches in which we operate. In short, we have transformed a loose and geographically dispersed conglomeration of companies into a streamlined and tightly focused group of core businesses.

Timeline – Company history

1873 Axel Johnson & Co founded. Read more... (PDF)
1981 HexaTrade founded as separate business area within Hexagon
1985 HexaTrade listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange
1988 Axel Johnson and HexaTrade merge. Together they form the new company AxTrade listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange
1993 AxTrade delisted from Stockholm Stock Exchange
  AxTrade change name to Axel Johnson International

Timeline – Strategic acquisitions

1978 Acquisition of Eigenbrodt (SE)
1982 Acquisition of Fujifilm Sverige (SE)
1984 Acquisition of Karrosseritillbehör ABKATI (SE)
1990-2000 Acquisition of several local AxFlow companies (Europe)
1998 Acquisition of Sundquist Components (SE)
2000 Acquisition of Nomo Kullager (SE)
2002 Forankra ABT acquired (SE)
2003 Bran+Luebbe acquired in Italy, Portugal, Holland and France
2004 Acquisition of Allsafe Jungfalk (DE)
2005 Acquisition of Certex Group for Northern Europe
  Acquisition of Jens S. Transmissioner (SE, DK, NO, FI)
2006 Acquisition of Erling Haug (NO)
  Acquisition of Haug Offshore Services (NO)
2007 Acquisition of Ancra España (ES)
  Acquisition of ACK (*Ancra*) France (FR)
  Acquisition of Trailereffekter (SE)
  Acquisition of Sverull (SE)
  Acquisition of Safe Load (SE)
  Acquisition of Trans Eko (SE)
  Acquisition of Hammerfest reskapsdepot (NO)
2008 Acquisition of Certex Liftning (UK)
  Acquisition of Peter Harbo (DK)
  Acquisition of EN Components (SE)
  Acquisition of Porin Laakeri (FI)
  Acquisition of Elektro-Dynamo (SE)
  Acquisition of LVD Lastvagnsdelar (SE)
2009 Acquisition of TAPS (UK)
  Acquisition of Halmstad El & Pump (SE)
2010 Acquisition of Combiflow (IR)
  Acquisition of Hendriks Techniek Flevo (NL)
  Acquisition of Tauno Tasanto (FI)

Axel Johnson International is a part of Axel Johnson AB Group