This timeline was on the 2007 version of Husqvarna’s corporate website.
1689
The first Husqvarna factory is established, as a weapons foundry.
1867
Statutory General Meeting in Husqvarna.
1872
Husqvarna starts production of cast-iron sewing machines and kitchen equipment.
1896
Husqvarna produces its first bicycle. Production continues until 1962, when it is transferred to Monark of Sweden.
1897
Husqvarna AB is incorporated.
1903
Production of motorcycles starts.
1918
Husqvarna acquires Norrahammars Bruk in Sweden and the product range expands to include heating boilers and lawn mowers.
1934-1949
Household products develop rapidly in terms of both technology and sales. During this period Husqvarna produces its first electric cookers, dishwashers and washing machines.
1959
Husqvarna starts production of chainsaws and power lawn mowers.
1968
Acquisition of AB Flymo in Malmö, the Parent company in a group that manufactures hover lawn mowers. The company has plants in the UK, Australia and Germany, and markets its products in about 20 countries.
1978
Electrolux acquires Husqvarna. Acquisition of AB Partner in Sweden, which produces professional chainsaws and has subsidiaries in Norway and the US. Power products now include chainsaws, motorcycles, lawn mowers and cutting machines, with total annual sales of SEK 531m.
1979
Acquisition of Jonsereds AB in Sweden and the Skil Corp operations in hobby chainsaws in the US, Jobu forestry products in Norway, and Pioneer Chain Saw Corp in Canada.
1980
Production of chainsaws starts in Brazil.
1981
Acquisition of Norlett in Norway and Trail Manufacturing Ltd in Canada. Norlett produces and sells power lawn mowers, gardening equipment and snow-clearing machines. Trail Manufacturing Ltd produces hobby chainsaws.
1985
Two acquisitions in France: Staub S.A. in rotary tillers, and the garden operations in Bernard Monteur, focused mainly on lawn mowers.
1986
Acquisition of Poulan/Weed Eater in the US, with a product range that includes hobby chainsaws, lawn trimmers and leaf blowers, and annual sales of SEK 1,200m. The acquisition complements Husqvarna’s product range and strengthens its position in the US market. Production of riders starts in Sweden.
1987
Acquisition of Dimas Försäljnings AB, which produces diamond cutters. The motorcycle operation is divested to Cagiva of Italy.
1988
Acquisition of gardening operations in Roper Corp in the US, one of the largest producers of lawn mowers, garden tractors and rotary tillers in the American market, with annual sales of about SEK 2,500m. The company’s name is changed to American Yard Products. The US becomes the Husqvarna Group’s largest market for garden equipment .
1990
Operations in Poulan/Weed Eater are complemented by the acquisition of Allegretti & Co in the US, which focuses on electrically- and battery powered portable garden equipment and has annual sales of SEK 450m and 1,100 employees. Sale of US garden tractors starts in Europe. Sales of Outdoor Products amount to SEK 8,680m.
1995
Launch of the market’s first solar-powered, self-propelled lawn mower. Outdoor products continue to show good growth, with annual sales of SEK 15,902m.
1997
The sewing machine operation is divested to Industri Kapital, a Swedish investment company.
1999
Acquisition of the European operations in McCulloch of the US, which produces light-weight chainsaws, trimmers, hedge clippers and leaf blowers and has annual sales of SEK 650m and 250 employees. Acquisition of Yazoo-Kees, a small US producer focused mainly on riders for professional maintenance of large landscaped areas.
2000
The diamond tools product area expands through the acquisition of Magnum Diamond & Machinery, JKS Lamage and Cushion Cut in North America.
Acquisition of Bluebird Inc. in the US, a small producer of lawn aerators and dethatchers, complements Husqvarna’s range of equipment for maintenance of large landscaped areas.
2001
Acquisition of Marazzini Ernesto in Italy, which produces lawn mowers and other outdoor products.
2002
Acquisition of Diamant Boart International, a leading producer of diamond tools for the construction and stone industries, with annual sales of about SEK 2,500 m and about 2,000 employees.
2005
In February the Board of Directors of Electrolux decides that operations in Outdoor Products should be spun off as a separate unit and distributed cost-effectively to Electroux shareholders no later than mid-2006. Start of work on the spin-off.
2006
Electrolux Annual General Meeting decide to distribute all shares in Husqvarna to the Electrolux shareholders. The Husqvarna Board subsequently applied for a listing of the company’s shares on the O-list of the Stockholm Stock Exchange. Trading in Husqvarna shares started on 13 June.
Agreements for acquisitions signed during the second half of the year included Gardena of Germany, with annual sales of approximately SEK 3,800m, and the outdoor products operation of Komatsu Zenoah of Japan, with annual sales of approximately SEK 1,200m. The acquisitions strengthen the Group’s strategic position and provide greater opportunities for growth.
We have many other articles featuring Husqvarna history:
