Gardening Cooking Creating Building and Fixing Homepage About Us Our Heritage Our Heritage From 1649 to the present. During the seventeenth century a number of ironworks were founded in Finland. The large tracts of forestland in the Pohja region along with its unharnessed water power and good water routes made it an ideal centre for the Finnish iron industry. The ironworks at Antskog were founded around 1630, and Billnäs followed in 1641. Fiskars was started in 1649, and today is one of the oldest businesses in the Western world. From 1649 to the present Many of the popular Fiskars products are designed, manufactured and tested in Finland. Largely thanks to Finnish craftsmanship, Fiskars has come a long way since it was founded as an ironworks in 1649; today, it is one of the oldest companies in the Western world. Read more Humble beginnings It all started in 1649 when Peter Thorwöste was given a charter to establish a blast furnace and forging operation in the small village of Fiskars. From iron to copper In 1783, the ironworks was taken over by the Björkman family and production focused on processing copper ore from a nearby copper mine. The age of innovation In 1832, Fiskars founded Finland’s first cutlery mill to increase its production range to include forks and what would soon become the world’s favorite scissors. First in machining In 1837 Fiskars saw another first in Finland, when its machine workshop was founded in the village and they began to manufacture some of the world’s first steam engines. 1649 - Fiskars ironworks founded When the ironworks were founded in Fiskars, Finland was under Swedish rule, and Sweden was one of Europe's biggest producers of iron in the seventeenth century. In 1649, Peter Thorwöste was granted the privilege of setting up a blast furnace and bar hammer in Fiskars and for the manufacture of cast iron and forged products. The iron ore used in Fiskars was mainly brought in from the Utö mine in Stockholm's outer archipelago and most of the bar iron manufactured at the ironworks was shipped to Sweden to be sold on the Iron Market in Stockholm's Old Town. In Fiskars, the iron was also used to make nails, thread, knives, hoes, iron wheels and other things. Eighteenth century - From ironworks to copperworks In 1783, the ironworks was taken over by the Björkman family and production focused on processing copper ore from the nearby Orijärvi copper mine. By the nineteenth century there was little copper left to be mined in Orijärvi, so the blast furnace was closed in 1802. Since then there has been no basic iron manufacturing done in Fiskars Village. 1822 - the Julin family era begins in Fiskars In 1822 the apothecary Johan Jacob Julin (later, von Julin) from Turku bought Fiskars ironworks and village. In his time, the ironworks were actively developed and production focused on processing iron. With the 1832 founding in Fiskars of Finland's first cutlery mill the production range increased from knives to include forks and scissors. In 1837 Fiskars saw another first in Finland, when its machine workshop was founded in the village. In the 1830s, Finland's first steam engine was manufactured at the workshop. The Fiskars tradition of implementing reform and innovation has its roots in this period. Many social reforms also took place during Julin's ownership, during which the ironworks village got its own school and hospital. Farming in the village was greatly improved. Fiskars had a significant influence on the development of Finnish agriculture, and in its day the Fiskars plough workshop manufactured more than a million ploughs. Under Julin's leadership, Fiskars became known for its farm and household implements, and the Fiskars name became synonymous with high quality. Fiskars grows and develops Fiskars grew by acquiring Inha Works in Ähtäri as well as the companies Billnäs Bruk Ab and Oy Ferraria Ab. The Julin family era The eldest son of Johan and Albertina Julin was born on August 5, 1787. He was baptized Johan Jacob Julin but always used the name John. He was ennobled in 1849, and his time proved one of the most important stages in the history of the ironworks. Better steel for better tools The productivity of Fiskars improved when new ways for processing steel were developed. The product range expanded, and Finland’s first metal spring factory was founded. Fiskars listed in stock exchange 1915 Fiskars was listed at Helsinki Stock Exchange. Share certificate number 377, subscribed for by Albert von Julin. 1883 - Fiskars becomes a limited company On the death of J.J. Julin, the ironworks were lead by a guardianship administration. Little by little the power was amassed by Emil Lindsay von Julin and the limited company Fiskars was founded. 1915 Fiskars was listed at Helsinki Stock Exchange. 1918 - Fiskars grows and develops The productivity of the ironworks was raised by developing improved methods of processing steel and by renewing the rolling mill at Åminnefors. The product range was expanded and Fiskars founded Finland's first metal spring factory. The company also bought Inha Works in Ähtäri as well as the companies Billnäs Bruks Ab and Oy Ferraria Ab. 1929 - the great stock market crash and the recession The Finnish economy suffered from the great stock market crash of 1929 and this slowed down expansion at Fiskars. In Finland, the effects of the crash were felt into the mid 1930s. Not until the end of the Second World War did the Fiskars' management team realize its plans for reforming the company structure to accommodate mass production. Birth of mass production After persevering through the Great Depression and World War II, Fiskars’ management finally realized their plans to restructure the company for mass production. The first orange handles Building on expertise in metal, the introduction of plastics through acquisitions and a willingness to experiment leads to Fiskars manufacturing the world’s first plastic handled scissors in 1967. 1967 - Fiskars manufactures the world's first plastic-handled scissors The orange-handled scissors are one of Fiskars' best known products. But how was decided to make the handles of the scissors orange?In 1967 when the first basic models were about to be manufactured the designer wanted the scissors to be black, red or green. As the prototype went into production, the machinist decided to finish off the orange color he had in his machine. This meant prototypes were made in four different colors, of which the orange and black were most popular. A choice had to be made. An internal vote was taken at Fiskars, and the result gave birth to Fiskars orange-handled scissors. The color, Fiskars Orange™, was officially registered as a trademark in Finland in 2003 and in the US 2007. 1977 - Fiskars scissors factory founded in the USA Fiskars' expansion began with the founding of a scissors factory in the United States. Setting up in the strongest economy in the world, the US, proved to be a successful choice. It has provided a basis for international trade, a growing market and valuable commercial and professional experience. Mom's special scissors Our lightweight, ergonomic design worked so well that many home seamstresses declared them off limits to the rest of the family and hid them away for special projects. Coming to new world Building on the popularity of the orange handled scissors, Fiskars expansion began with the founding of a factory in the United States in 1977. The orange-handled revolution continues Drawing on the same spirit of innovation that gave us our start, we continue to look for ways to make our tools better and smarter. Amplify™ Scissors Our amazing Amplify™ Scissors offer the familiar orange-handled feel with a powerful design that cuts cleanly through thick fabrics and materials other scissors can’t. Award-winning design Fiskars tools have won Red Dot Awards, Good Design Awards, Popular Mechanics Green Design Awards, Ease-of-Use Commendations and more. An international trademark Our iconic Orange-Handled Scissors has received official trademark protection in the U.S., Finland and Canada, ensuring that ours are the only orange handles you’ll see. Over 1 billion sold The amazing design of our orange-handled scissors made them a worldwide favorite, with over 1 billion sold since its creation back in 1967. At home in Helsinki Fiskars Corporation is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, and listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. You are currently browsing our site in: United Kingdom Change Get inspiration and product updates via email Sign up to our newsletter Service navigation Support FAQs Contact Us Store Locator Catalogues Product Warranties Product Recalls About us Our Heritage Sustainability Global Fiskars Group Careers Investors Online Policies Privacy policy Terms of use Cookie policy Warranty Conditions Xact-series PowerGear™ X-series X-series Axes Follow us. Facebook Instagram Copyright by Fiskars Group © 2020 Fiskars Group