Search Languages Toggle Dropdown THIS IS EKMAN BUSINESS AREAS BUSINESS SUPPORT CAREER CONTACT US THIS IS EKMAN HISTORY History Ekman over five centuries 21st century 2016 Reliance Fibres Limited, based in London UK, is acquired 2014 Ekman celebrates 100 year anniversary in China 2011 Kwok Fung (Sino HK) Enterprise Ltd, based in Hong Kong, is acquired 2010 Collaboration with Vyborgskaya Cellulose on the worlds’ largest wood pellet factory 2009 The Ekman Group sales volume exceeds 3,000,000 tons 2008 The Bioenergy Division is established 2007 KC International is renamed Ekman Recycling 2006 The Ekman family and the Ekman employees acquire Atle AB's and Skandia Invest AB's shares in Ekman 2004 KC International, based in New Jersey USA, is acquired The Recovered Materials Division is established 2002 Ekman celebrates 200 years as an incorporated company 20th Century 1999 The Ekman Group sales volume exceeds 2,000,000 tons Atle AB acquires MVI Ltd's Ekman shares and becomes the largest shareholder in Ekman 1995 MVI Ltd, Skandia Investment, the Ekman employees and management and the Ekman Family acquire all shares in Ekman 1992 Intercontinental Cellulose Sales Inc (ICS Inc), based in Florida USA, is acquired Ekman becomes the world's largest independent sales organisation with focus on the forest industry, handling over 1,000,000 tons of products 1987 Jan Liebig International is acquired 1986 Ekman becomes a subsidiary of the Catena Group, listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange, when Catena acquires the Säfveån Group 1983 Diversified operations comes to an end as Ekman shifts focus to pulp and paper trade 1982 Protector Insurance Ltd is established, with main focus on transport and warehouse risk insurance 1965 Ekman becomes a subsidiary of the Säfveån Group with major trading business being pulp, paper, iron, steel, and machinery and engineering products 1954 Ekman imports textiles, clothing, watches, optics and consumer electronics, primarily from Japan and South East Asia 1945 The end of World War II is the starting point for a very expansive period for Ekman and the turnover, in fixed prices, increases six times during the coming 20 years. 1923 Ekman is reconstructed into a limited company, Ekman & Co Aktiebolag The founding of the School of Economics and Business Adminstration in Gothenburg is made possible through donations from Ekman and other prominent families 1914 Ekman is the first Swedish trading house operating in China through the founding of Ekman Foreign Agencies Ltd. and the opening of a branch office in Shanghai 1913 Ekman establishes an independent agency in Tokyo, transformed into Ekman & Co (Japan) Ltd in 1935 Ekman acquires the world renowned glassworks Orrefors 1907 Ekman participates in the opening of the Transocean Line to South East Asia The main building of the University of Gothenburg was inaugurated on 18 September 1907, solely funded by the Consul Oscar Ekman 19th century 1894 Johan Wilhelm Ekman, son of Gustaf Ekman, designs and patents the Ekman Furnace 1891 The founding of the University of Gothenburg is made possible through donations from Oscar Ekman and other Gothenburg merchants 1890 Ekman is one of the pioneers as the Swedish Forest Industry begins exporting pulp and paper 1874 Ekman shifts focus from the manufacture of iron to the production of sulphate pulp (at the Gustafsfors mill) 1864 Ekman is participating in the financing of the Swedish Basic Industry and Oscar Ekman plays a prominent role when Skandinaviska Kredit AB, later Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (or SEB) is incorporated in Gothenburg 1856 Carl Edvard Ekman, son of Gustav Henric Ekman and brother of Gustaf Ekman, acquires Finspångs Bruk 1843 Gustaf Ekman, son of Gustav Henric Ekman, invents the Ekman Welding Furnace, enabling Lancashire forge and rolling mill operations in Sweden 1815 Ekman is part-owner in a merchant fleet consisting of ten ships 1813 Gustav Henric Ekman and Gustaf Rudolf Prytz acquires the Lesjöfors Ironworks 1802 Ekman & Co is founded by Gustav Henric Ekman, son of Peter Ekman III, and Gustaf Rudolf Prytz 18th century 1761 Peter Ekman III continues his father's business with focus on trading herring 1733 Peter Ekman II, son of Peter Ekman I, sets up a business in Gothenburg specializing in timber goods 17th century 1698 Peter Ekman I, son of Daniel Joensson Ekman, specializes in timber goods and builds a sawmill 1663 Daniel Joensson Ekman sets up a business selling iron and timber TO TOP Contact information Find your local contact Main office in SWEDEN Ekman & Co AB Polhemsplatsen 5 P.O. Box 230 SE-401 23 Gothenburg Phone: +46 31 750 55 00 Email: info@ekmangroup.com Corporate information THIS IS EKMAN BUSINESS AREAS BUSINESS SUPPORT CAREER CONTACT US