1856-1899

1898

Open-hearth furnaces using the Martin process are installed. The Bessemer age has reached its summit.

1897

Jernverket participates in the Stockholm Exhibition, Sweden. Customers and agents from around Europe visit Sandviken.

1896

The first really good times since the start of the 1870s. 1,510 employees following recruitment efforts.

1893

A mill for hot-rolling of wire rod, strip steel and tube billets is constructed in Sandviken.

1891

New head office. The Group now has 1,120 employees.

1890

Fire in the building complex for storing charcoal. Strip steel for gramophone springs becomes a best-selling product.

1888

Production starts of hot-rolled billets for seamless tube and pipe.

1887

Sales to Japan commences. An agency is established in Switzerland.

1886

The new blooming mill is established. Jernverket's first hand saw is delivered.

1885

An agent is appointed in Italy.

1884

Agency in Germany.

1883

Göran Fredrik Göransson becomes chairman. Production of cold-rolled and hardened strip steel is started.

1881

The new agent in France proposes production of various cold-rolled items, from corset springs to saw blades.

1880

Hot-rolling of strip steel starts in Sandviken.

1879

The Swedish national board of trade approves the use of the "Fish and Hook" trademark. Cold-rolled U-shaped wire for umbrella ribs is a best-selling product.

1877

Market prices are halved and chairman Per Murén injects capital to meet liquidity requirements.

1876

Rolling of wire rod and cold-drawing of wire are started in Sandviken. Participation in the World Fair in Philadelphia, U.S. Sandvik is officially used as a brand name for the first time. A mill for drawing of wire is constructed and wire for the watch and clock-making industry is produced as well as for screws, bicycle spokes and springs.

1875

Important orders are secured from Swedish railway projects.

1873

The earlier high demand in Germany slumps due to the financial crisis and a substantial bond loan is issued. Jernverket now has 440 employees.

1872

Jernverket participates in the Moscow Exhibition. Russia is the company's dominant market during the first half of the 1870s requiring railway material and bayonet steel.

1871

The Group's UK activities start through the import of the company's products by an agent in London and later in Birmingham.

1870

Anders Henrik Göransson travels extensively on sales trips and appoints agents in countries including Russia. Drill steel is used for tunneling operations in Switzerland.

1868

The plant and equipment are acquired at the distress sale and the company is reconstructed under the name Sandvikens Jernverks AB (also called "Jernverket", the Ironworks). The Sandvik name is approved to mark steel bar. The oldest son, Anders Henrik Göransson, is formally appointed managing director of the company and the commercial capitalist Per Murén chairman.

1866

Participation at the Stockholm exhibition. Högbo Stål & Jernwerk and Göran Fredrik Göransson enter into receivership.

1864

Sales are conducted through trading houses in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the UK, Russia, Germany and France.

1863

The canal is completed. A blast furnace and Bessemer converters are taken into production. One of the largest steam hammers in Europe and a rolling mill for tyres for railway wheels are installed.

1862

Högbo Stål & Jernwerks AB is founded on 31 January in Sandviken, Sweden, by Göran Fredrik Göransson and his associates.

1858

On 18 July, the trials to produce steel utilizing the Bessemer process succeed at Edske.

1857

Göran Fredrik Göransson travels to the UK to procure a steam engine for the Edske blast furnace. He acquires one-fifth of Bessemer's patent for a consideration of two thousand pounds and changes his business plans.

1856

The English inventor Henry Bessemer is granted a patent in the US for a new process for decarbonization of iron. A year prior to this he had received a British patent related to the method. The trading house of Elfstrand in Gävle, Sweden, acquires Högbo bruk and the Edske blast furnace at Hofors.