1900-1939

1939

The Second World War starts. Jernverket is now forced to reorganize production and to mainly direct itself to the domestic market in Sweden.

1938

A saw blade production plant is acquired in Italy.

1937

The Southern works for wire and saw production is taken into operation in Sandviken. Jernverket turns 75 and now has subsidiaries in Argentina, Canada, Den- mark, Finland, France, Norway, Poland, Switzerland, Spain, the UK and the U.S.

1935

Worldwide protectionism closes traditional markets for Jernverket's products.

1934

The Group is the first in Europe to perform pilgering of tubes on an industrial scale. A subsidiary is founded in Denmark.

1933

A separate building for the electric melting of steel is built. In Gothenburg, the first of six Swedish sales companies is founded. A company is established in Finland.

1932

Modernization is completed of the hot-rolling operations. A company is founded in Madrid, Spain. Fagersta develops cemented-carbide products.

1931

Investment is made in the partly owned Krångede hydroelectric power station. The first stainless steel conveyor belt is delivered. A jointly owned sales company is established in Argentina.

1930

The substantial level of new investments forces the board to emit a new share issue in the amount of SEK 4 M.

1929

Karl Fredrik Göransson also shoulders the role of chairman. The first electric arc furnace is taken into operation. Investments are made in cold-rolling mills.

1928

Managing director Karl Fredrik Göransson starts subsidiaries. One is founded in Poland. The company in Stuttgart, Germany, comes under majority ownership

1927

Sandviken becomes a municipality.

1926

A subsidiary is set up in the U.S. for the production of watch and clock springs. Another subsidiary is founded in Montreal, Canada, and a sales company is established in South Africa. Investments are made in a blooming mill as well as in mills for the hot rolling of tube, cold rolling of strip and drawing of wire.

1924

The first seamless tubes made of stainless steel are introduced in the market. A decision is taken in favor of a new tube rolling mill due to the demand from the chemical industry.

1923

A subsidiary is established in Paris, France.

1922

Lidköpings Vikingsågar is acquired. Jernverket participates in the Peace exhibition in Tokyo, Japan.

1921

Sales decline 65% during the financial crisis. The unemployed workers request the use of their pension savings as hard-ship money. The first loss is recorded since 1868. Production of stainless steel is started.

1920

Electric melting in an induction furnace is introduced. Karl Fredrik Göransson becomes managing director.

1919

Jernverket's first subsidiary in the U.S. is established with an office on Manhattan in New York. A new forging mill is built in Sandviken, equipped with a large hydraulic press.

1918

The First World War ends. Record sales are reached due to hyperinflation. A UK subsidiary is established for conveyor belts.

1917

Tord Magnuson also assumes the role of chairman.

1914

The First World War breaks out. Foreign receivables are written off. Material for air craft, ball bearings, gun carriage axles and weapon mechanisms are in high demand. Sandvik opens its first sales subsidiary in the UK.

1911

Billets for the re-rolling of tube and pipe are sold to the armaments industry in Germany and the UK. The hot-rolling mill is expanded. Orders are received for precision strip from a big typewriter manufacturer in Italy.

1910

Anders Henrik Göransson passes away after 42 years as managing director. Tord Magnuson becomes the new president. Carl Wilhelm Sebardt takes up the position of chairman of the board.

1909

The general strike in Sweden is followed by a lockout. Production of razor blade steel is implemented and a holding acquired in a German manufacturer of razor blades. The first production outside Sweden is started: wire for pocket watches is produced at a majority-owned subsidiary in Switzerland.

1908

The steel melting plants are modernized. Four blast furnaces and six open-hearth furnaces are now in place. Ball-bearing steel is part of the product range.

1907

Production of hollow drill steel for rock-drilling is started.

1906

The employees in Sandviken form a section of the Swedish iron and metal workers' union.

1904

The Group opens contact with research scientists at Swiss watch and clock manufacturers through a partly-owned subsidiary.

1903

Large-scale electrification of operations is started and requires substantial investment.

1902

The Group starts to produce and deliver steel belts for conveyor installations.

1901

The shares of Sandvikens Jernverk AB are introduced on the Stockholm Stock Exchange.

1900

Göran Fredrik Göransson dies. His son, Anders Henrik Göransson, becomes the new chairman. He is already managing director.