The beginning in Dalarna
Axel grew up in Dalarna and completed his secondary education in Falun, followed by an engineering degree in Örebro in 1927. Cars were his great passion, and he participated with considerable success in ice racing competitions held on Lake Rämen outside Borlänge. His strong interest in technology, combined with business acumen and curiosity about the world beyond Sweden, led him in the 1930s to start building connections with various international manufacturers. Among other ventures, he worked as a representative for the Russian oil syndicate Nafta and, in 1935, was hired by Specialmaskiner AB, which sold machines and vehicles for the Czech company Škoda Works. But Axel also harbored a dream of one day starting his own company.
As early as the 1930s, he had advanced plans to import Japanese car parts, but the Russo-Japanese War made it impossible. A few years later, in the early 1940s, he acquired the agency for American compact cameras, but when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, the business never got off the ground. However, by the late 1940s, the wars and bad luck were over, and with the Swedish agency for the revolutionary plug valves from English Audco Limited, Axel was able to start his first company, Axel Larsson Maskinaffär AB.
Modernization
After the war, there was a significant need for modernization within Swedish industry. Axel traveled across the country with his compact, innovative plug valves, which could replace the cumbersome multi-turn valves that dominated the market at the time.
To free up startup capital for the company, Axel sold his car, so he had to take his bicycle on the train and pedal the last stretch to the various industrial plants he visited. Not only was this a cost-effective solution, but it also gave Axel excellent physical fitness.
The business thrived, and Axel Larsson opened his first proper office at Odengatan 49 in central Stockholm. After a few years, the product range was expanded to include steam traps, instrumentation tubing, and fittings made from the futuristic material plastic.
In the late 1950s, Axel also acquired the agency for a then-unknown solenoid valve called Lucifer. This product series quickly became highly appreciated within Swedish industry due to its high reliability and quality, and even today, Lucifer solenoid valves remain one of the company's most important products.
The organization expands
The staff grew, and in the early 1960s, the headquarters was moved to Bromma, while local sales offices were established around the country. Over time, the product range became increasingly focused on valves and instruments, having initially covered a much broader spread of products.
In 1961, Axel founded Remote Control in Falun, a company manufacturing actuators for valve control. Under the Larsson family’s ownership, this company also developed into a leading player in its field. In 2008, the company was sold to the Rotork Group to focus entirely on valves and instruments.
Generational shift
During the 1970s and 1980s, a gradual generational shift occurred, with Axel's two sons, Karl and Per, taking over the reins of the company. Continued expansion included acquiring new agencies and increasing revenue. Automation and quality-focused thinking played an increasingly important role in Swedish industry, which led to the addition of products like control and safety valves and flow meters to the extensive product range.
The move to Upplands Väsby
In 2006, the company moved to its current headquarters in Upplands Väsby. The business continues to operate in the same spirit in which Axel Larsson founded it—as an independent, family-owned company with short decision-making paths and a strong focus on quality and excellent customer relations.
New CEO and business strategy
In 2018, Rolf Schytt became the CEO, and a new business strategy was developed in collaboration with Johan Larsson. This led to significant expansions and investments in production and warehouse capacity in recent years to enable continued strong growth. Additionally, various support services were developed to meet customer needs.
Continued development
In 2020, the development of the facilities continued. That year, the warehouse capacity was expanded by 80%, and daily efforts were made to ensure that everyone could work as efficiently and safely as possible.
Focus on hydrogen
In 2023, we launched Clean Energy Solutions, an innovative business area dedicated to valves and instruments tailored for industrial processes within sustainable energy, with a strong focus on hydrogen. By specializing in valves for sustainable energy, this business area aims to make a meaningful difference and contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.
New Group CEO and investments
In 2024, Johan Larsson succeeded Karl Larsson as group CEO. The focus shifted toward collaboration and synergies between the various companies within the group. Additionally, a major investment was made in new and more efficient picking machines for the warehouse. This initiative better supports the assembly and warehouse staff in the company’s Lean initiatives. The new units enhance productivity, save time, and create an improved work environment for the entire team, paving the way for further expansion opportunities.
The group remains 100% owned by the Larsson family, with a strong focus on sustainability. A recently established sustainability team actively works to develop more sustainable processes within the organization.
Thanks to our talented employees and strategic initiatives, we are well-positioned to face the next 75 years!