Ekman over five centuries

21st century

2020

The Innovare Division is established

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

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 all 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 Ekman shares and becomes the largest shareholder in Ekman

1995

The Ekman employees and management and the Ekman Family acquire all shares in Ekman together with two investment companies

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

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 and shift focus to trading in 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, using charcoal instead of coal as an energy source 

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