History

It was the year 1925. Swedish radio had recently begun broadcast, and the first social democratic prime minister Hjalmar Branting had passed away. It was the happy twenties, the economy was booming, and there was enthusiasm, which also prompted conflicts and strikes at mining facilities and energy plants. The Swedish employers association implemented a lockout against Swedish workers. Popular culture was dominated by Greta Garbo, Charlie Chaplin and crosswords. Mass emigration to America, which caused trouble for the industry, was still prevalent, but had begun to decrease.

It was at this time that Gottfrid Svensson established a fence factory at Hunnabo in Tranemo, where chain-linked fence with square mesh ranging from ten to hundred millimeters was produced from prime galvanized iron wire. Square meter price for chain-link fence in three millimeter wire and 50 mm mesh was 1.24 crowns, equivalent to a gross price of 32.02 crowns at current value. The local industry in general consisted mostly of manual forestry and agriculture, although automation had begun.

Price list 1930

Global depression hit the world in 1929. Unemployment rose sharply in Sweden, and the conditions for doing business worsened drastically. Manufacturer Erling Wendefors from Borås acquired the fence factory at this time, and he relocated it to Annedal. Turnover was a modest 10 000 crowns annually, equivalent to just a few hundred rolls of fence mesh.

In 1937, the economy had recovered a bit after the lenghty depression. Wendefors could expand the business by relocating to more spacious facilities, in order to handle a larger demand. In politics, social progress such as child benefits, free childbirth, maternity allowance and child care centers were implemented in the gradually increasing welfare program. In the world at large, however, dark forces were scheming: Adolf Hitler declared his intention of war, and was visited by Benito Mussolini, while Japan invaded China and recognized the Spanish military dictatorship of Francisco Franco.

When the war eventually broke out, Swedish men were mobilized to defend the nation, and business suffered a severe shortage of staff. Fence mesh was still produced, although mainly by homeworking units. During the war, fence was hauled by horse and cart to the railway station in nearby Ambjörnarp, for further transportation to customers. Rationing and the coalition government were characteristics during the war period.

1940

In 1949 the business was once again relocated to a new factory in Ambjörnarp, to benefit from the railway. AB Ambjörnarp’s fencing factory, or ABAS, was thus established. The workforce amounted to no more than eight employees. Good times were back, rationing of meat, sugar, soap and laundry detergent finally ceased, and pastry was again sold in stores. Labor immigration from Yugoslavia, Turkey and Italy strengthened the labor market at a time when industry was in high demand of skilled workers. USSR detonated its first nuclear device, and the Cold War began. Mao Zedong seized power in China.

The postwar period was a long boost for Swedish business in general, and so also for ABAS. In 1964 the company was taken over by Sten, Alf and Erik Strömqvist. The Beatles had its international breakthrough, the Christian Democratic party was formed, and Volvo’s Torslanda plant was inaugurated.

1955

The economic upswing would last until the middle of the 1970s, when zero growth and structural changes came to dominate the economy. The shipbuilding and textile industries collapsed, and many heavy industrial companies were nationalized, while the Swedish crown was successively devalued to boost competitiveness. The oil crises led to rationing and cost explosion, and Swedish nuclear power received a boost. At the same time the green movement was gradually strengthening their grip on public opinion.

For a long time, the Strömqvist family managed the company, which in 1980 was taken over by Göran. The first automatic machine for fence manufacturing was inaugurated the year after, and ABAS took its first step in a new direction. The long-standing social democratic grip of power had recently come to an end, and the labor market was characterized by chaotic strikes, while at the same time a boom raged.

1960

The contemporary globalization and economic liberalization began at this time under the leadership of mainly Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. China opened up to the world and initiated economic reform, while Japan enjoyed a continued miracle growth. A radicalization had begun in the Middle East. The personal computer revolution was initiated, and soon revolutionized the workplace. Madonna, Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston were some popular artists, along with a series of glam and hard rockers.

By the late 1980s ABAS broadened its scope, and began manufacturing gates and fence posts, making general perimeter protection its new core business. The factory was expanded in 1988 with a new warehouse and a welding division, and in 1990 a welding robot was installed. The Cold War ended when the Soviet Union was dissolved and the two German states were reunited. Iran and Iraq signed a peace treaty, but Iraq soon invaded Kuwait, and thus began the international upheaval we are still experiencing.

Financial and banking crises were followed in the early 1990s by a property crisis, and the crown was allowed to float freely. Sweden joined the European Union, which facilitated trade. However, Sweden did not join the monetary union. The new millennium would later begin with the IT bubble and a bridge across Öresund, joining Sweden and Denmark.

Factory

The factory at ABAS acquired its current main design in 2005, with the extension and renovation of the office premises. In 2008 the business expanded further, when a new factory for production of automatic gates was established in Svenljunga. Operations were thus divided into two divisions, under the name ABAS Protect.

The same year, Göran Strömqvist sold the business to Mats Lanned. Meanwhile, competition intensified, and ABAS was experiencing a turbulent period, losing market shares in the price war that broke out.

In 2010 ABAS is acquired by Niclas Johansson, who embarks on a major structural change of the company. The business is again wholly concentrated to Ambjörnarp, and costs are being cut at every level through strategic purchasing, process simplification and systematic analysis of the production chain. After a few difficult years, ABAS is experiencing strong growth and increasing profit margins, with its mind set on further expansion, product development and modernization of the machinery.

ABAS 90 years

ABAS celebrates 90 years

In 2015 ABAS celebrates its ninety years anniversary, feeling great optimism for the future. A new warehouse has been built, and the machinery has been supplemented with a new band saw and a drilling robot. Comprehensive focus on soft service values is given priority, and an aggressive strategy for further reducing defects and costs continues. The product line is augmented with a new motor pack currently under development, along with a number of other exciting projects that will eventually be made public.

We at ABAS feel proud to work in a company with a long tradition and a solid reputation, and we look forward to new challenges with existing and future customers.

Dinner with ABAS

Dinner with ABAS

Dinner with ABAS

Trattoria Onyx

Tresteg i snedsteg

ABAS at Incontro

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