In the Middle Ages, German craftsmen—called “Garpar” in old Swedish—built a smeltery in this area. “Hytta” means smeltery, and together the name became Garphyttan. Over the years, the community grew through silver mining, nail production, forestry, farming, and even alum production. By 1900, only a hammer forge remained, but the spirit of craftsmanship was still strong.
Then came 1906. A power station was built on Garphytteån to use the river’s energy. On a small part of today’s industrial site, a rope factory and wire drawing mill were established. The new company, Garphyttans Fabriks AB, held its first meeting on July 7, 1906, and production started in January 1907. From the very beginning, the factory produced ropes and galvanized wire, mainly for telegraph lines. That first year, deliveries reached 275 tons of wire and 31 tons of rope.
Step by step, the company grew. In 1910, it was reconstructed as Nya Garphytte Fabriks AB to bring in new resources and expand its operations. Five years later, the company acquired the old Garphytte Bruk, merging the businesses under the name AB Garphytte Bruk. In 1914, Enskilda Banken became the main owner, giving financial stability for further growth.
In 1915, AB Garphytte Bruk looked beyond Sweden. Two factories were built in Jekaterinoslav (Ukraine) and Jekaterinburg (Ural) as part of Aktiebolaget Svensk-Ryska Stållinefabrikerna, producing steel wire ropes for Russian mines. The venture was bold—the First World War had removed German competition—but it was short-lived. A story we will dive into in the upcoming chapter.
Back home, development continued. The railway between Garphyttan and Latorp was modernized from horse-drawn wagons to locomotives, electricity powered new opportunities, and the workforce learned new methods to handle wire. The first ten years shaped the company’s DNA: craftsmanship, courage to grow, curiosity about the world, and a firm belief in quality.
Much has changed since then, but some things remain the same: pride in our work, curiosity, and the drive to keep improving—together.
This is where our story begins. BACK TO TIMELINE >>>
