This is Benders

The first roof-tile machine arrives and concrete roof tile production starts in Edsvära. Karl-Erik and Arne Bender are here shown with Harry Ferdinandsson, the machine seller’s representative. Standing on the far right is Lennart Johansson, who would work for the company for over 40 years.

The basis of today’s Palema stables and stud is laid in 1960 when Karl-Erik Bender and Tore Ernfridsson (a trainer at the Axevalla trotting stadium) go to an auction at the Brodda stud in Skåne and buy our first horse. In the country setting of Varaslätten, Edsvära is still home to the Palema stables and stud. It has produced many top horses over the years. This includes two Solvalla International Elite Race winners, Gidde Palema and Torvald Palema.

Palema Fibber enters and wins its first race. The time of 1.29.2 was then a record for a first-start at Axevalla. Thore Ernfridsson was in the sulky and the record stood for three years. Palema Fibber was bought in 1960 and later gave her name to Stall och Stuteri Palema (our racing stables and stud farm). Competing against Sweden’s best horses, she took 10 straight victories.

Benders is, by this time, Sweden’s largest individual producer of concrete roof tiles. Thereafter, the standardisation of roof tiles leads to many small manufacturers vanishing from the market.

Bender Palema, our classical double pantile design, is born. Suitable for all roofs, this has been the most laid roof tile in Sweden ever since the 1960s.

Knabe, a stallion from the Palema racing stables, wins the “Åby Grand Prize” and is invited to compete in the world championship at Roosevelt Raceway in New York. Along with Knabe and stable lad Björn Martinsson, a young Ove Bender takes the freight aircraft to the USA. A memorable occasion for the entire Bender family and the driver, Olle Goop. The world championship was not captured, but the season finished with taking the Swedish championship at Åby!

Bender Exklusiv, our traditional pantile with a higher profile and a more pronounced waviness, is launched on the market. Thanks to its distinct character, the tile is soon popular and is now seen on all types of houses, rural as well as urban.

The new offices in Edsvära are ready for moving into. They have now been extended twice. Along with other newly built premises, they still house Benders’ head office.

We make an initial delivery of roof tiles to Norway, which becomes our first and most important export country.

Benders delivered its first roof tiles to Norway as early as 1981. Market share soon supports setting up our own sales company in the port town of Sandefjord. This is in southwestern Norway, close to the border with Sweden.

Running a profitable company in Sweden is difficult at this point in time. Gunnar Sträng, Sweden’s Minister for Finance, was taking 87% of profits in tax. This left little over for new investment. Many important Swedish companies moved abroad. Benders stayed but, nonetheless, invested in operations in America. After almost a decade in Florida, the American company was sold to facilitate new investment in Europe (primarily Germany).

After a long collaboration, the Stilpannan company is for sale in Braås. This gives Benders the opportunity to make its first external acquisition of a company and thereby create a wider market for itself.

Using rectangles that have the same proportions as our first roof tiles, Benders’ present logo is created.

In 1989, Highland Bridget, who was later to foal Alf Palema, is bought. This proves incredibly significant for the Bender family’s horse ownership activities and the Palema racing stables. Alf Palema won both the Hambletonian Stakes and the World Trotting Derby. He was also voted the best trotter in the USA, both as a three-year old and older. Five times champion stallion in Sweden, he sired the well-known Gidde Palema and Thorvald Palema. Since 2013, Alf Palema has laid at rest in Edsvära. He is under a Bohus granite memorial stone which states that this was an extraordinary horse.

KPAB, an engineering workshop in Kvänum, is acquired and a new product range is later introduced into the company – construction products in glass and metal.

As one element in a wide range, it is now time to also offer clay roof tiles.

Ove Bender, son of Karl-Erik Bender (company founder and chairman of the board), is appointed the company’s chief executive officer and the group manager.

After several years of exporting to, and warehousing in, Germany, the new production facility is ready in the Rostock area of the former East Germany. The four to five articulated lorries that daily took roof tiles from Sweden to Germany could now traffic new routes.

In line with increasing sales outside home bases, the need for contact with foreign customers also increased. Using a company aeroplane, we offer visits to Sweden. Despite long distances, our closeness to companies grows. On a weekly schedule, several groups (e.g. from Norway or Finland) can take turns to visit Edsvära and other facilities. One group can fly home after a couple of days in Edsvära and a new group can be Sweden-bound on the return journey.

Yet another element in Benders’ investment in overseas operations. This too expands through customer visits (using Benders Air) to Sweden. Initially, only roof tiles are sold in Finland. Today, paving stones and other Benders’ products also have a growing market here.

After many years of roof tile deliveries to Greece, it is time to extend our Greek collaboration. The result is a newly built production facility and joint ownership with the Tziotzioy family in Karditza.

Benders is keen to grow on the Stockholm market and is looking for an appropriate location and suitable premises. Bålsta is satisfactory on both counts. It is now home to our largest unit and covers both roof tile and paving stone production.

Having reached an optimum threshold on the roof tile market in Sweden, Benders invests in expanding its range.

As part of Benders’ range-widening strategy, paving stone factories are acquired in Hjo and Frillesås.

Gidde Palema, sired by Alf Palema, wins the “Solvalla International Elite Race” after a remarkable comeback. Åke Svanstedt was in the sulky.

Investment in widening the company’s ranges continues. This time with expansion in Bålsta and a new paving stone facility.

Range-widening carries on with the acquisition of Spikma Betong AB. This manufacturer’s output includes pinned kerbing. Benders is now in a position to be a complete supplier of concrete products for both private and public projects.

Bender Carisma, our flat tile that gives roofs a slate-like appearance, is introduced to the market. Adding that little extra to every house, its modern design is in striking contrast to the traditional image of a roof tile.

The investment in paving stones soon proves to be correct. To meet the great demand, a paving stone factory is also acquired in Fjärås.

Benders acquires Lasken Stein in Sandefjord. This gives the company its own paving stone production in Norway.

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the need for renovation and new building in large parts of the Baltic is still enormous. Thus, it is hardly a surprise when Benders establishes Benders Baltic Nord, a subsidiary in Pärnu, southern Estonia. With its own warehousing facility for roof tiles and paving stones (serving both Estonia and Latvia), operations are run in collaboration with a local enterprise.

To create new distribution channels, Benders invests in its own locomotives, wagons and railway container system. Two trains per week now travel between our largest facility in Bålsta and our distribution centre in Kongsvinger. The outward freight is concrete products for Norway. Gravel for production makes up the return load. Apart from this, the wagons are primarily used for transport between the Åstorp and Uddevalla facilities.

Benders acquires Floda Cementgjuteri AB and thereby adds infrastructure products to its ever widening ranges.

The building of the Kongsvinger logistics centre and warehouse (which stocks our full ranges) provides the right conditions for continued expansion in Norway.

Investment in becoming a complete supplier of concrete products continues with the acquisition of Uddevalla Cementgjuteri AB. This adds expanded clay blocks to the ranges.

Through the newly opened logistics centre and the new factory for infrastructure products in Åstorp, east of Helsingborg, Benders’ position is strengthened in southern Sweden and the Öresund region. With a rail line into the complex, the location is excellent and enables combined transport in many different ways.

Yet another important acquisition for the group. Bohusgranit, a famous brand and perhaps the best granite in the world, is now a part of Benders. It is with great pride that we add granite to our other ranges of high-quality products.

The acquisition of Bohusgranit leads to yet another purchase in Bohus county. While searching for new premises to further increase the efficiency of granite production, Volvo’s Uddevalla factory came onto the market. After long negotiations, Benders became the purchasers and the premises (strategically located next to a motorway, railway and port) are now an exciting addition to the group.

Through the acquisition of machines and premises, Benders starts a new company in Vara, Benders Isolering AB. Benders currently uses cellular plastic in, amongst other things, the manufacture of base elements. Most of Vara’s cellular plastic production will be used for the company’s own needs.

Having successfully set up in Estonia a few years earlier, Benders sees great potential in also setting up in Lithuania. With space for warehousing, offices and showrooms, a logistics centre is built in Klaipėda, Lithuania’s largest port. The centre supplies Benders’ complete ranges to Lithuania, Kaliningrad and Belarus. Roof tiles are supplied primarily from Benders’ German factory in Rostock. Accessories and paving stones are supplied from Sweden.

In the autumn, Benders starts Kärranäs, a restaurant that is a joint venture with Fredric Andersson, a son of Uddevalla and famous TV chef from Sweden’s TV4 and SVT. Located at Benders’ factory in Uddevalla, Kärranäs has seating for 400 diners and the capacity to serve 2,000 meals. Besides fantastic lunches and dinners, Kärranäs also offers a catering service, a delicatessen and conference and party arrangements.

After the summer, Skanska Stomsystem AB, previously owned by Skanska Sverige AB, becomes a part of the Benders group. The company manufactures and erects prefabricated construction elements used in the building of homes, commercial premises, multistorey car parks and halls. The acquisition is one link in Benders’ ambition to be a turnkey supplier of products and services for the construction and civil engineering sector. In making the acquisition, Benders forms Benders Byggsystem AB.

After acquiring Skanska Stomsystem, Benders sets up its Stockholm office in the former Riksbanken building in Östermalm. These premises subsequently become the head office of Benders Byggsystem AB.

There is great cheering as Gidde Palema and Torvald Palema, two former equine winners of this prestige event, lead the parade for Elitloppet Benders 2016. As the title sponsors, Benders also enables horses to be flown in directly from the USA. Trainers Åke Svanstedt and Jimmy Takter take advantage of this and enjoy great success on their visit to Sweden. Örjan Kihlström is in the sulky that Nuncio pulls to victory. The success of this weekend leads to Benders also being the main sponsor for the 2017 Elitloppet at Solvalla.

Benders acquires Walldén Markbetong AB in Skärplinge, a company that makes and sells paving stones, walling systems, L-retaining elements and weights for anchoring underwater lines. In the long term, the purchase will strengthen Benders’ distribution channels in northern Sweden.

Benders acquires Norbergstrappan AB in Norberg, one of Sweden’s leading manufacturers of prefabricated concrete stairs. The range will eventually be developed and further production sites within Benders (e.g. the Uddevalla factory) will manufacture stairs in the future.

Built by Benders Byggsystem, a new, modern, 1,855 m² production hall with an automated kerb stone line starts up in Ävja. In the long term, this new factory will satisfy the entire Swedish demand for kerb stones. At the same time, this facility is also part of our continued investment in robotised factories. This is how we are moving towards more in-house production and less importing. It creates more employment in Sweden and, thanks to reduced transport, fewer emissions.

Benders acquires a cement factory from Leca Sverige AB. Its products include the so-called Alba beam and expanded clay beams.

Built by Benders Byggsystem, a new, modern, 1,855 m² production hall with an automated kerb stone line starts up in Ävja. In the long term, this new factory will satisfy the entire Swedish demand for kerb stones. At the same time, this facility is also part of our continued investment in robotised factories. This is how we are moving towards more in-house production and less importing. It creates more employment in Sweden and, thanks to reduced transport, fewer emissions.

When you consider the enormous energy in sunlight, having some form of solar cell in or on your property should be an obvious step. This is why Benders is now set to play a major part in this field. In collaboration with SolTech Energy, which develops and sells building-integrated solar energy products, Benders has developed a solar cell that can be fully integrated into a roof that has Benders’ Carisma tiles – an elegant solution. Benders is additionally working on developing an equally appealing model for Palema type roof tiles.

Benders decides on a major drive to replace oil as an energy source. Pellet boilers are installed at suitable facilities and installation of a 2,500 m² solar energy wall is begun at our Uddevalla factory.

To increase availability of genuine Bohus granite, Benders acquires a further stone quarry, Nolby, in Brastad.

To manufacture concrete post elements and special products for the Norwegian and Swedish markets, Benders acquires the family company Mysen Cementstoperi AS in Norway.

At our Uddevalla factory, an 11-metre high, 2,200 m² solar energy wall is installed. It has a southerly aspect. The solar panels are partly of the same thin-film type used in our Bender SunWave product. Annually, they are to provide 260 MWh. This equates to fossil-free heating and household electricity for almost 25 new-build detached houses. In other words, the “south wall” will be a major energy supplier in our production.

Benders continues to invest in solar energy. Working with Midsummer AB in Järfälla, Bender SunWave is developed. Based on thin-film technology, this unique solar panel is designed to go with our Palema double pantile roof tile.

Benders turns 60 and, at its Uddevalla factory, holds a diamond jubilee party for its personnel and their guests. The celebration is held in one of the large locales which, in honour of the evening, is decked out with flowers, lights and colourful fabrics. Some 1,450 invitees enjoy a three-course dinner and star-packed entertainment.

A complete facility for making Bender Bohus granite slabs is taken into use. A unique, automated line bevels edges on products in genuine, Swedish, Bohus granite.

The acquisition of Starka’s landscaping, water and sewage operations means that Benders is extending its already wide paving stone offerings while also adding an entirely new range, namely, concrete products for water and sewage applications. The takeover includes the two production facilities in Strängnäs (where Benders is already established) and Södra Sandby (just outside Lund in Sweden’s Skåne region).

An entirely new production line for paving stones has been built in the Uddevalla factory. With many robots and driverless forklifts, it includes the very latest technology. Everything has been carefully chosen and tuned for optimal further streamlining of the manufacture of our landscaping products.

A new section added to one of the existing office buildings is ready for use. This and the other premises still serve as Benders’ head office. The newly built section houses 45 office places and will accommodate the rapidly growing workforce.

After several successful joint projects, Benders is acquiring Prekon i Syd AB, a design bureau in Lund with technical consultants and designers specialising in concrete prefabrications. Lacking in-house expertise on the design side, Benders used to buy in services on a large scale. Now, it can offer designs as early as the tender stage. This contributes to simpler and more cost-efficient solutions.

Together with Skandia Elevator and A&T i Grästorp AB, Benders has acquired Automations Teknik i Lidköping AB (AtLid), a leading supplier of industrial, automation solutions.

Benders, Leca and Weber are forming a strategic collaboration that combines Leca’s knowledge of producing Leca® pellets, Weber’s technical know-how in walled structures and Benders’ production and logistics capacities. Together, they are creating the right conditions for improved development, manufacture and distribution of Leca® blocks to the whole of Sweden’s construction industry. (Leca = light expanded clay aggregate.)

As part of an organisational change, Mats Jakobsson is taking over as CEO of Benders Sverige AB. The present CEO, Ove Bender, becomes the group’s COO. The change will make more time available for strategic development initiatives and optimise conditions for tomorrow’s leadership of Benders. Over the next decade, the Benders’ companies face a major generation shift within the organisation.

Benders acquires Concrete Solutions Nordic AB in Halmstad, a company specialising in prefabricated buildings for the energy sector. One example of its deliveries is specially adapted transformer stations. The company works across the whole of Sweden. Via this investment, Benders serves entirely new market segments and can offer complete solutions in which Benders Byggkraft AB takes care of planning and design while Benders Byggsystem AB’s production facilities look after production and erection.

After many years as a supplier of prefabricated roof curbs and with more than 30 years’ experience in the industry, Fretom is now part of the Benders group. This acquisition means that Benders itself now produces and sells the well-known Hole-in-One, a soil pipe ventilator that is unique to Sweden.

Benders recently entered into an agreement with the municipality of Umeå for the acquisition of a large site. This is to be the object of a logistics investment. The goal is to use a train solution to replace long-haul lorry traffic to Norrland, thereby thoroughly strengthening market presence in this northern area. Benders has a number of factories in southern Sweden. Their traffic volumes northwards are constantly rising. In line with its environmental goals, Benders is keen to now create the right conditions for sustainable deliveries to its northern markets

Benders acquires block factories from Leca Finland and moves main warehouse and offices in Finland to Oitti.