Eskoleia Stål

Eskoleia Stål is a manufacturing company located in Kongsvinger, Norway. It was formerly known under several names; Norsk Gjærde- og Metaldukfabrik for the longest period; and was located in Oslo.

External images
1951 photo of the factory, by Helge Skappel for Widerøe
1957 photo of the factory, by Otto Hansen for Widerøe
Steel fence with Norsk Gjærde- og Metaldukfabrik's trademark sign

History

It was founded on 15 February 1910[1] as Norsk Gjærde- og Metaldukfabrik (many alternative spellings) by Magnus Blikstad. When he died, Gustaf Aspelin took over. Long-time manager was H. O. Bergqvist.[2] The headquarters and production facilities were located in Strømsveien 128 at Valle-Hovin.[3]

One of its main products was the fence, the "national fence".[2] After about 40 years of operation the company had a 35% market share in wire mesh and wire cloth delivered to the pulp and paper industry.[4] Other products were barbed wire, gates of iron, welded iron, platework, drying stands and wardrobe lockers.[3]

In 1961 the company leaders decided to found a new factory, Vire- og Metalldukfabrikken, in Eidsfoss in cooperation with the company Eidsfos Verk.[5] It also ventured into loans and investments in India. By the mid-1960s, Norsk Gjærde- og Metaldukfabrik had departments for stainless production, glass fiber-armed polyester, flat-rolled steel plates and signs.[6]

In the 1960s, the road Strømsveien was re-regulated to highway standard. This set serious restraints on the expansion capacity in the vicinity of Norsk Gjærde- og Metaldukfabrik. In 1966 it therefore had to establish facilities in a more rural town, Kongsvinger.[6] For this they received 500,000 kr in support from the Regional Development Fund.[7] Around 1968 it changed its name to Norsk Gjærde og Mekanisk Verksted.

Despite "Gjærde" (fence) being a part of the name, the leadership decided to rid the company of fence production. The relevant machinery was taken over by Christiania Spigerverk, through its subsidiary Stål og Tau. Machinery for producing mesh was taken over by another fence company, C. Geijer & Co.[8][9] Flat-rolled plates would be the company's flagship product. In late 1969 another important step was taken as it was decided to move to Kongsvinger entirely, except for the sales division which would remain in Oslo. The localities in Strømsveien were sold to Harald A. Møller.[10]

In the first ten years in Kongsvinger, the company expanded from 2400 sq.m of industrial halls to 6000 sq.m. The name was also changed, to NGM Industrier.[11] The company was bought by Aspelin-Stormbull in 1987,[12] and later became a part of Eskoleia[13] which is owned by the municipalities of Kongsvinger and Eidskog.[14] Eskoleia Stål is still based in Kongsvinger.[15]

References
  1. "Norges Vels medalje". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 13 February 1950. p. 5.
  2. "En anerkjent norsk industriell bedrift. Gjærde- og Metalldukfabrikken jubilerer". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 14 February 1935. p. 4.
  3. "Norsk Gjærde- og Metalduksfabrik A/S" (in Norwegian). Industrimuseum.no. Retrieved 14 July 2011.
  4. "Maskin som laget 700 kvm gjerde om dagen". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 12 October 1954. p. 7.
  5. "Svært mange samarbeidsavtaler inngått av norske industribedrifter ifjor". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 24 May 1962. p. 5.
  6. "Oslo-bedrift flytter delvis til Kongsvinger". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 14 December 1966. p. 12.
  7. "Oslo-fabrikk flytter til Kongsvinger". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 3 May 1967. p. 13.
  8. "Forretningsnytt". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 15 October 1969. p. 15.
  9. "Norges ledende gjerdeprodusent, C. Geijer 100 år". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 13 November 1969. p. 17.
  10. "Mekanisk verksted fra Oslo til Kongsvinger". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 23 October 1969. p. 12.
  11. "Bra år for NGM Industrier" (in Norwegian). Norwegian News Agency. 23 May 1979. p. 27.
  12. "Pengemaskinen Aspelin-Stormbull". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). 29 March 1988. p. 8.
  13. Rydz Larsen, Knut Willy. "Portrettet: Asbjørn Brox" (PDF). Trioving-nytt (in Norwegian). p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  14. "Om Eskoleia" (in Norwegian). Eskoleia. Archived from the original on 13 May 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  15. "Om Eskoleia Stål" (in Norwegian). Eskoleia Stål. Archived from the original on 17 August 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.

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