Once upon a time there were a few small sawmills...
The history of Valbo Trä
This is the story of how different lumber companies have grown together to form a joint venture with various skills and areas of specialisation.
1870
It started over 150 years ago
A Norwegian company, Astrup & Sörensen, begins building a sawmill where the Dal River flows into the sea at Skutskär in 1868. It was completed in 1870.
A water-powered mill, Veckebo Såg, is built in the village of Veckebo in Hälsingland that same year.
1900
The world’s biggest sawmill
Stora Kopparberg purchases the sawmill in Skutskär in 1885 and, with its 24 saw gates, it is considered to be the world’s biggest sawmill at the turn of the century.
1950
The beginning in Valbo and Edsbyn. Electricity comes to Veckebo.
Nils Andersson starts a sawmill in the town of Dalen, about 30 km south of Valbo.
The first sawmill is launched in Edsbyn at that time as well.
Electricity has come to Veckebo, and the water turbine that took over from the traction engine is now replaced with an electric motor.
1970s
A lot is happening now
Nils Andersson has now relocated his business to Valbo, and is selling building supplies, producing planed and impregnated lumber, and building holiday cottages.
In Edsbyn, where the sawmill is now known as Rotebro Såg, a new facility is being built with a bigger saw line, a dryer, and a more modern planing mill. A building supply store is also under construction.
Construction for the welfare state has been in full swing for a number of years, and production at the sawmill in the idyllic town of Veckebo is at its peak. There are about 20 employees at this time.
1980
The fourth planing mill is now being built in Valbo, and a modern new impregnating plant is completed
1990s
Edsbyns Hyvleri AB is formed from defunct Rotebro Såg AB. Åshammars Hyvleri is founded that same year with the purchase of Eriks Träservice in Åshammar.
Large parts of the facility in Skutskär are rebuilt and a modern impregnation line constructed. The Norlida Group now assumes ownership.
2002
AB Persson Invest enters the picture
AB Persson Invest becomes a part owner of Åshammars Hyvleri. The new ownership helps the company to grow beyond the 100 million kronor threshold. In Valbo their proprietary building supply stores have begun to be sold off, and the one in Falun is sold to Stefan Månsson – now XL Bygg Falun.
2003
Investments in many quarters
All the peripheral equipment at the Edsbyn sawmill is replaced at a cost of MSEK 11–12.
A new planing line is built in Åshammar for roughly MSEK 6, and the last building supply store in Valbo is sold off.
This is the year when Setra takes over the facility in Skutskär.
2005-2010
A lot is happening again...
New planing lines are installed in Valbo, Edsbyn and Åshammar, at an investment cost of roughly MSEK 3 per planer.
A new band saw in installed in Edsbyn at a cost of roughly MSEK 1.5.
Åshammar cuts back on its exports. Åshammars Hyvleri AB had significant exports to Germany up until the mid-2000s. These exports are now reduced, and the focus is placed entirely on the Swedish building trade.
Edsbyns Hyvleri achieves turnover in excess of MSEK 100 for the first time.
Edsbyn + Åshammar = a reality! Edsbyns Hyvleri is sold to AB Persson Invest. The deal goes through on 1 January 2010, thus creating a planing group consisting of the two former competitors Edsbyns Hyvleri and Åshammars Hyvleri.
A painting line to enable the efficient painting of exterior panelling is constructed in Skutskär.
2011
Valbo Trä AB is born
Valbo Trä AB is formed. AB Persson Invest, Valbo Trä, Förvaltning AB and Lars-Olov Skytt form the new company in order to coordinate the planing mill operations previously run by the owners in separate subsidiaries in Edsbyn, Åshammar and Valbo.
2012
Valbo Trä takes over. On January 1, 2012, Valbo Trä takes over all operations and personnel from Edsbyns Hyvleri AB, Åshammars Hyvleri och Trävaru AB and Valbo Trävaru AB.
2013
Painting begins on a large scale
The modern new painting line in Edsbyn starts up in late 2012/early 2013. Now we can apply primer and intermediate coats of paint to exterior panelling in any of our standard colours, or in optional NCS colours.
2013
Veckebo Såg & Hyvleri now merges with Edsbyns Hyvleri, Valbo Hyvleri and Åshammars Hyvleri in the Persson Invest Group.
2014-2015
Production of tongue and groove roofing boards
A completely new line for nailing tongue and groove roofing boards is built at our facility in Valbo in 2014, followed by another in Edsbyn the following year.
2016
Valbo Trä in Valbo expands
Valbo Trä AB purchases and takes over the bulk of the wood processing plant operated by Setra on a neighbouring property in Valbo. Only a fence separates the two facilities.
An investment is made in a completely new precision-cutting facility in Viksjöfors, just outside of Edsbyn. This facility makes it possible to cut studs, framing lumber, panelling, etc. smoothly and efficiently, and in custom lengths.
2017
100% Persson Invest.
Valbo Trä is a wholly owned subsidiary of AB Persson Invest as of 1 January 2017.
2018
Valbo Trä AB winds up its operations in Åshammar
Commits to Valbo
Valbo Trä takes the difficult decision to wind up its operations in Åshammar in order to instead build completely new planing lines on new premises in the vicinity of Valbo.
The investment in Valbo totals nearly MSEK 100.
2019
Valbo Trä AB purchases Setra’s facility in Skutskär
Valbo Trä purchases Setra’s operations in Skutskär.
The plant consists of two planing lines, one impregnation line, a painting line and a roofing board nailing line.
Valbo Trä now consists of three units: Valbo, Skutskär and Edsbyn
plus a sister company, Veckebo Såg & Hyvleri.
2024
Valbo Trä AB invests and specializes in each unit, in order to increase capacity and become better in each product area.
In Valbo, a completely new facility is being built for the production of tongue and groove boarding for roofs.
In Edsbyn, a brand new facility is being built for the production of building frames and trusses.
One of Europe's most modern impregnation plants is being built in Skutskär.