History

KONGSBERG is a knowledge-based group that currently has two business areas: Kongsberg Maritime and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace. After restructuring and acquisitions, the Group consists of many different companies, each with its own history and geographical origins. A glance at the Group's history will nonetheless reflect its strong ties to the city of Kongsberg over the centuries.

1992 - 2007 Maritime campaign, stock exchange listing and growth

In 1992, the Group acquired the Norcontrol companies. This augured the beginning of a maritime focus that culminated in Kongsberg Maritime being named a separate business area in 1995. In 1996, the Group acquired the SIMRAD Group, followed by Navia in 2000. The maritime efforts were a prerequisite for stock exchange listing and partial privatisation in 1993. The company changed its name to Kongsberg Gruppen in 1995.
The strategy for the maritime segment is to concentrate on industrial markets. As a result of this, the Group sold the yachting segment in 2005.
In 2006, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace acquired the Canadian software company Gallium Visual Systems Inc., while Kongsberg Maritime acquired Fantoft Process Technologies AS in 2006 and Sense Intellifield AS in 2007. These acquisitions are compatible with the strategy for focusing more on the oil and gas industry.

• Read more about Kongsberg Maritime's history

1987 - 1992 Crisis and revitalisation

In 1987, Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk was restructured and all civilian activities were sold. Still based in the community of Kongsberg, the units sold at that time have experienced healthy growth and profitability. Defence activities subsequently continued under the banner of Norsk Forsvarsteknologi AS, which formed the core of today's corporation, KONGSBERG.

After the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989, the Group devised a strategy for devoting more attention to civilian markets, accompanied by a shift from industrial to technological production. Importance was attached to expanding operations in areas of technology related to defence activities.

1955 - 1987 Industrial locomotive

Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk played a key role in building up Norwegian industry after World War II. From 1960 to 1987, the company evolved from a mechanical engineering company into an enterprise engaged in considerable product development, targeting several markets with strict performance standards. The market areas included the defence, automotive, gas turbine, data, offshore, aviation and aerospace industries.
Norway's General Naval Forces Plan was adopted in 1960, marking the advent of a new era in Horten's 'electronic evolution'.

1814 - 1955 Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk and the maritime community at Horten

An economic slump for the Silver Works led to the establishment of Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk (a munitions factory) in 1814. The most gifted mining engineers were assigned the task of developing the new cornerstone enterprise.

In the late 1800s, the company introduced the Krag Jørgensen rifle which was subsequently chosen as the main weapon for the US Army. The deal was one of Norwegian industry's first major export contracts.

Norway's main naval yard was established in Horten in 1849, laying the foundation for a strong maritime community.

1624 - 1814 The discovery of silver

Kongsberg was founded in 1624 by King Christian IV after silver was discovered in the area. Kongsberg's silver works and silver mines played a pivotal role in Norwegian history from the late 1600s until the early 1800s. The silver works was Norway's largest enterprise. In about 1720, its aggregate earnings accounted for 20 per cent of the government budget.