HISTORY
- KONGSBERG in brief
- 2007 in brief
- CEO Jan Erik Korssjøen
- New man at the helm
- Highlights 2007
- This is KONGSBERG
- History
- Addresses
- Financial calendar 2008
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 origin. A glance at the Group's history will nonetheless reflect its strong ties to the city of Kongsberg over the centuries.
1624–1814
The discovery of silver
King Christian IV founded Kongsberg in 1624, 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.
The Mining Seminar, formally known as "The Royal Norwegian Mining Seminar" was Europe's first institution for higher education in mining technology. It was founded in Kongsberg on 19 September 1757 and was in operation until 1814. Its purpose was to raise levels of competence for the Kongsberg Silver Mines. Apart from the Norwegian Military Academy in Christiania, up until 1811, the Mining Seminar was Norway's only institution of higher education. Norway's first university was supposed to be located in the Mining Capital of Kongsberg.
1914–1955
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. This was one of the first large-scale export contracts ever for Norwegian industry. Norway's main naval yard was established in Horten in 1849, laying the foundation for a strong maritime community.
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'.
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 continued under the banner of Norsk Forsvarsteknologi AS, which formed the basis of today's corporation, Kongsberg Gruppen.
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.
1992–2007
Maritime initiatives, stock exchange listing and growth
In 1992, the Group acquired the Norcontrol companies. This signalled 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.
