Solberga Mekaniska Werkstad was first registered as a company in Sweden in 1900 but the founder August Johansson had been running the business from 1879 first as a small blacksmith shop and over the years had turned in to a small industry manufacturing farming equipment and later also drill presses.
By 1900, due to the growing industrialization of Sweden in the second half of the 19th century, new laws governing the worker's environment and safety was introduced and so businesses with workers had to register. This caused the visit from "Yrkesinspektionen" (Workplace inspection by the government) and the result was the need for a new factory building as the old blacksmith shop was deemed too hazardous.
Solberga Mekaniska Werkstad was converted to a limited company, Solberga Mekaniska Verkstads AB. in 1915
Information Sources
- Solberga Mekaniska Verkstads Aktiebolag 1900-1950, Minneeskrift utgiven med anledning av företagets femtioårsjubeleum. Solberga. 1950.