Our history
Company Founded
On 1st January 1917, engineer F. Wennström became the owner of Bergvalls Metallgjuteri, a metal foundry. In connection with a move to Folkungagatan in Stockholm, the company was renamed F. Wennströms Gjuteri och Metallfabrik (foundry and metal factory) and specialized in the production of service faucets and metering houses for waterworks.
At the beginning of the ‘60s, the company became a limited company, was renamed and started focusing on fittings for oil companies.
Quite soon, F. Wennström AB was supplying the major oil companies with couplings. In 1964 the company was the driving force during negotiations with the oil companies in Sweden to standardise service station piping, which resulted in a commonly adopted 4” system. This in turn entailed a whole new range of couplings for F. Wennström AB which boosted sales. After an economically difficult period for the company, it was restarted in 1978.
Wådell Invest
In 1984 the company was acquired by Wådell Invest, a privately owned business group (www.wadell.se, in Swedish, use Google translate for translation).
Ljungmans road tanker division
A few years later, in 1986, the product range was complemented with PD-meters and gear pumps by securing the Ljungmans road tanker- and gantry division.
Electronics make in-roads into the business
In 1988 a daughter company was started in Norway with the object of increasing sales to the Norwegian market. This goal has been achieved, especially with the products aimed at service stations. Present focus is on increasing the market share of equipment for road tankers.
Expansion into Finland
Ten years later, in spring of 1998, Tam-Tank Varuste based in Tampere in Finland was bought and became Wennstrom Flow Control Oy. Tam-Tank had for a long time been the leading supplier of mechanical equipment to road tankers and service stations in Finland and the two companies’ product ranges complemented one another well.
Represented in Europe and Africa
The expansion into new markets continued resulting in representation in many European countries and in South Africa.
More expansion in Finland via THT
In march 2010 Wennstrom deepened its co-operation with the customer Tampereen Huoltamotekniikka Oy (THT) in Nokia by purchasing 39% of the shares. At the end of June the same year, Wennstrom completed the purchase of THT by acquiring the outstanding shares.
Wennstrom and THT complement one another with Wennstrom in Finland focusing on equipment for petroleum distribution for vehicles and THT on equipment and services for filling stations and other refueling sites and storages.
Succession – Ekelund Invest becomes new owner
In 2012, Wådell Invest was divided into four groups of companies as part of generational succession process. Ekelund Invest, where Kerstin and Ulf Ekelund own 90 %, subsequently became the owner of the Wennstrom group (www.ekelundinvest.se, in Swedish, use Google translate for translation). Both Kerstin and Ulf had been working within Wådell Invest since the early nineties.
Wennstrom – complete Nordic presence
On 30th December 2013, Wennstrom increased its’ Nordic presence with the acquisition of the Dresser Wayne Sales & Service organizations in Denmark, Norway and Sweden from Dresser Wayne AB. As a result, Wennstrom has become one of the major suppliers of service and maintenance to retail service stations in northern Europe with close to 100 field technicians securing the operations in the four Nordic countries.
The companies were renamed Wennstrom Fuel Systems. Wennstrom also became strategic partner of Wayne, representing their comprehensive product range of equipment and solutions for forecourts in the Nordics.
Wennstrom Flow Control in Sweden and Norway continue to focus on product development, and sales of products to builders of road tankers, service stations and refuelling sites.
Breaking new ground
In June 2014, Wennstrom Entreprenad AB was founded in Skellefteå in northern Sweden. The company designs and installs new refuelling sites and refurbishes existing sites.
With the geographic north of Sweden known as Norrland as its’ home market, Wennstrom Entreprenad will market products and services to local service station owners, commercial site owners and local industry.
Widened scope
In June 2015, the Wennstrom group widens its’ scope of offerings to include complete wash systems for all types of vehicles (cars, trucks, buses and trains) by purchasing the company AutoTank A/S in Denmark.
The company was renamed Wennstrom Wash Systems. The investment increases the number of employees in Denmark to over 40 and the group now employs more than 200 people.
Merger in Norway gives true national coverage and first step into e-mobility
Wennstrom Fuel Systems AS in Norway merge with Norsk Energiteknikk AS (NET) to form Wennstrom NET AS. Wennstrom remains the major shareholder in this new merged enterprise which can truly offer local presence of service technicians throughout Norway. Focus will be on increasing sales in the traditional fuels business as well as utilizing the competence in EV-charging within NET to attract Pan-Nordic customers looking for a Nordic partner.
The merger increases the number of employees in Norway to just under 100 and the Wennstrom group now employs more than 250 people.
ELPM new member of the Wennstrom group in Sweden
In June, Wennstrom bought the Swedish company ELPM that designs, installs, commissions and maintains complete refuelling stations for independent and retail customers. The company has also been early in adopting and implementing equipment for new fuels such as hydrogen and electricity.
The purchase is in line with the strategy to broaden the group’s offering to existing customers as well as find new sectors where the national and Nordic coverage of competent technicians and electricians that Wennstrom offers is desired.
Forming a national e-mobility partner in Denmark with Dansk El & Teknik
In September, Wennstrom bought a majority stake in its’ long-standing partner, Dansk El & Teknik A/S. The companies have common customers in national service station networks and car wash operators. Dansk El & Teknik offers its’ customers 24/7 video monitoring of their wash operations.
The investment follows the strategy to be a Nordic maintenance and service partner in both the traditional liquid fuel market as well as the evolving e-mobility segment.