40 years of entrepreneurial spirit

	1963		The first production plant was set up in Vetlanda, Sweden.
	1964		Agents in Norway and Denmark.
	1965		First anodising plant in Vetlanda.
	1966		Sales representation in England.
	1967		First sales of manufactured profiles.
	1968		A second press and anodising plant outside Vetlanda.
	1969		Sapa Ltd opens up a sales office outside London.
	1970		Sapa's first building system: Sapa Spont was introduced. Sales office in Denmark. Sapa and OY Nokia sets up Nordalex NV in Hoogezand, Holland (later Scandex NV).
	1971		The first extrusion site outside Sweden was opened in Holland Anodising plant in Vetlanda with a capacity of 12 metres in length. Remelting plant set up in Vetlanda.
	1972		Sapa starts its own die manufacturing.
	1973		Production plant set-up in Tibshelf, England. Sales office in Zug, Switzerland.
	1974		Sales office in Lilleström, Norway. Sales office in Esbo, Finland. Sapa Front building system introduced.
	1975		Manufacturing in Torsby, Sweden.
	1976		Gränges Aluminium buys the total number of shares in Sapa. The new group is complemented with production plants in Finspång and Skultuna, Sweden. Sapa sponsors Americas Cup.
	1977		Second press set-up at Sapa Ltd in Tibshelf.
	1978		Sales office in Munich: Sapa Aluminium Profile GmbH. Remelting plant in Tibshelf
	1980		The Swedish Electrolux Group acquires Gränges. A 4,400 sqm production plant (with anodising facilities) is built in Holmewood outside Tibshelf, England.
	1981		Manufacturing in Grenaa, Denmark. Third press set-up at Sapa Ltd.
	1983		Sapa becomes part owner in Aluminiumwerk Offenburg.
	1984		Aluminiumwerk Offenburg becomes a wholly owned subsidiary and changes name to Sapa Aluminium Profile GmbH.
	1985		Sapa acquires Scandex Aluminium NV in Hoogezand, Holland.
	1987		Sapa acquires Sit Down International AB. Sapa in Norway inaugurates a new sales office in Haugesund. Sapa Front opens up a sales office in London.
	1988		Sapa's 25-years anniversary.
	1990		Investment in a 3,000 tonnes press in Vetlanda.
	1992		A new press (with anodising facilities) is built in Trzcianka, Poland.
	1993		The new press in Vetlanda is inaugurated by the Swedish King. Sapa acquires a profiles company in Albi, France.
	1994		An anodising line is started in Poland and Sapa is the second largest producer in Poland.
	1995		A 6,500 tonnes press will be set-up in Finspång, Sweden and the second press in Poland is inagurated. ECT: Environmental Concept Truck - a Volvo truck using space frame technique sets out on a world tour. Sapa is one of five prime suppliers. Gotthard Group sold.
	1996		Sapa introduces Friction Stir Welding, a new revolutionary welding method, in Sweden. The remelting plant in Sjunnen, Sweden is extended and the new capacity is 30,000 tonnes per year. Sales office in Tallin, Estonia. Sapa acquires the Bredon Group, with Indalex and Glostal, in Cheltenhem, UK. The Nordic metal distribution sold.
	1997		Sales office in Lithuania. Gränges AB is reintroduced on the Stockholm Stock Exchange. The metal distribution in the UK sold.
	1999		Sapa in Norway celebrates 25 years. Sapa acquires France's largest independent profiles company Intexalu and building systems company Aluvar. A new lacquering and manufacturing plant is to be set up in Lodz, Poland. The smelting plant in Sundsvall sold.
	2000		Sapa gets its first foot-hold in America by the acquisition of Anodizing and on the Iberian peninsula by the acquisition of Portuguese Anodil. UK Securistyle divested.
	2001		Eurofoil Group and Autoplastics sold.
	2002		UK Pressweld is acquired. Pressweld specialises in manufacturing of profiles for the high-end automotive market.
	2003		Remi Claeys Aluminium is acquired.
	2004		Fabrication plants for aluminium profiles is established in Kaunas, Lithuania and in Shanghai, China. Sales office established in Riga, Latvia.
	2005		Sapa is acquired by Orkla and delisted from the Stockholm Stock Exchange Slovakian Alufinal is acquired
	2006		Alufinal is fully embraced in Sapa. The company changed name to Sapa Profily a.s. Nils Bouveng, one of Sapa’s two founders, passed away 25 April at the Höglandssjukhuset Hospital in Eksjö, Sweden. Nils was 77 years old. The new vertical anodising plant in Vetlanda, Sweden, was inaugurated. The investment is the largest one in the history of Sapa so far (200 MSEK). Sapa in Poland celebrated the opening of the new press, PL3 and the new anodising line, A2. The fabrication division within Sapa Profiler in Sweden is converted into an independent subsidiary company: Sapa Komponenter AB. Inauguration of the plant expansion (doubled the capacity to 45,000 tonnes per year) at Sapa Heat Transfer in Shanghai. 10 years anniversary at Sapa Heat Transfer in Shanghai. Opening of the new plant (three times as big as the previous area) for Sapa Profiles in Shanghai. Orkla and Alcoa signs a letter of intent with the intention of creating a J/V with Sapa's and Alcoa's profiles operations. Lennart Evrell is appointed President and CEO of Sapa.
	2007		Aluminium profiles joint venture between Sapa and Alcoa: the world's largest aluminium profile company is created. Ole Enger is appointed President and CEO of Sapa.
	2008		Sapa continues to grow in Asia and signs letter of intent to acquire the Chines aluminium extrusion company Kam Kiu Aluminium. On 22 December, Orkla and Alcoa concluded an agreement on the exchange of assets in two jointly-owned companies. Orkla is taking over Alcoa's 45.45 % equity interest in Sapa Profiles, making it 100 % owner. At the same time, Alcoa is taking over Orkla's 50 % equity interest in the aluminium smelting company Elkem Aluminium, making it wholly owned by Alcoa.
	2009		Björn Wiggen is appointed President and CEO of Sapa. Orkla becomes 100% owner of Sapa. Acquisition of Indalex (US and Canada) per 31 July 2009.

Updated: 2009-08-05

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