Ålö AB

Ålö AB is a Swedish agricultural machinery manufacturer headquartered in Brännland, Umeå Municipality, specialising in the production of front loaders for tractors. The company traces its origins to 1947, when Karl-Ragnar Åström designed a front loader for his own farm. Small-scale production began in 1949, and in 1950 the company Ålö-Maskiner was entered into the Swedish trade register. Over the following decades Ålö grew into a leading international supplier of front loaders and front-loader implements, marketed primarily under the Quicke and Trima brands. The Trima brand was later discontinued, and Ålö front loaders are now sold exclusively under the Quicke name. Ålö holds market-leading positions in the United States, the Benelux countries and the Nordic countries, and at its peak accounted for roughly 25% of the world market for front loaders. In 2008 the company set a new sales record of 37,000 front loaders and generated revenue of SEK 1.911 billion (approximately EUR 216 million). Production takes place at three sites in Sweden as well as in Denmark and France. Ownership has changed several times: Balticgruppen invested in 1993, competitor Baas-Trima was acquired in 2000, and 3i became the main owner in 2002, prompting a fundamental reorganisation in which AB Ålö-Maskiner was renamed Ålö AB. Since January 2020 Ålö has been owned by Jost Werke.

Ålö AB's history begins in 1947, when Karl-Ragnar Åström designed a front loader for use on his own farm. Small-scale production started in 1949, and in 1950 the company Ålö-Maskiner was entered into the Swedish trade register. The company grew into a specialised manufacturer of front loaders for tractors, eventually expanding its range to include front-loader implements and attachments. In 1993 the investment firm Balticgruppen became a shareholder. In 2000 Ålö acquired its competitor Baas-Trima. In 2002 the private equity group 3i became the main owner, and the company organisation was fundamentally restructured; as part of this process, AB Ålö-Maskiner changed its name to Ålö AB. In 2008 Ålö set a new sales record with 37,000 front loaders sold, and reported revenue of SEK 1.911 billion (approximately EUR 216 million). Production was carried out at three sites in Sweden as well as in Denmark and France. The company's products were sold under the Quicke and Trima brands; the Trima brand was later discontinued, so that Ålö front loaders are now sold only under the Quicke name. Ålö holds market-leading positions in the United States, the Benelux countries and the Nordic countries, and has a 25% share of the world market. Since January 2020, Ålö has been owned by Jost Werke.

• 2020

  Jost Werke becomes the new owner in January.

• 2008

  Record sales of 37,000 front loaders; revenue of SEK 1.911 billion.

• 2002

  3i becomes main owner; AB Ålö-Maskiner is renamed Ålö AB.

• 2000

  Competitor Baas-Trima is acquired.

• 1993

  Balticgruppen becomes a shareholder.

• 1950

  Ålö-Maskiner is entered into the trade register.

• 1949

  Small-scale production begins.

• 1947

  Karl-Ragnar Åström designs a front loader for his farm.

Market leader in front loaders in the US, Benelux and Nordic countries; approximately 25% share of the world market.

• Front loaders

• Front loader implements and attachments

1. 1Ålö AB on Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Ålö Holding AB on German Wikipediade.wikipedia.org