Husqvarna Group

Husqvarna Group is a Swedish industrial group whose origins reach back to 1689, when a state-owned firearms plant was established at the waterfalls of Huskvarna in southern Sweden. Although the company began as a weapons manufacturer, its long-term development has been defined by repeated transitions into adjacent fields that could use its manufacturing, casting, engine, and mechanical-engineering capabilities. During the nineteenth century, declining rifle demand encouraged the plant to diversify. It began making sewing machines in the 1870s and subsequently added cast-iron household products, stoves, ovens, and other equipment. Bicycle production began in 1896 and continued until 1962. The company also entered motorcycles in the early twentieth century, developing lightweight engines and competition motorcycles that achieved notable success in track racing and motocross. The motorcycle business was divested and is no longer part of Husqvarna Group. The modern group is principally associated with outdoor power products. Its portfolio includes chainsaws, robotic lawn mowers, conventional lawn mowers, garden tractors, trimmers, brushcutters, cultivators, and related equipment for forestry, professional landscaping, grounds maintenance, and consumers. The Husqvarna brand is positioned toward performance, durability, professional use, and increasingly connected or battery-powered solutions. Automower robotic lawn mowers are among its best-known offerings, while chainsaws remain central to its forestry heritage. The group also operates brands and businesses serving consumer gardening and watering, including Gardena, as well as several regional and specialist outdoor-equipment brands. Its construction activities include demolition robots, floor-grinding equipment, concrete cutting systems, and diamond tools. These operations broaden the company beyond gardening and forestry into construction, surface preparation, stone processing, and infrastructure-related applications. Important corporate changes shaped the current organization. Electrolux acquired Husqvarna in 1978, and Husqvarna was subsequently separated from Electrolux and listed as an independent company in 2006. The acquisition of Gardena in 2007 expanded the group in consumer gardening and watering products. Later acquisitions strengthened its Japanese distribution and manufacturing presence, construction-equipment portfolio, floor-grinding capabilities, and smart irrigation activities. In 2024, the group acquired ET Water from Rivulis, adding smart irrigation-management technology. Husqvarna Group sells through dealers, distributors, retailers, and professional channels across international markets. Its brand house includes Husqvarna, Gardena, McCulloch, Poulan, PoulanPro, Weed Eater, Flymo, Jonsered, Klippo, RedMax, HTC, Blastrac, Diamant Boart, and Total Diamond Products, although product and market availability varies by country. The group continues to develop autonomous mowing, satellite-supported navigation, battery systems, digital services, and connected equipment alongside conventional engine-powered products.

Husqvarna Group traces its history to 1689, when a state firearms plant was established at the waterfalls of Huskvarna in southern Sweden. The facility became one of Sweden's major early industrial plants. By the eighteenth century it employed approximately 1,000 people, but changing demand for rifles eventually made diversification necessary. In the 1870s, the factory recognized that its machinery could be adapted to sewing-machine production. A foundry was established in 1874 to make components, including cast-iron frames. The product range then expanded into household goods such as cast-iron items, stoves, and ovens. Bicycle production began in 1896 and continued until 1962, with the company registering patents connected with bicycle design. Husqvarna entered motorcycle production in 1903. Its lightweight engines helped its motorcycles compete successfully in track racing and motocross from the 1930s onward. The motorcycle program won its first Motocross World Championship titles in 1959 and 1960. The motorcycle operation was separated from the main business and ultimately passed through other ownership; it is not part of the present Husqvarna Group. The company acquired Norrahammars Bruk in 1918, adding heating boilers and lawn mowers to its activities. An engine-powered lawn-mower test took place in 1947. As demand for bicycles, mopeds, and motorcycles weakened, forestry equipment became more important. Husqvarna used its engine expertise to produce its first chainsaw in 1959. The same year, the business was separated from Husqvarna Vapenfabriks Aktiebolag, creating a more focused industrial organization. Shotgun manufacture continued until 1989. A rebuilt saw in 1968 provided the foundation for what later became Husqvarna Construction. The construction business eventually developed around concrete cutting, demolition, floor preparation, grinding, and diamond tooling. Corporate ownership changed substantially in 1978, when Electrolux acquired Husqvarna. The sewing-machine business was sold to the VSM Group in 1997 and later became part of SVP Worldwide. The motorcycle business had also been divested earlier, and the remaining outdoor-equipment operations became increasingly central. The group expanded its lawn-care portfolio through the 1999 acquisition of Nebraska-based Yazoo/Kees. In 2006, Husqvarna was spun off from Electrolux and became an independently listed group. The following year it acquired Gardena, a German producer of gardening tools and consumer watering products. That transaction significantly strengthened its position in European consumer gardening and made watering a larger part of the portfolio. Further expansion followed through the purchase of Zenoah, which provided a recognized brand and stronger access to Japan, and the acquisition of Jenn Feng in 2008, which supported Asian manufacturing and market presence. Husqvarna also developed new construction products, including a remote-controlled demolition robot launched in 2009. In 2013 it decided to invest in a new facility for chainsaw-chain production in Huskvarna. Construction and surface preparation became more prominent through the 2017 acquisition of HTC Sweden and its related operations in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The business was later reinforced by the 2020 acquisition of Blastrac and its European subsidiaries. These transactions added specialized floor-grinding, surface-preparation, and diamond-tool capabilities. In the outdoor-power business, Husqvarna continued to develop robotic mowing and autonomous systems. CEORA, introduced in 2022, targeted large commercial lawns and used satellite-based navigation to operate without the traditional physical boundary-wire arrangement. In 2024, the acquisition of ET Water from Rivulis added smart irrigation-management technology. Today, Husqvarna Group combines forestry, gardening, watering, construction, surface preparation, and diamond-tool operations. Its portfolio includes the Husqvarna, Gardena, McCulloch, Poulan, PoulanPro, Weed Eater, Flymo, Jonsered, Klippo, RedMax, HTC, Blastrac, Diamant Boart, and Total Diamond Products brands. The group also sponsors Swedish ice-hockey club HV71; the club's home arena is named Husqvarna Garden.

1. 2024ET Water acquired

   Husqvarna Group acquired smart irrigation-management company ET Water from Rivulis.

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2. 2022CEORA autonomous mower introduced

   Husqvarna launched an autonomous mower for large commercial grass areas using satellite-based guidance.

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3. 2020Blastrac acquired

   The acquisition expanded floor-grinding and surface-preparation capabilities.

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4. 2017HTC Sweden acquired

   The transaction added floor-grinding equipment and diamond tooling.

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5. 2007Gardena acquired

   The acquisition strengthened consumer gardening and watering products, particularly in Europe.

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6. 2006Independent listing after Electrolux spin-off

   Husqvarna became an independently listed company after separation from Electrolux.

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7. 1997Sewing-machine business divested

   The Husqvarna-branded sewing-machine operation was sold to the VSM Group.

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8. 1978Electrolux acquired Husqvarna

   Husqvarna became part of Electrolux.

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9. 1959First chainsaw produced

   Husqvarna entered chainsaws as forestry became increasingly important to the business.

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10. 1947Engine-powered lawn mower tested

    Husqvarna conducted its first recorded test of a lawn mower powered by an engine.

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11. 1918Norrahammars Bruk acquired

    The acquisition expanded the product range into heating boilers and lawn mowers.

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12. 1903First Husqvarna motorcycle produced

    The company entered motorcycle manufacturing with a small-engine model.

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13. 1896Bicycle production began

    Husqvarna entered bicycle manufacturing, a business that continued until 1962.

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14. 1874Sewing-machine foundry established

    Husqvarna began producing sewing-machine components and broadened its industrial base.

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15. 1872Diversification became necessary

    Declining rifle demand encouraged the factory to seek new uses for its manufacturing capabilities.

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16. 1689Firearms plant established at Huskvarna

    The industrial operation that became Husqvarna began as a state-owned firearms factory at the Huskvarna waterfalls in Sweden.

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Professional-grade and premium outdoor power equipment, with additional consumer gardening, smart watering, construction, and diamond-tool businesses.

• Husqvarna AutomowerRobotic lawn mowers

  Automower is Husqvarna's robotic-mowing family. Products in the range are designed to mow lawns autonomously, with models addressing residential, professional, and increasingly complex landscaped environments. The line is central to the group's strategy of combining outdoor power equipment with automation, navigation, connectivity, and battery technology.

• Husqvarna chainsawsForestry and outdoor power equipment1959

  Husqvarna chainsaws are a core product family serving forestry workers, arborists, landscapers, landowners, and consumers. The range reflects the company's transition from general mechanical manufacturing into engine-powered forestry equipment after the first Husqvarna chainsaw was produced in 1959.

• Husqvarna CEORAAutonomous commercial mowing2022

  CEORA is an autonomous robotic mower for large commercial grass areas. Its operating concept uses satellite-based guidance and is intended to reduce dependence on conventional physical boundary wires. The product represents the group's move toward automated professional grounds maintenance.

• Gardena watering and irrigation systemsConsumer gardening and watering

  Gardena provides consumer gardening equipment and watering products, including systems for delivering and managing water in gardens. The brand became part of Husqvarna Group in 2007 and broadened the group's presence in European consumer gardening beyond engine-powered equipment.

• Construction and diamond-tool systemsConstruction equipment1968

  Husqvarna Construction and related brands supply equipment for concrete cutting, demolition, floor grinding, surface preparation, and stone processing. The portfolio includes demolition robots, floor-grinding machines, and diamond tools, supported by businesses such as HTC, Blastrac, Diamant Boart, and Total Diamond Products.

• Husqvarna and HV71 sponsorship

  Sweden

  Husqvarna Group sponsors Swedish ice-hockey club HV71. The relationship is also reflected in the naming of the club's home arena as Husqvarna Garden.

  Outcome. Ongoing sponsorship relationship described in reference material.

  Source

• 2024Acquire ET WaterM&A

  Husqvarna Group's watering portfolio created a strategic fit with digital irrigation-management technology.

  What changed. The group acquired smart irrigation-management company ET Water from Rivulis.

  Aftermath. The acquisition added smart irrigation capabilities; the transaction value was not disclosed in the reference material.

  Source
• 2022Introduce CEORA autonomous mowing platformProduct launch

  Large commercial lawns created demand for autonomous mowing systems capable of covering substantially greater areas than conventional residential robotic mowers.

  What changed. Husqvarna launched CEORA, using satellite-based guidance and targeting lawns of up to 75,000 square metres.

  Aftermath. CEORA extended Husqvarna's robotic-mowing strategy into professional and commercial grounds maintenance.

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• 2013Invest in chainsaw-chain manufacturingStrategy

  Chainsaws remained an important part of the forestry portfolio and required dedicated component capacity.

  What changed. The group decided to invest in a new facility for chainsaw-chain production in Huskvarna.

  Aftermath. The decision reinforced production capabilities in the group's historical Swedish base.

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• 2009Launch a remote-controlled demolition robotProduct launch

  The construction business provided an opportunity to apply Husqvarna's engineering capabilities to difficult and hazardous demolition work.

  What changed. Husqvarna launched its first remote-controlled demolition robot.

  Aftermath. The launch broadened the construction portfolio beyond cutting tools and supported the development of specialized robotic equipment.

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• 2007Acquire GardenaM&A

  Husqvarna sought to expand its consumer gardening portfolio and its presence in watering products.

  What changed. The group acquired German gardening-tools and consumer-watering manufacturer Gardena.

  Aftermath. The transaction made Husqvarna Group a leading European participant in consumer watering products and strengthened its multi-brand structure.

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• 2006Separate Husqvarna from ElectroluxStrategy

  Electrolux had acquired Husqvarna in 1978, but the outdoor-equipment business was later separated as an independently listed group.

  What changed. Husqvarna was spun off from Electrolux and listed independently.

  Aftermath. The separation created the corporate structure in which the present Husqvarna Group operates and enabled subsequent acquisitions such as Gardena.

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• 2024Husqvarna Group acquired ET Water

  The group acquired smart irrigation-management company ET Water from Rivulis for an undisclosed amount.

  M&A
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• 2022Husqvarna launched CEORA autonomous commercial mower

  CEORA was introduced as an autonomous robotic mower designed for large commercial lawns and using satellite-based guidance rather than conventional boundary wires.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2020Husqvarna Group acquired Blastrac

  Blastrac and its European subsidiaries were acquired to strengthen the group's floor-preparation and surface-treatment business.

  M&A
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• 2017Husqvarna Group acquired HTC Sweden

  The acquisition added floor-grinding machines and related diamond tooling, together with HTC operations in several markets.

  M&A
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• 2013Husqvarna invested in chainsaw-chain production

  The group decided to invest in a new production facility for chainsaw chains in Huskvarna, Sweden.

  Other
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• 2009Husqvarna introduced a remote-controlled demolition robot

  The group launched a remote-controlled demolition robot, extending its construction-equipment activities.

  Product launch
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• 2007Husqvarna Group acquired Gardena

  The acquisition of the German gardening-equipment manufacturer expanded Husqvarna Group's consumer gardening and watering business.

  M&A
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• 2006Husqvarna Group separated from Electrolux

  Husqvarna was spun off from Electrolux and became an independently listed company.

  M&AOther
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1. Husqvarna Group
2. Husqvarna Group official website