History
The beginning - how it all started
On December 31, 1921, the company EBÖ Metallgjuteri was registered in Eskilstuna. Behind the company and the three letters in its name were the manufacturers and brothers-in-law Johan Ruben Eldin, Gunnar Boqvist and Karl Rudolf Gunnar Östlund.
The foundry operations began shortly after New Year’s in a rented workshop on Lilla Tvärgatan in the Östermalm district. From the start, the business focused on aluminum casting of simpler components in sand molds. EBÖ was also one of the first metal foundries in Sweden to use fuel oil to heat its melting furnaces.
Over time, the business developed, and die casting with cast-iron molds became the dominant method. Initially, however, more traditional sand molds were used. During the early years, the company primarily manufactured small mounting fittings, such as hooks, balcony brackets, and various types of knobs. The product range also included urns and pots intended for floral arrangements.
Our first 100 years
This is the 100-year story of the foundry company from Eskilstuna, which — through pipes, coffee pots, and toy cars during difficult wartime years — would go on to become a major supplier to both the Swedish and international automotive industries.
The advent of die casting
When die-casting machinery was purchased for EBÖ from Italy in 1948, the first steps were taken towards what would later drive the company success – and mark its entry into the heavy automotive industry.
In 1948, die casting was introduced as a new method that required different types of casting tools than gravity die casting. The tools were more complicated to make, but the benefits were in both material usage and efficiency – metal consumption was reduced and the casting process was faster.
During the mid-60s, the demand for die-cast articles increased. EBÖ responded to the market and secured its machinery with two new machines from Germany. By now, ASEA had become a major customer in the die casting segment.
During the 1970s, the development towards more automotive-oriented customers continued, and the company invested in a low-pressure casting machine to be able to supply components such as cylinder heads, lamp housings and rims to Husqvarna, AGA and Tunaverken.
By the end of the 1990s, die-casting had largely taken over from gravity die-casting. Customers like Volvo and Scania drove demand for die-cast parts to new heights.
All remaining gravity die casting has since been moved to the plant in Tartu, Estonia, while the Swedish units in Gredby, Hultsfred, Ankarsrum, Gnosjö and Tenhult only do die casting. Much of the production is for the automotive industry, with customers including Volvo, Scania, MAN and Daimler.