Jonsereds Fabrikers AB
Corporate brand
UnclaimedHistoric Swedish industrial company that evolved from textile manufacturing into forestry, agricultural, and engineering equipment, including the Jonsered chainsaw brand.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Jonsereds Fabrikers AB was a Swedish industrial company established in 1832 at Jonsered by William Gibson, a Scottish immigrant who had settled in Sweden. The enterprise began as a textile mill and remained under the influence of the Gibson family for much of its early history. In 1872 it was organized as a limited company under the name Jonsered Fabriker AB, allowing it to expand and diversify its manufacturing activities. During the nineteenth century, textiles remained central to the business, but the company also developed an engineering presence. By the 1880s, it was producing and exporting woodworking machinery in addition to textile goods. Its canvas became particularly well known in Sweden, including sailing canvas marketed under the Jonsered name. The company also manufactured fire hoses, a product line that continued until 1975. These textile and industrial products established Jonsereds as a diversified manufacturer rather than a single-category brand. The company’s most important transformation took place in the twentieth century. In the 1950s, Jonsereds began producing the Raket, or Rocket, chainsaw. The model and its successors became commercially successful and helped turn the company into an international forestry-equipment supplier. Chainsaws were exported widely, with North America becoming the largest export market. Jonsereds also entered forest-crane production around 1959, reinforcing its focus on equipment for professional forestry and related industries. By the late 1960s, the company was concentrating increasingly on engineering. In 1969 it began closing its textile operations and moving toward a predominantly industrial profile. The tarpaulin business was retained because it was among the company’s most profitable units, while forestry machinery became the main industrial focus. The company therefore combined legacy textile products with chainsaws, forest cranes, woodworking machinery, agricultural equipment, and other engineered products. Ownership changes weakened the independence of the business. Jonsereds Fabrikers AB became a subsidiary of Investment AB Asken in 1975. When Asken encountered financial difficulties, parts of Jonsereds were closed and other operations were sold. Electrolux acquired the company in 1978. Chainsaw production was subsequently moved to Husqvarna, another Electrolux-associated operation, while the tarpaulin unit was also acquired by Electrolux and later divested. The original company no longer operates as an independent industrial group. Its industrial legacy survives through the Jonsered name, which has been associated with chainsaws and other forestry equipment under Husqvarna AB, while the tarpaulin name continued under a later owner. Husqvarna has also maintained research and development activity in Jonsered. The history of Jonsereds Fabrikers AB illustrates the transition of a nineteenth-century Swedish textile enterprise into a specialized engineering company and the subsequent consolidation of Swedish machinery manufacturing.
History
William Gibson, a Scottish immigrant who had arrived in Sweden as a young man, founded a textile mill at Jonsered in 1832. The Gibson family subsequently controlled the enterprise for several generations. In 1872, the business was incorporated as Jonsered Fabriker AB, marking a more formal stage in its development and enabling broader commercial activity. The early company was principally a textile producer, but it gradually diversified. During the 1800s it became known for canvas, including sailing canvas that earned a strong reputation in Sweden. Fire hoses were another important textile product and remained in production until 1975. By the 1880s, Jonsereds was also manufacturing and exporting woodworking machinery. This combination of textiles and machinery gave the company a diversified industrial base before its later specialization. The decisive shift toward forestry engineering began in the 1950s. Jonsereds introduced the Raket chainsaw and later models built on its success. Chainsaws became a major export product, particularly in North America, and helped establish the Jonsered name in international forestry markets. Around 1959, the company added forest cranes, expanding its role from portable forestry tools into mechanized logging equipment. In 1969, Jonsereds began closing its textile operations and reshaping itself as a more focused engineering company. Forestry-industry customers became its principal market group. The tarpaulin operation was retained because it was the company’s most profitable unit, or one of its most profitable units, while other textile activities were phased out. The resulting business was centered on forestry machinery, chainsaws, forest cranes, woodworking equipment, agricultural machinery, and selected industrial textiles. Ownership instability followed. In 1975 the company became a subsidiary of Investment AB Asken. Asken later encountered financial problems, leading to closures and disposals within Jonsereds. Electrolux purchased the company in 1978. The chainsaw business was later transferred to Husqvarna, and the tarpaulin unit, initially acquired by Electrolux, was eventually sold. These changes ended Jonsereds Fabrikers AB as an independent diversified industrial company. The Jonsered name nevertheless survived in product branding. Husqvarna AB became associated with Jonsered chainsaws and other forestry equipment, and Husqvarna has maintained research and development activity in Jonsered. The tarpaulin name also continued under a later owner. Jonsereds Fabrikers AB is therefore best understood as a defunct Swedish industrial company whose legacy persists through product brands, manufacturing know-how, and the industrial history of Jonsered.
- 1978
Electrolux acquisition
[1]Electrolux acquired Jonsereds after financial difficulties at Asken led to restructuring, closures, and sales of parts of the business.
- 1975
Ownership passes to Investment AB Asken
[1]Jonsereds became a subsidiary of Investment AB Asken. Fire-hose production also ended during this period.
- 1969
Textile operations begin to close
[1]The company began withdrawing from much of its textile business and concentrating on engineering and forestry-industry customers.
- 1959
Forest-crane production begins
[1]Jonsereds entered forest-crane manufacturing, broadening its forestry-equipment portfolio.
- 1950
Raket chainsaw production begins
[1]The company began making the Raket chainsaw, initiating the product line that became central to its international forestry business.
- 1880
Diversification into woodworking machinery
[1]By the 1880s, Jonsereds was producing and exporting woodworking machines alongside textiles.
- 1872
The company is incorporated as Jonsered Fabriker AB
[1]The business became a limited company and expanded its manufacturing and commercial activities.
- 1832
William Gibson establishes the Jonsered textile mill
[1]William Gibson founded a textile mill at Jonsered, creating the enterprise that later became Jonsereds Fabrikers AB.
Products and positioning
Historically positioned as a Swedish engineering and industrial-manufacturing company serving forestry, agriculture, woodworking, and textile-related markets. In its later independent phase, the company was especially associated with professional forestry equipment and internationally exported chainsaws.
Forestry equipment · 1950
Raket chainsaw
Introduced in the 1950s, the Raket was Jonsereds’ breakthrough chainsaw line. Its commercial success and subsequent models helped move the company from a diversified Swedish manufacturer into a significant international forestry-equipment supplier. Chainsaws became one of the company’s most important export products, with North America identified as its largest export market.
Forestry equipment
Jonsered chainsaws
The broader Jonsered chainsaw range developed from the Raket and its successors. These products supported the brand’s reputation among forestry users and were exported internationally. After the Electrolux acquisition, chainsaw production was moved to Husqvarna, while the Jonsered name continued to be associated with chainsaws and related outdoor and forestry equipment.
Forestry machinery · 1959
Forest cranes
Jonsereds began producing forest cranes around 1959. The product line extended the company’s forestry role beyond portable tools into mechanized equipment used in forest operations and material handling. Forest cranes formed part of the company’s later engineering focus as textile manufacturing was reduced.
Technical textiles
Sailing canvas
Canvas was among Jonsereds’ best-known nineteenth-century textile products. Jonsered sailing canvas developed a strong reputation in Sweden and contributed to the company’s standing before its later transition toward machinery and forestry equipment.
Technical textiles
Fire hoses
Fire hoses were an important Jonsereds textile product. Production continued for many decades and ended in 1975. Existing hoses were reportedly still in use in some places after production ceased, reflecting the durability associated with this product line.
Technical textiles
Tarpaulins
Tarpaulin production was retained during the company’s withdrawal from most textile activities because it was among the most profitable parts of the business. The unit passed to Electrolux with the broader acquisition and was later sold to another owner.
Brand decisions
1978
Electrolux acquisition and subsequent integrationM&ABackground
Investment AB Asken’s financial problems led to restructuring and disposal of parts of the Jonsereds business.
Action taken
Electrolux acquired Jonsereds Fabrikers AB. Chainsaw production was later moved to Husqvarna, and the tarpaulin unit was eventually sold.
Aftermath
Jonsereds ceased to function as an independent diversified industrial company, while the Jonsered product name survived through later forestry-equipment ownership.
1975
Acquisition by Investment AB AskenM&ABackground
Jonsereds was operating as an increasingly specialized industrial company after reducing its textile activities.
Action taken
Investment AB Asken took Jonsereds Fabrikers AB into its corporate group as a subsidiary.
Aftermath
Asken later experienced financial difficulties, resulting in closures and sales of parts of Jonsereds before the company was acquired by Electrolux.
1969
Transition from textiles to engineeringStrategyBackground
The company’s growth in chainsaws, forest cranes, and other machinery shifted its commercial center toward forestry and engineering customers.
Action taken
Jonsereds began closing its textile operations while retaining the tarpaulin unit and focusing more heavily on industrial and forestry equipment.
Aftermath
The company became a predominantly engineering-oriented business, although its remaining textile unit continued to contribute to profitability.
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