KONGSBERG celebrates its 200th anniversary
KONGSBERG celebrates its 200th anniversary on 20 March. The company can boast the longest industrial history in Norway, with continuous operations since the foundation of the Kongsberg weapons factory in 1814.
Throughout 200 years what is now known as KONGSBERG has been an industrial trailblazer in the defence, maritime, oil, gas and aerospace sectors.
“There are not many businesses in the world that can boast 200 years of continuous operations, and this is something we are very proud and respectful of. We can look back on a unique and memorable history, and we are now a leading international high-technology corporation,” says CEO Walter Qvam of KONGSBERG.
1814: The establishment of the Norwegian defence industry
Kongsberg weapons factory (KV) was founded by Poul Steenstrup, mining superintendent and participant at the national assembly at Eidsvoll, on 20 March 1814. This represented the establishment of Norway's first factory, even before the industrial revolution in Norway.
During the spring of 1814, Norway had gained its constitution. And the work of building the country's first factory began in Kongsberg. The establishment of Kongsberg weapons factory in 1814 must be viewed in the light of other events of the same year. In January 1814, Norway had been ceded to Sweden, after centuries of union with Denmark. However, in Norway forces were working to give the country independence, and the need for a defence industry developed.
From the industrial revolution to international high technology supplier
KONGSBERG has experienced numerous eras, including Norway's incipient industrial revolution in the 1800s, the development of the post-war technological industrialized Norway and the internationalization of Norwegian technology and expertise in the final decades until today.
For more information on KONGSBERG`s current activities and history, please visit our anniversary website http://200.kongsberg.com
Download pictures here: https://www.filemail.com/d/wsabxtiazpyjqje
Pictures:
- 1: Drift ice and icebergs are a real safety threat to oil activity in the sea near the poles. Through its SensIs innovation project KONGSBERG is developing a system that measures the size, speed and direction of icebergs.
- 2: Svalsat on Spitzbergen is the largest in the world for receipt of satellite data from polar orbital satellites. This station provides essential services involving oil spill and vessel detection to users all over the world.
- 3: Kongsberg Våpenfabrikk was established on the 20th of March 1814. The first decades the factory mainly produced rifles and sabres for the Norwegian Armed Forces.
- 4: Dynamic positioning means that a vessel is held steady on a single position with the use of propellers instead of anchors on the seabed. The system calculates how the wind and ocean currents are trying to move the vessel and compensates for these forces via the vessel's propellers.
- 5: The NASAMS air defence system is one of the most advanced and modern of its kind in the world.
- 6: In the 50`s the Norwegian government adopted a gradual modernisation and development of the defence industry. New factories were built and production moved into new, modern facilities.
For further information, please contact:
Ronny Lie, Director of Communications, KONGSBERG, +47 916 10 798, ronny.lie@kongsberg.com.
KONGSBERG (OSE-ticker: KOG) is an international, knowledge-based corporation supplying high-technology systems and solutions to customers engaged in the oil and gas industry, merchant marine, defence and aerospace industries. KONGSBERG has approximately 7,500 employees in more than 25 countries and operating revenues in 2013 were NOK 16.323 billion.
