The year 1950
Optimism, faith in the future and full speed ahead! That was the mood in Sweden in 1950. Gone were the troublesome wartime ration cards, though the alcohol ration book would remain for another five years. Prosperity saw a strong upswing, and owning a car was now a dream that more and more people could realise. The Volvo PV 444 came to symbolise this rise in prosperity. In 1950, the Areskog family acquired Trelleborgs Skrotaffär AB, which would later become Areco.
- 1944
The privately owned company Trelleborgs Skrotaffär AB is founded in Trelleborg.
- 1950
The Areskog family acquires Trelleborgs Skrotaffär AB. Bertil Areskog and his brother Bengt develop the company into one of the largest recycling and demolition companies in southern Sweden.
- 1954
The subsidiary Metallexport AB is founded in Lund.
- 1958
Industriskrot AB is founded by Bertil Areskog, 500 metres from the current head office.
- 1974
A subsidiary of Industriskrot AB is founded to sell recyclable products such as beams and machinery. A partnership begins with Thysells AB in Anderslöv, today known as Ruukki. Industriskrot AB takes care of their scrap and secondary products, while also becoming a reseller of their prime range. This is a first step towards becoming a trading company in the construction industry.
- 1978
Bertil Areskog's sons, Peter and Stefan, begin working in the company. Peter builds up an international network for exports, while Stefan is responsible for the local operations.
- 1989
The company changes its name to Areco
- 1993
Bertil Areskog leaves Areco and his sons take over the company. Peter Areskog is appointed CEO of Areco.
- 1995
Mälarplåt AB, which later becomes part of Areco, is acquired to become a reseller of steel and sheet metal products.
- 1997
Areco starts its first factory for profiled roof and wall sheeting through a leasing agreement with the Polish partner Gama LG. A collaboration with Asian steel mills begins, which would later become one of the cornerstones of the business.
- 1999
Areco acquires the Polish partner Gama LG, which is renamed Areco Sweden. At the same time, Areco starts its own production of roof and wall sheeting in Malmö.
- 2000
Areco acquires Profilplåt AB in Kil and establishes contact with SSAB. Areco begins to transform from a trading company into a producer in the construction and building industry.
- 2001
Areco sells the recycling operations to Stena Metall AB, but keeps the environmental and demolition contracting business, Globax.
- 2004
Areco moves its production from Kil to new premises in Malmö. The production is located together with a new sales department named Areco Direct. Areco Direct focuses on the sale of building sheet metal products, structural steel and reinforcement steel. In 2004, Areco's turnover reaches SEK 100 million.
- 2005
A major international expansion of the company begins through leasing agreements for roll-forming machines with several foreign partners. Areco supplies its partners with both raw material and finished products at short delivery times. Areco's property in Malmö expands as a coil warehouse is built.
- 2008
Stefan Areskog leaves the company and Peter becomes the sole owner of Areco.
- 2009
Areco moves its raw material warehouse from Malmö to the Port of Helsingborg to increase the warehouse's capacity to what was then 25,000 tonnes.
- 2010
Areco starts a company in Kragerø, Norway.
- 2012
Areco invests SEK 100 million in a factory for the production of its own roof drainage system. The products are launched under the name Caracol, inspired by a Brazilian waterfall.
- 2013
Areco builds a new head office in Malmö to handle the company's major expansion.
- 2014
Areco develops its own Swedish distribution channels under the name Areco Direct. As part of this development, Lundberg & Kullberg AB and Tonito Plåtgrossisten AB are acquired. In 2014, Areco has eight distribution channels in Sweden. Dansk Profilteknik is acquired to produce roof and wall sheeting for the Danish and German markets.
- 2015
The company is divided into the parent company Areco Steel, and the five divisions become Areco Metals, Areco Profiles, Areco Direct, Areco Contractor and Areco Properties. All subsidiaries are part of and marketed within the Areco Group. The group produces approximately 6.5 million square metres of roof and wall sheeting and handles around 100,000 tonnes of steel. At the end of 2015, the group's turnover passes the one-billion mark.
- 2016
Areco Direct continues with its expansion plans to become a nationwide wholesale chain across Sweden through the acquisition of Éton i Göteborg AB. Areco buys Mälarplåt AB, which is integrated into the Metals business area. Areco also acquires the leasehold for Vinkeln 8, with a plot area of approximately 33,000 m². The acquisition is a strategic step towards developing its own Properties division. Areco Direct opens its first drive-in store for building sheet metal and ventilation in Malmö, covering approximately 3,000 m². The concept is the first of its kind in Sweden.
- 2017
The Metals business area becomes an independent company and is in full swing establishing a 4,500 m² factory in Malmö. A Steel Service Center for cutting, slitting, storing and distributing thin sheet metal products. Areco Profiles acquires Dubbelfalsen AB to complement its own Caracol roof drainage range. Areco Direct establishes itself in Stockholm with two stores through the acquisition of Takhuset and Liwa Gruppen. Drive-in number two is inaugurated at Areco Direct in Jönköping.
- 2018
Areco Profiles continues its Nordic expansion and buys the Finnish sandwich panel manufacturer TPE Spirit Oy. The acquisition means that Areco has entered Finland for the first time and now has its own production of mineral wool sandwich panels. Areco Metals further broadens its operations towards the mechanical and automotive industries through the acquisition of Ferrex Scandinavia AB. The company holds extensive expertise and supplies Nordic industries with products delivered directly from the steel mill to the customer's factory.
- 2019
Areco continues to grow, and after a property acquisition in Malmö, the Profiles business area is able to open its fifth factory to expand its production of sheet metal work and roof drainage products. Areco celebrates 75 years as a company and hosts a large anniversary party held in its own factories. Areco undergoes a major digitalisation of the entire building sheet metal range, in order to offer the products in CAD format for architects, among others. A new production line for the load-bearing profile TP131 is installed to make work easier on construction sites.
- 2020
Areco Direct opens a new branch in northern Stockholm, in Spånga. Areco Direct already has two branches in southern Stockholm, in Bandhagen and Sätra. With the new premises, the company achieves full geographic coverage of the Stockholm region.
- 2021
Areco Properties acquires two properties in Malmö (Bronsspannen 2 & 12). A new head office takes shape along Västkustvägen, a total of 3,000 m² over three floors. Areco becomes a three-year main sponsor of the World Padel Tour. Areco Properties acquires Vara Viggen 1 in Kvänum. Areco Profiles acquires Profilmetal A/S on Zealand. Areco Direct acquires Lans Plåt in Lidköping. Areco Properties signs Tågarp 16:16 (Hilti property). Sale of Areco Contractor to Lima i Perstorp AB.
