“Keep on keeping on” and an unusual style have been the recipe for success that has made Areco one of the leading producers of construction steel in the Nordics. Areco is now celebrating 75 years in business with an invitation to an anniversary party.

“This is our way of honouring everyone who helped make the company what it is today,” says Peter Areskog, owner and president of Areco.

Trelleborgs Skrotaffär AB was founded 75 years ago and six years later in 1950 the Areskog family bought the scrap dealer. Under the family's ownership, the local scrap dealer has evolved into one of the leading construction steel producers in the Nordics, with more than 300 employees in four countries. Areco will be throwing an anniversary party at two of its factories in Malmö on the 23rd of August to celebrate the people who have contributed to the company's success. Guests will enjoy food and live music before the evening ends by transforming the premises into a nightclub. The event expresses the Areco culture – the company has never been afraid to stick out.

“We do business in a fairly traditional industry, but we like to do things a little differently. As the sole owner in a flat organisation, we can move quickly from idea to decision. We are also extraordinarily transparent and flexible in relation to our customers. We have built up long-term relationships by tailoring our offering to their needs,” says Peter Areskog.

Free rein has led to success

Today's Areco is a corporate group with five divisions: Areco Metals, Areco Profiles, Areco Direct, Areco Contractor and Areco Properties. Through the sub-companies, Areco can offer firms in the construction industry everything from raw materials and construction steel products to eco-friendly demolition of buildings. Peter Areskog and the business directors meet regularly to discuss action plans for continued growth. Thus far, the company's strategy has been very successful. In 2004, Areco had about ten employees and annual sales of SEK 100 million. Today, more than 300 people work at Areco, and the company’s annual sales top SEK 2 billion. The current target is to grow from two billion to four within four years.

“Much of this is due to our skilled and talented business directors, who have relatively free rein to make their own decisions. We are now concentrating on growing further in the Nordics and establishing operations in the rest of Northern Europe, but we will not be changing our style. We are going to keep going our own way and not put too much focus on our competitors,” says Areskog.