Optimism, confidence and full speed ahead! Such is the mood in Sweden in 1950. Gone are the frustrating ration cards from the war years, even though the ration book is still around another five years. Welfare gets a significant boost and owning a car is now a dream that more and more people are able to realise. The Volvo PV444 becomes a symbol of the increase in prosperity. In 1950, the Areskog family acquires Trelleborgs Skrotaffär AB, which will later become Areco.
Planning of the first Swedish motorway is under way, and the installation of the 17-kilometre stretch between Malmö and Lund takes place just a few years later.
The County Administrative Board proclaims: “The road may only be trafficked by vehicles subject to registration and any trailer connected to such.” In other words, no cyclists or horse-drawn carriages on the motorway.
Sweden’s population passes the 7 million mark.
The countries of Europe, in ruins after World War II, are being rebuilt. Swedish industry, which is intact and can run at full speed, has considerable exports to the countries recovering from the war.
In the outside world, big events take place in 1950, some which have effects felt even today.
The French politician Robert Schuman launches a plan for a European cooperation that, inter alia, focuses on supranational control of the coal and steel production of France and West Germany. The embryo of the EU is created.
The Korean War breaks out when North Korean troops cross the border into South Korea at the 38th parallel.
They were eventually driven back, but the Korean peninsula is still divided by this line.
In 1950, Lennart “Nacka” Skoglund signs a contract with FC Inter in Milan. 17-year-old Ingemar Johansson wins the heavyweight class at the Swedish Junior Boxing Championships.
In 1950, the Areskog family acquires Trelleborgs Skrotaffär AB, which will later become Areco.
1944
The privately owned company Trelleborg Skrotaffär AB is founded in Trelleborg.
1950
The Areskog family acquires Trelleborgs Skrotaffär AB. Bertil Areskog and his brother Bengt grow the company into one of the largest recycling and demolition companies in southern Sweden.
1954
The branch 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 is established with Thysells AB (now known as Ruukki) in Anderslöv. Industriskrot AB takes care of their scrap and product seconds, while at the same time becoming a reseller of their prime product range. This is the first step towards becoming a trading company in the construction industry.
1978-1980
Bertil Areskog’s sons, Peter and Stefan, begin working in the company. Peter builds up an international network for export while Stefan is responsible for local operations.
1989
The company changes 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 establishes its first factory for profiled roof and wall sheeting through a lease with its Polish partner Gama LG. A partnership with Asian steelworks is established, which becomes a cornerstone of operations.
1999
Start-up of a demolition department in Helsingborg, later Globax AB.
Areco acquires its polish partner Gama LG, which is renamed Areco Sweden. At the same time, Areco begins its own production of roof and wall sheeting in Malmö.
2000
reco acquires Profilplåt AB in Kil and establishes contact with SSAB. Areco begins to transform from a trading company to a producer in the design and construction industry.
2001
Areco sells its recycling operations to Stena Metall AB, but retains its environmental and demolition contracting operations as part of the company Globax AB.
2004
Areco moves its production from Kil to new premises in Malmö. The operations are combined, with a new sales department that is given the name Areco Direct. The new department focuses on the sale of construction products, structural steel and reinforcement materials. In 2004, Areco’s turnover reaches SEK 100 million.
2005
A major international expansion of the company begins through leasing agreements for profiling machines to several foreign partners. Areco supplies its partners with both raw materials and profiled products with a short delivery time. Areco’s property in Malmö expands with the construction of a modern coil warehouse.
2008
Stefan Areskog leaves the company and Peter becomes sole owner of Areco.
2009
Areco moves its raw materials warehouse from Malmö to Helsingborg harbour to increase the warehouse’s capacity to 25 000 tonnes.
2010
Areco acquires a company in Kragerö, Norway.
2012
Areco invests SEK 100 million in a factory for production of its proprietary roof drainage system. The products are launched under the name Caracol, inspired by a famous waterfall in Brazil.
2013
Areco builds a new head office in Malmö to effectively manage the company’s big expansion.
2014
Areco develops its own Swedish distribution channels under the name Areco Direct. As part of the development, Lundberg & Kullberg AB and Tonito Plåtgrossisten AB are acquired. In 2014, Areco Direct has eight shops in Sweden. Areco Contractor expands through the acquisition of Nordisk Specialhåltagning AB and Nilssons Mark och Diamant AB. Areco Profiles also grows through the acquisition of Dansk Profilteknik, which produces roof and wall sheeting for the Danish, German and Norwegian markets.
2015
The company is divided into the parent company Areco Steel and the five divisions – Areco Metals, Areco Profiles, Areco Direct, Areco Contractor and Areco Properties. All of the subsidiaries are owned and marketed by the parent company Areco Steel. The Group produces approximately 6.5 million square metres of roof and wall sheeting and handles about 100,000 tonnes of steel. In 2015, Areco achieves a turnover of over SEK one billion. The wholesaler E’Ton in Gothenburg is acquired.
2016
Areco Direct continues with its plan to expand into a wholesale chain covering the whole of Sweden through its acquisition of Éton i Göteborg AB. Areco buys Mälarplåt AB, which is integrated into the Metals business area. Areco also acquires the site leasehold to the ”Vinkeln 8” property, a plot of approximately 33,000 m2. This acquisition is a strategic step to develop the Properties division. Areco Direct opens its first drive-in store for construction sheet metal and ventilation in Malmö. This covers an area of approximately 3,000 m2. The concept is the first of its kind in Sweden.
2017
The Areco Metals business area becomes an independent company and is in the process of constructing a 4,500 m2 factory in Malmö. A Steel Service Centre for the cutting, slitting, storage and distribution of sheet metal products. Areco Profiles acquires Dubbelfalsen AB to supplement its own Caracol roof drainage range. Areco Direct establishes itself in Stockholm with two stores through the acquisition of Takhuset and the Liwa Gruppen. Drive-in number two is inaugurated at Areco Direct in Jönköping.
2018
Areco Profiles continues its expansion in the Nordic region by buying the Finnish sandwich panel manufacturer TPE Spirit Oy. The acquisition means that for the first time Areco has established itself in Finland, and now has its own production of mineral wool sandwich panels. Areco Metals further expands its operations into the mechanical and automotive engineering industry through its acquisition of Ferrex Scandinavia AB. The company possesses agreat deal of expertise and supplies industries in the Nordic region with products direct from steelworks to the customer’s factory.
2019
Following a property acquisition, Areco Profiles can plan its fifth factory to expand its production of sheet metal and roof drainage products. Areco celebrates 75 years as a company and invites to a big party in its own premises. Initiates a major digitization work of the sheet metal assortment, to be able to offer the products in CAD format. A new production line for load-bearing profile TP131 is installed.
2020
Areco Direct opens a new site in northern Stockholm, Spånga. Areco Direct already has two locations in southern Stockholm, Bandhagen and Sätra. With these new premises, the company will be geographically comprehensive in the Stockholm region.
2021
Areco Properties acquires two premises in Malmö, Sweden Construction of a new head office takes off in Malmö, Sweden, a total of 3,000 sqm. Areco is a three-year main sponsor of the World Padel Tour. Areco Properties acquires a premise ”Vara Viggen 1” in Kvänum, Sweden Areco Profiles acquires a company, Profilmetal A/S in Denmark. Areco Direct acquires a company, Lans Plåt in Lidköping, Sweden. Areco Properties acquires a premise ”Tågarp 16:16” in Arlöv, Sweden. Sale of Areco Contractor to the company Lima Perstorp AB
