History

From humble beginnings in Borås in the early 1970s to a globally leading player today. Although our journey has been quick and vast, every step of the journey has been taken both with reflection and a clear goal in mind: to become the best branding and labelling company worldwide.

1970s

Design agency

At its origin, Nilörn was a design agency founded by Claes-Göran Nilsson in Borås in the early 1970s. The company’s activities developed to also be responsible for the production of its labels, which was outsourced to manufacturers in Europe.

1980s

Production company

Nilörn saw the opportunity to streamline the production of its labels and to expand. The first manufacturing company, Boras Etikettväveri, was acquired and soon after further companies in Sweden and Menda in Denmark were also acquired. At the end of the decade, the Svenska Bandfabriken, Bohus Textilkonst and Nordisk Heliotextil were acquired.

1990s

International expansion

To ensure its international expansion, a new share issue was directed to external funders in 1990. The same year Nilörn acquired the largest textile printers, K Björn Eriksen in Denmark, and in 1992 Bally Labels in Switzerland.

Shamrock-Ruga in Belgium and Dalle Caen in France were acquired in 1995. In 1998 Arko label in Germany was added and Nilörngruppen AB was listed on the Stockholm Exchange. In 1999 the UK’s leading label manufacturer, H. H. Calmon & Co. Ltd. was acquired, which also had operations in Portugal, Hong Kong, India and the Dominican Republic. The same year Nilörn bought 20 percent of the German label manufacturer, Gustav König label.

2000s

Design and logistics

 

2001

Belgium’s largest label manufacturer, Nominette, was acquired in 2001. The same year Nilörn East Asia Ltd. in Hong Kong was established.

2004

In 2004 Claes-Göran Nilsson, the founder of Nilörngruppen, resigned as Chairman and relinquished all his other assignments for the Group. Nilörn changed its strategy from being a label manufacturer to be a company with a greater focus on design and efficient logistics solutions. Partnership agreements were signed with production units in China, Bangladesh, India, Turkey and Tunisia.

2005

In 2005 the Swedish production unit for woven labels, Borås Etikettväveri, was closed and production was partially moved to Nilörn’s production site in Portugal.

2006

In 2006, the restructuring of production operations continued with the manufacture of woven labels moved from England and Germany, mainly to Nilörn Portugal.

2007

In 2007 the Belgian production of woven labels was closed. Former partner, Hazer Etiket in Turkey was acquired and renamed to Nilörn Turkey.

2008

In 2008 own-production in Nilörn Turkey is discontinued to concentrate its operations on purchasing and sales. 

2009

In 2009 Claes af Wetterstedt was appointed as President and CEO of the Group. Traction, which had been a shareholder since 2005, increased its holding to 65 percent of the shares and Nilörngruppen AB was delisted on June 30 from the Stockholm Stock Exchange. A new board of Directors was elected, except Petter Stillström who became chairman.

2010s

Increased focus on sustainability

 

2010

In 2010 Nilörn established subsidiaries in Bangladesh and China (Shanghai). The logistics in Europe became more efficient through the establishment of a central warehouse for the German and Belgian operations.

2012

In 2012 Nilörn AB moved its stock from Sweden to the central warehouse in Germany to streamline operations. Nilörn started production of Care Labels (textile printing) in Hong Kong. This was also the first year that all the operating companies within the Group were profitable.

2014

In 2014 Nilörn Pakistan Ltd was established and production of both woven and printed labels increased in Portugal. A sales office was established in Italy.

2015

In 2015 the decision to start-up production in Bangladesh was taken. Nilörngruppen AB’s shares were listed on NASDAQ OMX First North Premier.

Nilörn HQ moves to a new office.

2017

In 2017 Nilörn presented its first sustainability report ‘More fit for the future’. The same year, the newly built factory in Bangladesh, the Nilörn Dhaka factory, opens.

2018

In 2018 Nilörngruppen AB changes its listing to Nasdaq OMX Small Cap. Investments are made in new looms at the Portugal plant.

The Nilörn Design Department creates the ‘Designers Checklist’. It is to be used as a tool in new product developments.

2019

In 2019 solar panels were installed at Nilörn Portugal’s factory in the pursuit of more sustainable energy use. During this year, a new office in England is completed and Nilörn UK moves into its new premises.

 

2020s