Gunnebo Group Explained

Gunnebo AB (publ)
Location:Gothenburg, Sweden
Key People:Stefan Syrén (President & CEO)
Area Served:Worldwide
Industry:Security
Products:Entrance control
Safe storage
Revenue:MEUR 418 (2020)
Num Employees:3,400 (March 2022)

Gunnebo is a multinational corporation headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden, specializing in security products mainly in the areas of entrance control and safe storage.

The Gunnebo Group has operations in 25 countries with approximately 3,400 employees and a reported global revenue of MEUR 418 for 2021.

History

Origins

Gunnebo has its roots in the village of Gunnebo in south-east Sweden, where Hans Hultman created a forge in 1764.[1] This small business grew steadily until the formation of Gunnebo Bruks Nya AB in 1889. This company later became known as Gunnebo Industries.[2]

Becoming a listed company

In 1991 HIDEF Kapital AB was formed by the Swedish government as one of eight venture capital companies charged with investing in Swedish companies suffering from the national financial crisis. HIDEF became a listed company on the Swedish Stock Exchange in 1994 and one year later took the name of one of its acquisitions, Gunnebo Industries, to become Gunnebo AB (aktiebolag).[3]

Expansion through acquisitions

At this point Gunnebo began a series of major acquisitions and bought several companies focused on security from sectors such as safes & vaults, cash management, entrance security and electronic security (see section below).

In 2005, Gunnebo Industries and its traditional fencing business was divested from Gunnebo AB.

In 2006, the 30 or so acquisitions made between 1994 and 2004 were brought fully under the umbrella of Gunnebo to create sales companies in 29 different markets around the globe. As the Group developed in growth markets, these were added to through the creation of Gunnebo China (2010), Gunnebo Brazil (2011), Gunnebo Malaysia (2011) and Gunnebo South Korea (2013).

Brands

The Gunnebo Group owns several major brands within the field of security.

Brand Product Market Origin
Chubbsafes Safe storage Global UK. Founded 1818.
Hamilton Safe storage North America USA. Founded 1967.
Rosengrens Safe storage Global Sweden. Founded 1886.
Steelage Safe storage India India. Founded 1932.
Minimax Fire safety India India. Founded 1903.
elkosta Outdoor perimeter security Global Germany. Founded 1951.

Major acquisitions

Major Acquisitions Year Country
Gnosjö Group 1994 Sweden
1994 Sweden
Presso Industrier AB 1994 Sweden
Gunnebo Industrier 1995 Sweden
Italdis 1997 Italy
Wego 1997 Germany
Carl Seifert 1997 Denmark
Praediator 1998 Poland
Hygiaphone 1998 France
Garny 1998 Germany
Polaraidat 1998 Finland
Fichet-Bauche 1999 France
Rosengrens Austria1999 Austria
T Kern 1999 Switzerland
2000 UK
Clausen 2001 Norway and Sweden
CS Security (Ritzenthaler/Haffner) 2001 France
Nurmi Trade 2001 Finland
Omega 2001 US
Leicher 2002 Germany
Riva 2002 Italy
Kubon 2003 Germany
Securibel 2004 Switzerland
Elkosta 2004 Germany
Lips Vago 2004 Italy
Chubb 2004 Belgium
Hammer Sicherheit 2004 Belgium
Gateway Security 2004 Sweden
Eurofence 2004 France
Aysec 2004 Finland
Grand Entrance Control 2008 Australia
API Security/Physical Security Division 2010 Australia
Alltech 2011 South Africa
Gateway do Brazil (80%) 2011 Brazil
Hamilton 2012 USA
ATG Entrance Corporation 2013 South Korea
DISSAMEX 2014 México
Clear Image 2014 UK
Grupo Sallén Tech S.L. 2015 Spain
Cominfo, a.s.2019Czechia
HC22021Italy

Products

Safe storage

Includes safes, safe deposit lockers and strongrooms. To determine the level of security provided by a safe or vault, there is a grading system from I-XII. A grade is always awarded by an independent body (European Certification Body).[4] Safes with grades up to III are typically used by retailers or in offices, whereas banks tend to use safes and vaults with much higher grades.

Safes can also be constructed to withstand fire and therefore can also carry a fire protection grade. This denotes the type of contents which can be protected (either paper or data media) and the duration of protection (half an hour, one hour or two hours).

Entrance control

Entrance control products include speed gates, turnstiles and other entrance systems which only allow entry to authorised individuals. These are used, for example, in mass transit public transport systems or at stadia to allow passage to only those people carrying a valid ticket. Entrance control is also used in airports to facilitate boarding and immigration control, and to prevent passengers returning from public-side to airside.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gunnebo Annual Report 2005. Gunnebo AB.
  2. Web site: Gunnebo Annual Report 2015. Gunnebo AB.
  3. Book: Gunnebo. MediaSpjuth AB. 91-7000-229-0. 145–149.
  4. Web site: Certification body. European Security Systems Association.