14 February 1896 – Celebrating 130 Years as a Group

Today, 14 February, marks a moment of lasting significance in our shared history. On this very date in 1896, the foundations were laid for what continues to unite us today, when AB Freys Hyrverk was formally established, not as a single enterprise, but as a merged corporate group, born from several operations, several strengths and a shared ambition to build something greater than any one part alone. 

This became possible through the foresight of Gustaf Liljedahl, who united Westerberg & Co, Käck & Co and the family’s own operation. It was a decision taken in another era, yet shaped by principles that remain timeless: order before chance, responsibility before haste, and longterm thinking before shortterm gain. That the company’s formation was confirmed under a royal charter further reflects the seriousness and weight with which this undertaking was carried out from the very beginning. 

Much has changed since the days when horses were stabled at Grev Turegatan and drivers wore livery with cleanshaven cheeks as a mark of order, honour and professional pride. Yet much remains unchanged. The demand for professionalism. Respect for the assignment. The understanding that trust is not given, it is earned, through action, day after day. A clear and unbroken line runs through 130 years of responsibility, development and stewardship. 

Today, we operate in a different world, with different tools and conditions. Still, we are carried by the same foundation. 

We were a group then. We are a group today. 

And we continue to build upon the legacy entrusted to us, guided by people, structure and direction as our shared compass. 

As we mark this milestone, we pause to look back with pride, carry our responsibility with humility and look ahead with confidence. One hundred and thirty years is not merely an age, it is a testament to trust across generations. 

And as tradition allows, no anniversary should pass without a proper salute. Hats are raised and a resounding fourfold cheer echoes from the coachman’s box of 1896 into our own time. Yet even the most dignified occasions deserve warmth and togetherness.