On March 10, 2017 the decision was made to stop production of the Wetterlings Brand. Wetterlings will now be a production site for Gransfors Bruks much like their Bergsjo forge which was started in 1917. Almost 100 years to the day they will add a second forge to bolster production. While this truly marks the end of an Era, hopefully, it will be a step in the right direction for Gransfors Bruks.
At the beginning of the 20th century, there were twenty Swedish forging titans producing hundreds of thousands of axes per year. Plus many other tools on top of that. Seventy years later only three where left. With Saters Yxfabrik being the last to close in 1966.
The tool business has never been an easy one. Shortly after the start of the 20th century most forges were either pushed into the export market, from the 1920s to the 1950s, or forced to close.
Wetterlings managed to stay strong throughout that whole time, enjoying a period of growth during the 60s and early 70s. They shared production with Saters Yxfabrik. As well they supplying axes for half of Sandvik’s contracts.
By the late 1960s the competition from cheap Chinese exports proved too much for Sater. In the mid 1970s Sandvik was faced with the similar choice of moving all their purchases to China. Eventually lowering prices, quality and even outsourcing couldn’t save them.
By roughly the 1960s Wetterlings had already dropped most of their tool production. Eventually dropping production their premium EX line as well. A line which had lasted since the very beginning of the forge.
With globalization and the need for cheaper products, the pressure began to build. By 2006 they were bought out by Gransfors Bruks then sold again in 2009 and finally bought again by Gransfors Bruks in 2016.
With only nine people currently working there and a decade of declining sales, the hammer finally had to drop.
It truly is sad to lose one of the last three remaining Swedish forges. One of the last remaining axe forges in the entire world. Most were liquidated around the turn of the century. Giving way to massive corporate forges.
Our world has become one of disposable tools. Where companies buy them by the thousands as consumables. Where the cheapest product wins and craftsman have been replaced by machines ran by laborers.
So please, value your tools. Eventually, they will all say “Made in China.”
Swedish Forges Lost To History
Wetterlings
Sater
Urafors
Sandvik
Swift
Avrika
Forserum
Kolefors
Aby
Gavle
Edsbyn
Storvik
Wira
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