AVK History

From local shop to global scale

In 1941, Aage Valdemar Kjær established AVK as a local machine shop which carried out a number of tasks in the local community. Subsequently, the main task of the business became the production of compressors for refrigeration and refrigerating plants, with customers from all over Denmark.

The guiding principles were quality, continuity and close customer relations. He knew that the products were in order, and therefore he was able to offer an extensive product guarantee.

These were important values, which I brought along when I took over his machine shop in 1970, and the production of valves was initiated. Values, which have allowed AVK to grow from a local firm with just 5 employees to a group of more than 3,900 employees supplying customers worldwide.

Still, we must deliver products that we know are in order, and quality, continuity and close customer relations must always be the core values and guiding principles of our business.

However, this is not all. We want to build a continuously stronger brand, and to always be the preferred choice of our customers. This is the best way for us to follow, to ensure the continuity of AVK in the years ahead.

Our Expect...AVK brand concept helps us reach an even higher level. We must expect more from ourselves and deliver products and services that live up to and exceed our customers' expectations. This is why I expect that every single one of our employees worldwide will do their utmost to live up to these goals.

The guiding principles and the connections back in time must form the basis of our business in the time ahead. To choose AVK is the right choice.

Niels Aage Kjær
Owner and CEO

AVK going international

The story of AVK begins with Aage Valdemar Kjær, who opens a local machine shop, and whose initials today are visible on countless valves, hydrants and accessories across the globe. In 1970, his son, Niels A. Kjær, develops the first gate valve and the production of valves begins.

Up through the 1970s, demand rises quickly, and products are exported to Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and the UK. Own rubber production is initiated at AVK GUMMI A/S in Denmark.

By the late 1990s, factories and sales companies have been acquired in France, the Netherlands and South Africa, and sales companies have opened in Hong Kong, Poland and in the Philippines. AVK now also exports to Saudi Arabia, the Far East, France, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Canada, South Africa, Latin America, Australia, the Baltic States, Israel, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Slovakia.

1941

AVK Maskinfabrik A/S is founded in Galten by Aage Valdemar Kjær.

1970s

Own rubber production is initiated at AVK GUMMI A/S. A factory is founded in the UK and sales companies in Denmark and the Netherlands.

1980s

Valve factories are founded in Denmark, the USA and Saudi Arabia. A factory in Denmark is acquired, now AVK Tooling A/S, and Flonidan Gas Division A/S is founded in Denmark. Sales companies are founded in the UK and Norway.

1990s

Factories are founded in Poland and Australia, and companies acquired in the UK, the Netherlands and France. Sales companies are founded in Belgium, France, Spain, South Africa, Hong Kong, Poland and the Philippines. License agreements are made.

AVK going global

10 years into this millennium, exports now also cover Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Bosnia Herzegovina and Turkey. Companies have been acquired in Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Italy, the UK, Brazil and India, including a stake in a Japanese company.

In the following years and up until today, large investments and acquisitions have been increasingly in focus, counting multiple acquisitions in Germany, Spain, the UK, Australia, Brazil, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.

Download a detailed version of our timeline

2000s

A factory is founded in China. Large acquisitions are made in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, the UK, Switzerland, Malaysia and Japan. Sales companies are founded in Sweden, Germany, Italy, Brazil, China and India.

2010s

Factories are founded in India, Kazakhstan and Brazil, and AVK Advanced Castings is established in China. Large acquisitions are made in Germany, the UK, Spain, Italy, Australia, South Africa, Brazil and United Arab Emirates.

2019

The Group now counts +4,000 dedicated people and more than 125 companies.

Full focus on developing even more intelligent, efficient and sustainable solutions.