1857 It all starts
Johan Kähr founds a small turning shop and produces wooden articles for local farmers. He slowly made a name for himself. Today, the global Kährs company is still located where it started 150 years ago in Nybro, in the heart of Sweden's Småland forests. |
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1919 Today's company founded
Johan Kähr's grandson Gustaf founds AB Gustaf Kähr and production moves over to doors from wooden goods and toys. The company now tests and develops a new technique using laminated wood to avoid problems caused by the climate.
It is a success! |
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1941 Multi-layer parquet developed and patented
After the success with doors, the lamination technique is tested for floors. It turns out brilliantly, and the world's first multi-layer parquet floor is patented. Today's modern wood floors are based on the same principle of using several different layers to create a stable reliable construction. |
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1958 The first factory-lacquered floor
Previously floors were installed, and sanded before being lacquered on site. The production of a factory lacquered floor required a high degree of precision to ensure that the surface of the floor was smooth and consistent in use. Kährs were able to introduce an accuracy in production that was unparalleled in wood processing and the process of installing wooden flooring was accelerated. |
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1965 The first Sports Floor
Kährs takes out a patent for a completely new sports floor construction. Boards were nailed to a flexible batten system, which resulted in a floor that was able to absorb impacts and give a more uniform response to sports activities. Most modern sports floors are still based on this construction. |
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1973 1,000,000 m2
A record year for Kährs, we sold more than 1,000,000 m2. On a global level, the year is memorable for the worldwide oil crisis. During the years that follow, Kährs focuses production to quality wood floors and making production more environmentally friendly. |
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1984 Solvent-free lacquer
Kährs starts its own environmental programme before this kind of work has become general practice in business. Kährs are the first floor manufacturer, who are able to boast of an entirely solvent-free production process. |
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1993 ISO 9001
The objectives of the 1980s and 90s have been achieved and Kährs becomes the first wood floor manufacturer to achieve ISO 9001 quality certification. |
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1995 Linnea. The new generation of wood floors is introduced
Kährs develop a floor with amazing qualities, despite its thin top layer, it is as hard and durable as many wood imitations such as laminate floors and is both economical and extremely easy to install. |
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1997 ISO 14001
Kährs gains ISO 14001 environmental certification. Waste products from forest felling provide district heating for the community around the factory. The ash that remains is returned to the forest as fertiliser. |
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2000 Woodloc® launched
The unique glueless floor joint is launched. Woodloc® makes it even easier to lay the floor, but above all it means that gaps never appear between the boards despite climatic changes in the home. |
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2004 Activity Floor – the new sports floor
A sprung sports floor is developed and launched. It can be laid more quickly and over larger areas. The floor is approved for the global standard for sports floors, DIN, and is used at major sporting events. |
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2007 We are 150 years old, with lots of new products
Kährs has gone from making simple turned products for local customers to being a world-leading producer of wood floors sold in more than 30 countries in many hundreds of designs, styles and finishes. In 2007 we celebrate our 150th anniversary, and are launching many new floors in new collections to suit all interiors and tastes. |
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