Kværner

Kværner ASA

Type	Allmennaksjeselskap
Traded as	:
Industry	Heavy industry
Predecessor	Kvaerner Brug (1853) Trafalgar House (1996)
Successor	Aker Kvaerner (2004-2008) Aker Solutions (2008-2011) Kværner ASA (2011 till present)
Founded	1853
Headquarters	Oslo, Norway
Key people	Jan Arve Haugan, CEO
Number of employees	3200
Website	kvaerner.com

Kværner was a Norway-based engineering and construction services company that existed between 1853 and 2005. In 2004, it was amalgamated to the newly formed subsidiary of Aker ASA - Aker Kværner, which was later renamed to Aker Solutions on 3 April 2008. Kværner re-emerged on 6 May 2011, when the EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) part of Aker Solutions took the Kværner name. The new Kværner company was listed on on 8 July 2011.

Kvaerner Brug was founded in Oslo in 1853 by industrialist Oluf A. Onsum (1820-1899). The company became principally involved in the production of cast iron stoves. In 1870, Kvaerner built its first hydroelectric turbine. During the early 1900s, Kvaerner power turbines remained the principal product line which also included bridges, cranes, and pumps. Kvaerner was listed on the in 1967. By the 1990s, the company assembled a collection of engineering and industrial businesses, including shipbuilding, construction of offshore oil and gas platforms, production of pulp and paper manufacturing equipment and operation of shipping fleet.

Director-general of Kværner after the stock exchange listing were Kjell B. Langballe (1960–1976), Carl Røtjer (1976–1986) and Mikal H. Grønner (1986–1989). Chairmen were Frithjof A. Lind (–1982), Johan B. Holte (1982–1985), Emil Eriksrud (1985–1986), Carl Røtjer (1986–1989), and then Kaspar Kielland. Since 2011, the CEO has been Jan Arve Haugan.

Erik Tønseth became director-general of Kværner in 1989, and under his leadership the company underwent large-scale international expansion, acquiring the state-owned Govan Shipbuilders from British Shipbuilders. In 1992 Kværner acquired the Swedish company Götaverken. In 1996, Kværner acquired the UK conglomerate Trafalgar House and moved its international headquarters from Oslo to London.