Our story

From local shop to global scale

In 1941, Aage Valdemar Kjær established AVK as a local machine shop. The main task of the business was the production of compressors for refrigeration and refrigerating plants for customers from all over Denmark.

His 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 guiding principles were important values, which I brought along when I took over his machine shop in 1970.

These values have made AVK grow from a local firm with 5 employees to a Group with +4,800 employees supplying products to customers worldwide.

Our Expect...AVK brand concept helps us reach even higher. 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 principles in the time ahead. This way, AVK will also be the safe choice in the years to come.

Niels Aage Kjær
Chairman of the AVK Holding board

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.

2024

The Group now counts +4,800 dedicated people and more than 100 companies.

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