It all began with Alfred Lövgren and his three sons
In the 1940s, Alfred Lövgren founded a construction company in Skellefteå. When his three sons – Anders, Mats and Pähr – joined the business in the late 1960s, the operations expanded to include lumber drying.
The lumber drying activities were given their own name – Utec – and the 1970s were marked by intensive development, particularly within control systems.
In 1997, Valmet’s lumber kiln division was acquired, forming Valmet Utec Oy. In 2001, the companies changed name to Valutec. In January 2006, ABB Kilns AB was acquired, followed three years later by WSAB.
Since April 2020, Valutec has been part of Addtech, a publicly listed technology group comprising 150 independent companies.
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1922
The then Svenska Fläkt, later becoming ABB Kilns AB, delivers its first kilns.
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1945
Valutec OY, under the name Valmet, delivers equipment for what were then called "artificial kilns."
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1970
The first lumber kiln from Skellefteå is delivered.
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1972
The company receives a patent for its dynamic drying process.
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1988
Patent is granted for the OTC continuous kiln.
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1990
The continuous kiln and a control system adapted to this kiln type are introduced.
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1997
Acquisition of Valmet’s kiln division.
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2006
Acquisition of ABB’s kiln division.
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2006
The first continuous kiln is sold to Central Europe.
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2007
Patent is granted for adaptive fan speed control.
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2009
Acquisition of WSAB.
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2013
The first modern TC continuous kiln is commissioned at SCA Bollsta, Sweden.
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2015
Valutec Wood Dryers Inc. is founded and a local sales office established.
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2015
Kiln Operators Society is founded by Valutec. The first meeting is held in Hestra, Sweden.
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2016
The first modern TC continuous kiln is sold to Central Europe.
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2018
The first modern TC continuous kiln is sold to Finland.
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2018
The first modern TC continuous kiln is sold to North America.
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2019
The Valmatics 4.0 control system is launched.
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2020
Valutec is acquired by publicly listed Addtech.
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2023
Valutec sets a new record for annual turnover: SEK 850 million.
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2024
John Karbin is appointed as new CEO.
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2024
Kiln Operators Society expands. Meetings are held for the first time in Norway and Germany.
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2025
Valutec hires its first employee based in Germany.
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2025
Kiln Operators Society is held for the first time in Finland.