A part of Hultafors Group

After having been part of Fristads Kansas Group since 2015, Fristads wrote a new chapter in its corporate history in 2020, when it was acquired by Hultafors Group, along with its sister brands Kansas in Denmark and Leijona in Finland. Organisationally, Fristads, Kansas and Leijona now operate as a stand-alone unit within Hultafors Group.  

Together with Hultafors Group, we have the strongest Personal Protection Equipment offering in Europe and North America. Being a part of Hultafors Group also allows us to combine our workwear industry expertise and continue to drive the development of our industry with product innovation and sustainability in focus.  

Long history

Just like Fristads, Hultafors Group has been a cornerstone on the Swedish workwear market for a long time. The story of Hultafors Group goes all the way back to 1883, when an engineer named Hilmer Kollén invented and started manufacturing folding rules in a factory in Stockholm. His son, Joel Kollén, later moved the factory to Hultafors, where it is still located today.  

The company, which was named Hultafors AB in 1925, grew significantly in the 20th century, and in the 2000s acquisitions picked up pace. Hultafors Group was founded in 2006 to act as an umbrella group for the brands Hultafors, Wibe Ladders and Snickers Workwear, and has continued to grow ever since.

One group, many brands

Hultafors Group is owned by Investment AB Latour and is one of Europe’s largest companies to supply workwear, footwear, head protection, hand tools, tool carriers and ladders for professional users. The products are developed, manufactured and marketed as their own brands, which are available through leading distributors in about 40 markets, with emphasis on Europe and North America. Hultafors Group has more than 1,000 employees and net sales in 2020 amounted to SEK 3.6 billion.

In addition to Fristads, Kansas and Leijona, Hultafors Group includes the brands Snickers Workwear, Hultafors, Wibe Ladders, Solid Gear, Toe Guard, Dunderdon, Hellberg Safety, Johnson Level, EMMA Safety Footwear, CLC Tools Carriers & Gloves, Kuny’s Tools Carriers and EripioWear.