News

Lapua Chains has acquired a majority stake in the Swedish company Erasmis Ab

Company announcement

Lapua, Finland – September 30, 2024 – Lapua Chains has today announced the acquisition of a majority stake in the Swedish industrial wholesale company, Erasmis Ab.

This acquisition strengthens Lapua Chains position in Sweden, a key market for the company’s products, particularly in the wood industry and power plants. Through this transaction, Lapua Chains aims to expand its market share in Sweden, where it has previously operated primarily through independent distributors and direct relationships with a few OEM customers. By establishing a physical presence in Sweden, the company will enhance customer service and bring Finnish expertise in conveyor chains more strongly into the Swedish market.

“Sweden is a strategically important market for us, and through Erasmis Ab, we can further strengthen our local presence,” said Tuomas Luoma, CEO and main owner of Lapua Chains. “We have long been the market leader in Finland, and our decades of experience in conveyor chains provide us with a significant competitive advantage that we want to leverage in the Swedish industrial sector as well.”

Erasmis Ab has a strong background in industrial products, particularly in power transmission products such as bearings and belts. The acquisition will significantly expand Erasmis’s product portfolio, with Lapua Chains conveyor chains and related products complementing the existing offerings. This will enable better service for both current and new customers, especially in the power transmission sector.

“We are excited about the collaboration with Lapua Chains,” said Håkan Jardesten, CEO of Erasmis Ab. “The acquisition opens up new opportunities through the expansion of our product range, and we believe this development will support our growth and allow us to serve our customers even better in the future.”

Following the acquisition, Erasmis Ab will continue to operate with its current staff, and its existing customers and products will remain unchanged. Lapua Chains goal is to develop Erasmis’s product portfolio and expertise, particularly in conveyor chain products, while also quickly adding personnel resources to meet the needs of the Swedish market.

“Our cooperation with existing Swedish distributors will continue, and we believe that this acquisition will also strengthen their capabilities. Additional resources will help us to reach end customers more effectively, ensuring that they receive full technical support. Our goal is to ensure that our customers in Sweden receive the same high-quality service and products as in Finland,” said Topi Pienimäki, Sales and Marketing Manager at Lapua Chains.

The acquisition marks 22 years since the founding of Lapua Chains and is a natural part of the company’s growth story. In September 2002, Kauhava Konepaja, then owned by Jorma Luoma, Tuomas Luoma’s father, acquired the chain factory from Patria. This acquisition laid the foundation for today’s Lapua Chains Ltd., which is now the market leader in conveyor chains in Finland. Overall, chain manufacturing has a long tradition in Lapua city, dating back to 1947 when it began alongside the Lapua Cartridge Factory on old industrial site that now serves as a cultural center in the city.

About Erasmis Ab Erasmis Ab is a Swedish company based in Gothenburg, founded in 1999, specializing in industrial wholesale trade. The company was acquired by its current owners, Håkan Jardesten and Christer Eliasson, in the early 2000s. It has a turnover of approximately 23 MSEK and currently employs 8 people. Erasmis’s main products include bearings, belts, seals, gearboxes, motors, and other power transmission products. The company has a strong position in the Swedish market and several experienced employees with expertise across various industrial sectors.

https://www.erasmis.se/