Draft:Tibnor

Tibnor AB is the biggest steel distributor in the Nordic and Baltic regions. Tibnor has its headquarters in Solna, Sweden and was founded in Sweden in 1976, where it began as a steel distributor, primarily supplying and processing steel products to the Nordic and Baltic industry. The company is part of the SSAB Group and provides products and solutions to a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, construction, and engineering. Today Tibnor provides a broad range of steel and metals; everything from special steel to rust free steel, reinforcement steel, aluminium and other metals.

History
Tibnor's roots trace back to the 19th century, during a period of significant industrial growth and transformation in Sweden. Tibnor was founded by Ratos and Tibnorinvest with the owning families Söderberg, Tiblom and Norin. The company's story begins with Pelle Söderberg, who in 1866, founded Söderberg & Haak, a wholesale firm with the agency for Högbo Bruk. This was a time when the industrial revolution was making substantial impacts across Europe, and Söderberg & Haak became one of the first companies to commercially produce steel in Stockholm. The use of the Bessemer process for steel production was a notable advancement that Söderberg & Haak capitalized on, positioning them as pioneers in the burgeoning steel industry. Larsson, Seaton & Co. was a significant company in western Sweden, specializing in a wide range of building materials. They had a strong reputation and good relationships with both customers and suppliers. The company was known for organizing technical conferences and offering high-quality printed materials containing extensive technical information. They were also leaders in specific products such as concrete elements and architectural bricks, and their influence was prominent in the construction industry over the years. Odelberg & Olson was a Swedish trading company founded in 1884 by John Odelberg and Anders Olson. The company initially traded primarily in cut nails from Skärblacka Ironworks in Östergötland. Over time, they expanded their product range to include other types of nails, horseshoes, stone, and hand tools. The company experienced both successes and challenges, including a bankruptcy in 1922, but recovered and was reorganized into a joint-stock company in 1925. Anders Olson played a pivotal role as chairman and CEO, ensuring the company's stability through his shareholdings and business acumen.

As the industrial landscape evolved, so did the companies that would eventually form Tibnor. The three key players, Söderberg & Haak, Larsson Seaton & Co, and Odelberg & Olson, were at the forefront of the steel wholesale industry in Sweden. The merger of these three companies marked a significant milestone in Tibnors history, as it allowed Tibnor to serve a broader market. During the 1970s, Tibnor expanded its operations, venturing into metal processing and distribution.

In 1980 Tibnor became part of SSAB, producers of advanced high-strength steel. This acquisition provided access to SSAB's extensive resources and technological expertise. Furthermore a key initiative was the launch of the "Kampasten concept" in 1984, aimed at creating a chain of industrial supermarkets where Tibnor's industrial warehouses would lead the market. This concept represented a major transformation for the company, strengthening the role of industrial warehouses within the group and making them more visible and unified under a common profile.

In the late 1900th century Tibnor began expanding beyond Sweden, establishing a significant presence throughout the Nordic region. The company opened branches in Norway, Denmark, Finland and the Baltics, making it the biggest supplier of steel and metals in the area.

SSAB became the full owner of Tibnor in 2011 by acquiring Outokumpu's 15% minority stake. Currently, Tibnor is focused on modernization and digitalization of its processes. The company has invested in advanced IT systems and automated warehouse and distribution solutions to enhance efficiency and customer service. Sustainability and environmental responsibility are key priorities as well. Tibnor continuously works to reduce its carbon footprint and improve energy efficiency. This includes involvement in SSAB's efforts to produce fossil-free steel, an initiative that uses hydrogen instead of traditional coking methods to reduce CO2 emissions. In 2023 Tibnor launched its new identity to reflect their modern and innovate approach to the steel market. The new identity reuses elements from the previous, while the turquoise color reflects their modern approach.

Locations
Tibnor has a total of approximately 40 offices and warehouses with processing facilities in Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark and the Baltic countries. Each country has a local management team with extensive knowledge of their respective markets.

Country managers

 * Fredrik Haglund - Sweden
 * Emma Eriksson - Denmark
 * Torbjörn Persson - Norway
 * Richard Dobrus - Baltics
 * Markus Näsi - Finland

Sustainability
Tibnor collaborates with Ovako and SSAB, which are two companies that both specializes in steel with low carbon footprint. In 2024 Tibnor launched their low CO2 assortment as a step towards a greener future. The assortment consists of low CO2 products, that emits less CO2 than the global average. Tibnor provides the carbon footprint of materials in its inventory, covering all emissions from production stages A1-A3, based on the previous year's purchases. This cradle-to-gate assessment evaluates the environmental footprint from raw material extraction to the factory gate. The weighted average emission intensity (kg CO2e per kg of steel) is calculated using supplier-specific data and their relative volume shares. The model uses EPD values when available, otherwise relying on data from the "CRU Emissions Analysis Tool" or global averages.