Showroom at AVK in Skovby, Galten, Denmark

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 +5,300 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 goes international

The journey of AVK begins with Aage Valdemar Kjær, who establishes a machine shop in Galten, Denmark, and whose initials are recognized worldwide on valves, hydrants, and accessories. In 1970, his son, Niels Aage Kjær, takes over the company and develops AVK’s first gate valve.

During the 1970s and 1980s, AVK exports to new markets across Europe and establishes the first sales companies. New production facilities are built in the UK, USA, and Saudi Arabia, ensuring a strong local presence.

By the late 1990s, AVK’s international expansion accelerates. Factories have been acquired in France, the Netherlands, and the UK, and new facilities have been built in Poland and Australia. Several new sales companies have been founded and AVK valves and hydrants are sold all across Europe and in the Far East, Latin America and South Africa.

1941

AVK Maskinfabrik A/S is founded in Galten by Aage Valdemar Kjær.

1970s

Own rubber production is initiated at AVK GUMMI A/S and sales companies are founded in Denmark and the Netherlands.

1980s

New factories built in Denmark, UK, the USA and Saudi Arabia. AVK Tooling A/S and Flonidan Gas Division A/S founded in Denmark. Sales companies founded in UK and Norway.

1990s

New factories built in Poland and Australia. Companies acquired in UK, the Netherlands and France. Sales companies founded in Belgium, France, Spain, South Africa, Hong Kong, Poland and the Philippines. License agreements are made.

AVK goes global

A decade into the new millennium, AVK's export markets have significantly broadened to include countries like Ukraine, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Romania, Bosnia Herzegovina, and Turkey. During this period, AVK strengthens its presence through acquisitions in Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, the UK, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic, as well as acquiring a stake in a Japanese enterprise.

In the years that followed, AVK increased its focus on substantial investments and strategic acquisitions. These include multiple ventures in Germany, Spain, France, the UK, Italy, Norway, Croatia, the Netherlands, Australia, Brazil, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. Today, AVK’s export reach spans the globe, including countries such as Ivory Coast, Kenya, Ghana, Georgia, and Kyrgyzstan.

Download a detailed version of our timeline

Participants at the Global Sales Conference 2018

2000s

New factories built in China and Malaysia and large acquisitions made in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, UK, Switzerland, and Japan. Sales companies founded in Sweden, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Vietnam, China and India.

2010s

New factories built in India and Brazil, and AVK Advanced Castings is established in China. Large acquisitions are made in Germany, Norway, UK, Spain, Italy, Australia, South Africa, Brazil and UAE. Sales companies founded in Korea and Finland.

2020s

Large acquisitions are made in the Netherlands, Croatia, UK, France and Spain. Sales companies founded in Malaysia, Egypt, USA and Hungary.

The AVK Group now counts +5,300 dedicated people and more than 100 companies. We focus on developing even more intelligent, efficient and sustainable solutions.