Swix
Encyclopedia
Swix is a Norwegian
company producing ski wax
, ski pole
s and sportswear
. The company is owned by the investment company Ferd AS, and has the head office in Lillehammer
.
The company was founded in Sweden
in 1946 by Börje Gabrielsson, based on experience with ski wax by Swedish skier Martin Matsbo
. Swix was the first producer of modern ski wax, and had a scientific approach to the challenge. The wax was colour coded according to type, a practice which has since been adopted by the entire ski wax industry. Production was in Skåne in Sweden and in Fjellhamar
near Oslo
, Norway. By 1964 all production had been moved to Norway. In 1974, Swix bought Liljedahls Skistavfabrikk in Lillehammer
, briging the brand under the Swix name and becoming a leading ski pole manufacturer. Swix wax bought by Ferd in 1978. Finally, in 1989, Swix bought Norheim and used the company to expand into the technical sportswear market.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
company producing ski wax
Ski wax
Ski wax is a material applied to the bottom of skis or snowboards to improve the ski's performance on snow. It can also be applied to other devices that slide over snow and ice such as toboggans.- Types of ski wax :...
, ski pole
Ski pole
Ski poles are used by skiers to improve balance and timing. Early ski poles were simply sticks, then bamboo , then steel . In 1958, Ed Scott invented the aluminium ski pole...
s and sportswear
Sportswear
Sportswear or activewear is clothing, including footwear, worn for sport or physical exercise. Sport-specific clothing is worn for most sports and physical exercise, for practical, comfort or safety reasons....
. The company is owned by the investment company Ferd AS, and has the head office in Lillehammer
Lillehammer
is a town and municipality in Oppland county, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was...
.
The company was founded in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
in 1946 by Börje Gabrielsson, based on experience with ski wax by Swedish skier Martin Matsbo
Martin Matsbo
Martin Matsbo was a Swedish cross country skier who competed in the 1930's. He won a bronze medal in the 4 x 10 km relay at the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen...
. Swix was the first producer of modern ski wax, and had a scientific approach to the challenge. The wax was colour coded according to type, a practice which has since been adopted by the entire ski wax industry. Production was in Skåne in Sweden and in Fjellhamar
Fjellhamar
Fjellhamar is a village in Akershus, Norway and is about twenty minutes driving from Oslo....
near Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway. By 1964 all production had been moved to Norway. In 1974, Swix bought Liljedahls Skistavfabrikk in Lillehammer
Lillehammer
is a town and municipality in Oppland county, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was...
, briging the brand under the Swix name and becoming a leading ski pole manufacturer. Swix wax bought by Ferd in 1978. Finally, in 1989, Swix bought Norheim and used the company to expand into the technical sportswear market.