Skip to main content

Metso’s 150th anniversary

Crushing equipment specialist Metso is now celebrating its 150th anniversary. The firm started in business in 1868 as a local ironworks and the firm has evolved through a series of mergers, acquisitions and divestments. It now has operations in more than 50 countries and a workforce of over 12,000. Metso is a global industrial company providing the world's mining, aggregates, recycling, and process industries with innovative solutions for the sustainable processing and flow of natural resources. During its
September 17, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
Crushing equipment specialist 6934 Metso is now celebrating its 150th anniversary. The firm started in business in 1868 as a local ironworks and the firm has evolved through a series of mergers, acquisitions and divestments. It now has operations in more than 50 countries and a workforce of over 12,000. Metso is a global industrial company providing the world's mining, aggregates, recycling, and process industries with innovative solutions for the sustainable processing and flow of natural resources.


During its 150 years, Metso has been in many businesses, ranging from steam engines, locomotives, car manufacturing, forest machines, and pulp and paper machines, to valves, metal and waste recycling equipment, and solutions for rock and mineral crushing and screening.  One of its core areas of expertise today is aggregates and minerals processing: key ingredients for the construction and manufacture of infrastructure.

The first innovations that kicked off mechanical crushing and screening processes in the mines and quarries were introduced in the 1800s. Bruno Nordberg, a Finnish migrant who settled in Michigan in the US, produced some of the first crushing equipment for mines. In 1928, Nordberg acquired the Symons cone crusher technology, an innovation that revolutionised crushing practices in mines and quarries. Bergeaud & Bruno was established in France in 1895 to manufacture crushing equipment, and in Tampere, Finland, Lokomo produced its first jaw crushers at the beginning of the 1920s. These industry pioneers are all key components of our DNA.

The amalgamation of Svedala Industri into Metso in 2001, and the introduction of solutions like primary gyratory crushers, grinding mills and vertical shaft impactors was elemental in the creation of its crushing and screening business.

As part of the celebration the firm is organising an exhibition of photographs showing its history.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Versatile crushing and screening equipment
    February 13, 2012
    Work on a key link in the United Arab Emirates is benefiting from the use of equipment supplied by Sandvik Mining and Construction. The firm supplied key equipment for the Salalah bypass project, a 32km road link that will span the entire length of Salalah City as it runs from Raysut in the east, towards Ayn Razat in the west.
  • Keestrack enjoying rapid Chinese growth
    November 28, 2018
    Keestrack has increased its Chinese unit sales by more than 20% in 2018, leaving the mobile crushing and screening plant manufacturer on course to sell around 60 machines in the calendar year. Thomas Hagspiel, the company’s China and Southeast Asia managing director, said the Belgian global crushing and screening equipment firm had been delighted with Chinese customers response to Keestrack’s product offer over the past four years. The company is currently second only to Kleemann in annual China market mob
  • Atlas Copco acquires Hartl
    February 7, 2012
    Atlas Copco Austria has acquired Hartl Anlagenbau, Austria, a company that manufactures and sells mobile crushers and screeners. By this acquisition Atlas Copco enters the growing mobile crushing and screening market. "The acquisition strengthens Atlas Copco's position as a leader within surface rock excavation and handling, as w
  • Metso solutions go on show
    February 5, 2016
    Metso’s renewed mobile Lokotrack LT1213S impactor plant; the popular Lokotrack LT96 jaw plant; the maintenance-friendly three-deck PREMIER ES303 horizontal screen; new stationary plant solutions; truck lining solutions and proven pumps, are part of the company’s exhibit. “bauma offers us a great possibility to present the Metso solutions that can help our customers who are currently undergoing a demanding adjustment cycle. We are well prepared to meet the current needs and to help our customers reduce ope