1919–1955: Graphic Production

Stralfors’ business is based on a long tradition, and it all started in 1919 with a man named Thage Carlsson in Ljungby, Sweden.

Four men posing in front of a brick building with arched windows and a wooden door in a vintage sepia photograph.

On 10 June 1919, a man by the name of Thage Carlsson set up a combined printing works, book and stationery shop, and stamp factory on Södra Järnvägsgatan in the small town of Ljungby in Sweden.

In 1936, Thage changed his surname to Stralfors, so the business was also given a new name, Stralfors Boktryckeri AB. The reason for this was that Thage's two brothers, who had been traveling the world and studying, felt that the name Carlsson was too common, so all three of them changed their surname.

Thage's daughter Gerd met the man who was to be her husband, Göthe Parkander, In Gothenburg in 1948. Göthe was given a job with his future father-in-law the same year, and in 1953 he was invited to take over the business.

Explore a century of Strålfors

1919–1955: Graphic Production

Stralfors’ business is based on a long tradition, and it all started in 1919 with a man named Thage Carlsson in Ljungby, Sweden.

Black and white photo of a mid-20th century factory floor with workers operating large paper roll machines in a spacious industrial facility.

1956–1969: Punch cards and the company's first computer

On a trip to the USA in the early 1950s, Göthe Parkander was inspired by automatic data processing and punch cards. Punch cards became Stralfors’ first, but not last, contact with the IT industry.

Black and white vintage photo of three men in suits, one pointing at documents, with two people standing in the background.

1970–1985: Labels, IT-accessories and gaming

In 1975, Stralfors bought its first label company, Datakett in Helsingborg, which manufactured data labels and other self-adhesive labels. This was the first of a number of acquisitions that made Stralfors a leader in the industry.

Industrial paper processing machine with large white roller in a manufacturing facility, with red and white Kern equipment visible in the background.

1986–1995: Electronic Business Communication

In 1986, Stralfors was one of the first companies in Sweden to invest in an EDI system for electronic business communication.

1996–2006: Loyalty schemes and information logistics

In 1996, Strålfors bought the manufacturer and supplier of smart cards, P. A. Segenmark in Uppsala. With this acquisition, Stralfors strengthened its customer relationships and took a major step towards its current offering.

Two men in suits sitting on an orange sofa conversing, with the Swedish text "Posten i Ryggen" displayed prominently above them.

2006–2012: The road to Omnichannel

In 2006, Swedish company Posten AB acquired Stralfors, which was then de-listed from the Stock Exchange. A couple of years later, Stralfors set up operations in the Polish town of Laskowice.

Double exposure of a cable-stayed bridge with suspension cables and a modern glass office building under a partly cloudy sky.

2013-2021: Connecting the dots in a digital world

Since 1919, Strålfors has successfully managed to transform at every major paradigm, always in close cooperation with our customers.