Vänersborgskopplingen "VBG Group" A Quick History

A Brief History.

Herman Krefting was the founder of VBG Group. Initially a truck salesman in Vänersborg, Sweden, Herman quickly noted safety issues arising from the current drawbar couplings. After years selling trucks, he discovered a better way to design the couplings to increase safety in the cold climates of Sweden. After much work, VBG became registered on the 3rd of January 1951 with a new design for couplings. He started the small business in his basement with only a few employees. Once he had a working design, he patented it and in eight countries that same year. In 1955 VBG developed the first automatic coupling as a way of increasing safety on the roads and in the cold climates. In the 1960s the products continued to increase after much research into safety, passenger towing and trailers were the next area of expansion.

After years of suffering from asthma, Herman’s condition developed, and he had to move to a more tropical area and thus decided to transfer responsibility as he withdrew. Due to asthma and the limited research available at the time Herman instituted three foundations, the VBG-SLK Foundation, The SLK Employees’ foundation and the Herman Krefting Foundation for Allergy and Asthma Research. Herman had awarded more than SEK 100 M to research asthma and allergy by 2016. in 2008 the Krefting Research centre was established at the University of Gothenburg to help clinical and near-patient research. “Our researchers study the different types of asthma with the goal of understanding their differences in order to find better treatments” (https://www.gu.se/en/krefting-research/our-research) Unfortunately, Herman Krefting passed on the 13th of August 1993 and was unable to see how much he improved the world and the lives of people with asthma.

After Herman Krefting withdrew, VBG Group expanded into Norway and Denmark by 1974, creating sales companies. VBG then went on to be listed on the Stockholm Stock exchange’s (over the counter) OTC list in 1987. The 1990s was an excellent decade for VBG, acquiring three new companies that fit into their niches. Armaton drop-side pillars which design items for drop-side trays on the back of trucks and utilities. Onspot automatic tyre chains to assist with the icy roads of the colder climate and improve safety for trucks. KRZ drawbar couplings were purchased to build on their original drawbars and expand their market. From 2000 to 2010 they expanded into North America, France, Belgium and India. Now VBG Group is in 18 countries, with 33 companies under VBG Group.