APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090018-7
Production of nonelectrical power machinery is substantial and normally satisfies domestic requirements. Marine engines (both diesel and other internal combustion types), hydraulic turbines, and steam boilers and turbines are produced in quantity. Most of the engines for transportation equipment are produced in the respective shipyards, aircraft plants, and automobile factories. The important manufacturers of stationary engines include the following:
- Koekums Mekaniska Verkstads AB
- Eriksbergs Mekaniska Verkstads AB
- AB Motala Verkstad
- AB Bolinder-Munktell
Sweden is a leading producer of agricultural equipment. Tractors, combines, and plows are the principal items produced for the domestic market, while cream separators and milking machines are the most important export items. In terms of value of production, tractors are the most important items, over 14,000 tractors were produced in 1969. Sweden manufacturers mostly lighweight wheeled tractors that are adapted to the small-scale, intensive farming typical of the country. There is a trend, however, toward larger, heavier models. A single firm, AB Bolinder-Munktell, a wholly owned subsidiary of Volvo AB, completely dominates agricultural tractor production in Sweden.
Swedish dairy machinery, produced domestically as well as by foreign subsidiaries, is noted in world markets for its high quality. Alfa-Laval AB is Sweden's largest producer and the world's largest exporter of dairy equipment. Sweden has attained more than a proportionate share of the world market for dairy equipment, accounting for about one-fifth of the major industrial countries' exports of dairy equipment. Much of Sweden's exports of these items goes to the two largest European agricultural producers, the U.S.S.R. and France. Foreign markets are also supplied by manufacturing subsidiaries abroad. Alfa-Laval, for example, has plants in the United States, Canada, and West Germany. Swedish dairy equipment dominates the Scandinavian and Finnish markets, for which its small-scale design is particularly well suited. Swedish production of dairy equipment totaled US$24 million in 1969.
Sweden enjoys a worldwide reputation as a producer and exporter of high-quality office machines. Of its output of US$121 million of office machines in 1969, about 45% was exported; adding machines, calculators, typewriters, and cash registers account for most of the export earnings from this class of equipment. The two largest producers, Facit AB and AB Addo, are members of the Facit Group, which was formed in mid-1966 to pool the resources of the firms as a means of improving their international competitiveness. The Facit Group has completely dominated the domestic market for adding machines and calculators and is increasing its penetration of world markets, including the United States. Although most of its requirements for computers and peripheral equipment are met by imports, Swedish industry has been engaged for some time in the production of computers. SAAB-Scania AB has a small but growing role in the domestic computer market. At the end of 1970 Sweden had 700 electronic computer installations in use; on a per capita basis, this ranked Sweden eighth in the world.
Among the other important types of industrial machinery produced in Sweden are machine tools; pulp, paper, and wood processing machinery; mining and excavating machinery, particularly rock-cutting drills; blowers, compressors, and ventilators; and industrial centrifuges. Sweden's highly specialized and export-oriented machine tool industry produces quality center less and internal grinding machines, lathes, and milling machines. The pulp, paper, paperboard, and wood processing industry has fostered the production of a wide range of machinery, from logging and sawmill equipment to specialized pulp and paper machinery. The leading firm in the field is AB Karlstads Mekaniska Verkstad, Karlstad (Figure 11), Jonsereds Fabriker AB and Koekums Landsverk AB specialize in industrial woodworking machinery and special cranes for handling lumber.
The principal categories of electrical equipment and machinery produced in Sweden are electric power generating machinery, telephone and telegraph apparatus, wire and able, batteries, and household appliances. The most important firm in the industry, with a sales volume of US$692 million in 1970, is ASEA. Sweden's third-largest industrial firm, ASEA is the leading Swedish producer of electrical motors and generators, as well as power and distribution transformers. Telefon AB L.M Ericsson, Sweden's major producer of telephone and telegraph equipment, ranks second in the electrical equipment industry and is the country's sixth-largest firm (sales volume of $645 million in 1970). Through its subsidiary, Sieverts Kabelverk AB, it is also a large producer of insulated electric wire and cable.
Both ASEA and L.M. Ericsson produce substantial amounts of equipment for far-flung overseas markets. ASEA has had significant success in selling in Australia and has participated in the construction of power transmission systems in the United States. Telephone and telegraph equipment is a leading earner of foreign
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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200090018-7
