Our history
Already by the mid 1950's a hydraulic compact jack was developed which combined low weight with high capacity. The jack that has a built-in hydraulic pump raised attention and quickly became a success.
1936 - Wallers Mekaniska is founded
John Waller started working at mechanical machining department, within former SKF Stål. In 1936 he started his own company with his colleague Karl Eriksson and had it as a leisure activity.
Two years later, John took over the entire business and named it: Wallers Mekaniska AB. One of the oldest small company in Hofors community and the first building in Hofors industrial area Böle where Simson is now situated.
The main activity at that time was subcontracted mechanical jobs for SKF in Hofors. But the business has further developed and Wallers Mekaniska AB main activity became wood industry equipment.
1952 - Gustav Ekstrand invents the Simson lifting tool
The first Simson Kompakt was initially invented by Gustav Ekstrand for overhead crane service and maintenance in 1952 in Hofors, Sweden. He was working at the mechanical department at the former SKF Steel in Hofors.
SKF was not interested to develop this jack and Gustav brought his prototype to his friend John Waller who was more receptive.
1954 - Saint Erik’s Exhibition, Stockholm
John Waller saw the potential in Gustav Ekstrand’s custom hydraulic jack and gave it a chance. In 1954 the first and only Simson Kompakt Jack was presented at S:t Eriksmässan in Stockholm (Stockholm Fair) with other products from Wallers. The jack was a big success and they came home with many orders. The challenge then became to manufacture those! It took about 8 to 10 month for the first deliveries to customers. Thereafter the Simson story started.
The name Simson has been used as product name since 1950’s and is the Swedish name for Samson. Samson was the last of the judges of the ancient Israelites mentioned in the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible.
According to the biblical account, Samson was given immense strength to aid him against his enemies and allow him to perform glorious feats, such as quickly killing a lion, slaying an entire army with only the jawbone of an ass, and destroying a temple of the Philistines with his bare hands. However, if Samson's long hair was cut, he would lose his strength.
1965 - Interlink AB
Wallers Mekaniska AB started a sales affiliate company in Stockholm named Interlink AB only for marketing of Simson’s products.
1970 - Simson Kompakt modernizes
Erik Sundberg leads the modernization of Simson Kompakt Jack.
1997 - New ownership
Söderhamn Eriksson "Cambio Bark & Sawmill Equipment" acquires its competitor in Hofors (Interlink, including former Wallers Mekaniska) which became a part of Cellwood gruppen.
Later-on were all manufacturing machines dedicated to saw mill equipment moved to Söderhamn. Left in Hofors was Simson’s hydraulic tools manufacturing.
2000 - Simson Power Tools AB
Interlink AB changes its company name to Simson Power Tools AB and focuses on hydraulics after that new owners relocated all saw mill and bark equipment from Hofors.
2016 - New ownership
RH Group Holding AB become new private owner to Simson Power Tools AB.
2018 - New ownership
Once again, a change of ownership takes place, when Simson Power Tools AB is acquired by the industrial group Rehobot AB, also operating in the field of high pressure hydraulics, mainly through the subsidiary Rehobot Hydraulics AB.