A/S Hydranor was established in Kongsberg on 1 December 1962, following the restructuring of Stenbek Verktøyfabrikk and the relocation of its operations to Lunde in Telemark.
The company was founded by Miroslav Bilek and engineer Fritjof Eitzen, together with six employees who had previously worked in the hydraulics department at Stenbek Verktøyfabrikk. Including one administrative employee, Hydranor started with a team of nine people. The company was therefore built on an established technical environment with hands-on experience in hydraulics.
Kongsberg was a natural location for the business. The town had a long tradition of industry and technology, a strong engineering community and an international outlook.
The ambition was to develop products capable of handling high pressures and high oil flow rates in demanding marine environments. This required high standards in design, material selection and operational reliability.
The marine sector became an important part of Hydranor's business early on. Its hydraulic systems had to perform reliably on vessels exposed to saltwater, heavy loads and continuous operation. These demanding conditions helped shape Hydranor's product philosophy: robust solutions, high reliability and long service life.
Hydraulic valves and valve manifolds, in particular, gradually became central to the company's identity.
Hydranor developed products for fishing vessels, merchant ships and demanding winch applications. Over time, its products reached markets far beyond Norway, including South Korea, China, Japan, Singapore and Australia, as well as numerous European countries.
One example is the collaboration between Hydranor and Pusnes on valves for mooring and anchor winches. This partnership contributed to the development of Hydranor's 5MB series, which was later expanded to include the 6MB and 9MB series.
This legacy remains visible in Servi's products today. More than 35,000 units of this type have been delivered for deck machinery worldwide.
By the 1970s, exports were becoming an increasingly important part of Hydranor's business.
Hydraulic manifolds were initially a niche product aimed at the fishing industry, but the market grew alongside the industrialisation of fishing and trawling.
Larger and more advanced vessels placed greater demands on winches and hydraulic systems. Hydranor found a market where its technical expertise was particularly well suited to these challenges.
At the time, winches were among the company's most important applications, and it was through the fishing and trawling industries that Hydranor truly established its international presence.
The basic functions of many Hydranor products remain largely unchanged. However, the way they are designed and manufactured has evolved significantly.
In the past, hydraulic systems often consisted of individual valves and components connected together, almost like building blocks. Today, many more functions are integrated into a single, compact hydraulic manifold.
This offers several advantages. Fewer connections mean fewer potential leakage points, while reduced pressure losses can improve energy efficiency. Integrated solutions also require less space and simplify installation.
Manufacturing methods and tools have changed over the years, but the requirements for quality and functionality have remained constant.
Throughout its history, Hydranor's engineering team in Kongsberg has maintained a strong focus on developing its own products.
According to long-serving employees, Hydranor was an early innovator in developing solutions and functionality that were later adopted by other manufacturers.
This pioneering approach is also part of the reason why the Hydranor name continues to hold significant value internationally.
Although the business is now part of Servi, many customers in international markets still recognise the products and technical expertise under the Hydranor name.
While Hydranor continued to develop its expertise in Kongsberg, the Norwegian hydraulics industry was undergoing a period of consolidation.
Servi's history dates back to 1912, when Ingeniørforretning Atlas AS was established. Atlas originally supplied technical products, machinery and components for industries including shipping and railways.
Hydraulics became part of the company's operations in 1978. Through the acquisition of several Norwegian hydraulics companies, technical expertise and capabilities were gradually brought together.
In 2012, Hydranor in Kongsberg was acquired, bringing its expertise in high-pressure hydraulic valves and valve manifolds into the larger organisation.
1 December 1962 – A/S Hydranor is established in Kongsberg.
1960s – Hydranor develops products designed for high pressures, high oil flow rates and demanding marine environments.
1970s – Exports become increasingly important, particularly through hydraulic solutions for fishing, trawling and winch applications.
1980 – The subsidiary Hydranor Trading A/S is established to market Hydranor's own products, as well as products from international suppliers through agency and sales agreements.
1989 – Hydranor Trading merges with Hydranor.
2012 – Hydranor becomes part of the company that would later be named Servi Group.
2013 – Ferd acquires the company, which is renamed Servi Group AS.
Today – Hydranor's expertise in hydraulic valves and manifolds continues at Servi's operations in Kongsberg.
