From henhouse to global organisation

In 1947 three brothers started designing and building agricultural machinery. 

The rest is history.

CIMBRIA History

The early years

Cimbria was established in 1947. Its founder was Erik Olesen, who shortly afterwards was joined by his brothers, Svend and Henry.

The three brothers developed an early interest in agricultural mechanisation, although they followed widely differing areas of education – a factor which would later create a unique constellation.

The youngest brother, Erik Olesen, had developed a mechanical interest from an early age. Shortly after an apprenticeship at Sundby machinery factory, the ambition of establishing himself on an independent basis became a reality.

“Erik Olesen’s Blacksmith and Machinery Co.” thereby marked the modest beginnings of Cimbria. From a 22 square metre henhouse, the enterprise grew to become an internationally acclaimed business.

Esprit de Corps

Under the management of Erik Olesen as Production Director, the company image was developed, not only as a reliable supplier of excellent quality agricultural machinery, but also as a company which put emphasis on “esprit de corps” and employee welfare.

Svend Hebsgaard Olesen was educated as an agriculturalist and soon revealed a sharp business sense, and as Cimbria’s financial director, Hebsgaard assured the particularly solid financial basis for the company’s high rate of growth in subsequent years.

The third, and eldest, brother, Henry Toftdahl Olesen, studied both as a civil and mechanical engineer, and he developed and patented a number of machines for the brothers in Thy. It was under his administration that the technical basis for which Cimbria is so respected today was established.

It was this management trio, with a wealth of new ideas, new product development, economic foresight, dynamism, strength of purpose and honesty, that laid the foundation of Cimbria’s expansion.

Growth

From its beginnings in 1947, Cimbria has grown to a group consisting of more than 900 committed employees, Cimbria offices, dealers and agents throughout the world.

Today, Cimbria is a one-stop-shop and one of the world’s leading suppliers of drying, conveying, storage, sorting and seed processing technology.

Going Forward

In 2016, Cimbria was acquired by the ACGO Group.

AGCO is a global leader focused on the design, manufacture and distribution of agricultural machinery. AGCO products are sold through five core brands, Massey Ferguson, Challenger, Fendt, Valtra, and GSI. GSI operates in the same business sector as Cimbria, and going forward Cimbria and GSI make a perfect match to become the world’s biggest and most technologically advanced supplier of products and systems for grain storage and seed processing industry. With 20 production facilities on five continents and local sales representatives worldwide, they have an unmatched global footprint and global reach. 

Cimbria Historical Highlights

1947 Founded in the small village of Sundby Thy in Denmark
1953 Cimbria moved to Thisted
1961 First exports to Scandinavia and Germany
1966 First subsidiary established in (Cimbria) Sweden
1974 Cimbria takes over Delta Cleaner Company
1980 Foundation of Cimbria East Africa in Kenya
1984 First delivery to Russia
1985 Cimbria becomes the main shareholder in JKF Industri
1986 Cimbria (UK) in England is established
1988 Cimbria buys the grain/feed mill supplier in (Cimbria) Herning, Denmark
1989 Seed specialist (Cimbria) Heid Agrartechnik in Austria is incorporated. Heid Agrartechnik was founded in 1883 and has more than 125 years of experience. 
1992 Cimbria Far East in Malaysia is established
1996 Establishment of Cimbria in Italy
1997 Takeover of SKET (Bio Diesel & vegetable Oil), Germany - Cimbria Sket
1998 Establishment of Cimbria Unigrain representative office in Ukraine 
1998 Investment in Cimbria Holland
1999 Establishment of Cimbria (Thailand) Ltd.
2000 Establishment of Cimbria Unigrain China
2002 Takeover of (Cimbria) Videbæk Maskinfabrik, Fertiliser Bulk Handling
2003 Takeover of HMD in Czech Rep., Cimbria HMD
2004 Acquisition of the activities in Kaack GmbH, Hamburg, Cimbria Kaack
2004 Acquisition of the majority shares in JKF Industri A/S
2007 Takeover of JKF Industri A/S
2007 EQT acquires a majority of the shares in Cimbria A/S.
2011 Axcel becomes the new majority shareholder in Cimbria
2012 Takeover of SEA in Italy
2013 Silverfleet becomes the new majority shareholder in Cimbria
2016 Cimbria is acquired by the AGCO group