Fiskars

The Fiskars Corporation (Fiskars Oyj Abp) is a metal and consumer brands company founded in 1649 at Fiskars Bruk (Finnish: Fiskarsin Ruukki), a locality now in the town of Raseborg, Finland, about 100 kilometres (62 mi) west of Helsinki on the old main road from Turku to Vyborg. Fiskars is best known today for its scissors, axes and high-quality knives.

History

The Fiskars Corporation was formed in 1649 when a Dutch merchant named Peter Thorwöste was given a charter to establish a blast furnace and forging operation in the small village of Fiskars. The furnace produced pig iron that was shingled to wrought iron in the finery forges powered by water wheels. In the early years, Fiskars made nails, wire, hoes, and metal reinforced wheels from wrought iron.

As industrial and economic development accelerated in Europe, Fiskars was on the forefront of innovation, and expanded the knifeworks to become a premier steel and ironworks company, manufacturing agricultural machinery, steam engines, and household utensils, including candlesticks, forks, and scissors. The first pair of Fiskars scissors was created more than 130 years ago, and made of heavy forged steel. One of their most recognizable products, the orange colored scissors were designed in 1967. Fiskars was also one of the first companies in Europe to manufacture microwave ovens.