Kverneland history

1879
The history of Kverneland Group dates back to 1879 when the founder, Ole Gabriel Kverneland, built his small forge in the village of Kvernaland, 25 km outside of Stavanger, Norway. He named his business "O.G. Kvernelands Fabrik" and started to manufacture scythes.
 
1882
The first plough is exhibited in Stavanger and O.G Kverneland receives a diploma.
 
1894
In 1894 Ole Gabriel transferred his family owned forge to a Ltd in order to finance further development and growth. At this time the company produced mainly horse powered ploughs and harrows.
 
1910
Kverneland is specialising in the direction of heavier agricultural implements for bigger farms with horses. Horse drawn plough like the Record is developed in this period.
 
1928
With the development of the first tractors in the 1920s, the company soon starts to explore the possibility of making agriculture implements for tractors. The first Kverneland tractor plough is developed in 1928.
 
1952
The Kverneland Silofork is introduced. The hay fork for tractors was developed by a local farmer and manufactured under license by Kverneland.
 
1972
Launch of the reversible plough, the world’s first reversible plough with automatic stone release. This was a new and decisive turning point that soon becomes the main product.
 
1983
Kverneland AS is listed on the Oslo stock exchange.
 
1986
Kverneland merges with Underhaug, adding bale wrappers to the Kverneland product range.
 
1992
Launch of the Kverneland Packomat, that integrates ploughing and packing into one operation.
 
1993
1993 saw the acquisition of the long-established Taarup Maskinfabrik in Denmark, leading to further build-up of the grass product area with disc mowers and hay tools.
 
1995
Kverneland continues the period of the rapid growth period through the acquisition of rotary harrow manufacturer Maletti, S.p.A in Italy.
 
1996
Acquisition of Maschinenfabrik Accord in Germany. The German seeding machine manufacturer Accord is incorporated into the product range, given a strong foot-hold with seeding equipment.
 
1998
The acquisition of Dutch Greenland Group significantly broadens the product range doubling the size of the company. The acquisition adds fertiliser spreaders to the product range and completes the product offering of grass products.
 
1999
Acquisition of RAU, Germany. This adds field sprayers to the Kverneland product range.
 
2004
The Kverneland brand celebrates it 125 year anniversary. A prominent history where Kverneland has developed from a small local manufacturer into a leading international full line supplier of agricultural machinery.
 
2008
Kverneland Group implements a more focussed branding strategy, merging the product brands Taarup, Accord, Rau and Kverneland into one strong brand name under the Kverneland name.
 
2010
Kverneland Group acquires 39% of the shares in the Italian company Gallignani SpA, which will produce the new balers and bale wrappers. 

2012
Kubota Corporation acquires Kverneland Group and takes full ownership in May 2012.

Kverneland Group acquires full control of Gallignani s.p.a., baler manufacturing company based in northern part of Italy. New company name of the Baler Competence Centre is Kverneland Group Ravenna S.r.l.

2013
Launch of the Kultistrip and Qualidisc Farmer

2017
Due to growth in product offering and need for an expanded warehouse facility, Kverneland Group moves its central distribution centre for spare parts to a new location in Thionville in Metz, France. The new warehouse is located midway between Luxembourg and Metz, with great proximity to major transportation facilities and European markets. This makes it an optimal logistical centre for Kverneland Group partners. The new warehouse has storage for more than 65 000 parts and ready for growth in the coming years.

Same year launch of mounted Turbo range and ISOBUS Cultivators

2019 – A Year of Celebration
Kverneland Group celebrates its 140^th Anniversary. Since 1879 the company has developed into a multinational agricultural implement specialist, with 2 482 employees. With 140 years of experience in agriculture, Kverneland Group continues to further develop innovative implement solutions for the farming society - Dedicated to the Future of Farming serving the world’s growing population.
Read more about the 140th Anniversary here