Arvid Nilsson

What Arvid Nilsson does

Arvid Nilsson is a Nordic B2B distributor of fasteners and fixing solutions, founded in 1918 and headquartered in Kungälv, Sweden, with operations across Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. The company distributes approximately 35,000 articles — including wood and construction screws, sheet metal screws, blind rivets, bolts, nuts, washers, anchoring products, plugs, and construction brackets — sourced from over 200 suppliers and shipped from a logistics center handling 50 tonnes of goods daily to roughly 3,800 customers comprising building materials retailers, technical wholesalers, and industrial distributors. Its go-to-market is sales-led, anchored by a 10+ person dedicated Scandinavian sales force with country-level Sales Managers, Key Account Managers, and a Project Sales Manager, complemented by a B2B webshop, the Store System in-store retail concept, the OneOff project procurement service, and a free e-learning training portal for retailer staff.

The business model generates revenue almost entirely from one-time product sales to retailers and distributors (B2B), supplemented by the OneOff project procurement service for complex or non-standard requirements. Pricing is quote-based rather than list-priced, with the company selling exclusively to trade buyers — not directly to end consumers. Arvid Nilsson's core technology stack is logistics- and packaging-centric rather than software-centric: the proprietary Miljöbox (a waterproof, reclosable, recyclable cardboard packaging that won Worldstar 2019 and ScanStar 2019), the complementary Smartpack blister format (83% less plastic than traditional blister packs), and the Store System retail concept (color-coded signage, loose-weight and packaged sections) are the primary differentiated assets. The company holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, REACH, POPs, RoHS, and Achilles/Sellihca certifications, supporting its offshore and regulated industrial customer base.

Ownership transitioned in November 2020 when Arvid Nilsson Holding AB completed a management buyout from the Würth Group, with the four-person management team (CEO Annika Folkesson, CFO Jenny Björk, Sales Manager Andreas Franzén, and Logistic Manager Michael Petersson) becoming main owners alongside two external investors. The company employs 101-250 staff, including approximately 50 employees engaged through Samhall (a Swedish work-integration provider). Recent strategic priorities have centered on sustainable packaging innovation, channel partner wins (TESS as sole supplier in Norway; Solar as group supplier in Sweden and Norway), and continued investment in retailer training and digital ordering — though no AI, public funding, or disclosed financials appear in the available data.

Name

Arvid Nilsson

Legal name

Arvid Nilsson Sverige AB

Website

https://arvidnilsson.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

1918

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Arvid Nilsson is a 1918-founded Nordic B2B distributor of fasteners and fixing solutions (~35,000 SKUs), serving ~3,800 retailers and industrial distributors across Sweden, Norway, and Denmark through a centralized logistics center and a dedicated Scandinavian sales force.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Fastener Distribution

NAICS

Industrial Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42384)

SIC

Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070)

akta.pro primary industry

Fasteners, Nails, Screws & Anchors Retail (CRAIADAC)

Keywords

• Industrial fasteners distribution
• Construction fastening products
• B2B fastener supply
• Sustainable packaging solutions
• Project procurement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kungälv

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. B2B product sales - fasteners and fixing solutions: Arvid Nilsson generates revenue through the sale of fasteners and fixing products (screws, bolts, nuts, washers, anchors, blind rivets, building brackets, and related articles) to retailers and distributors in the construction and industrial sectors across Scandinavia. The company distributes approximately 35,000 articles.
2. OneOff project procurement services: A dedicated project procurement function handles complex or non-standard purchasing requirements for customers, providing technical expertise and managing the full project lifecycle.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Arvid Nilsson distributes approximately 35,000 articles of fasteners and fixing products — including screws, bolts, nuts, washers, anchors, blind rivets, and construction brackets — to retailers and industrial distributors across Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. The company supplements its product offering with proprietary concepts including the Miljöbox waterproof cardboard packaging, the Store System in-store retail concept, and the OneOff project procurement service.

Product overview

Arvid Nilsson is a Nordic distributor of high-quality fasteners for the construction and industrial markets, offering approximately 35,000 articles across multiple product categories. The company's product portfolio is organized around several core offerings: (1) a comprehensive range of fasteners including wood and construction screws, sheet metal screws, blind rivets, bolts/nuts/washers, anchoring and plugs, and construction brackets; (2) Miljöbox — a proprietary waterproof, reclosable cardboard packaging innovation that is recyclable and has won both Scandinavian (ScanStar 2019) and World (WorldStar 2020) packaging awards; (3) Store System — a retail store display and sales concept supporting both packaged and bulk sales with color-coding for different environments; (4) OneOff/Projekt — a project procurement service for non-standard items and larger volumes with technical expertise; (5) Smartpack — a blister packaging solution using cardboard and recycled PET with 83% less plastic than traditional packaging; and (6) an Education/Training Portal offering free web-based courses on fastening products and applications. The company has over 100 years of experience and serves approximately 3,800 customers across Sweden, Norway, and Denmark through its logistics center in Kungälv.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Store System: A smart in-store concept for displaying and selling fasteners, featuring both packaged products and bulk sales with color-coded organization.
• OneOff
• Miljöbox
• Screw Cancer
• Smartpack

Products and services

• Trä- och Byggskruv (Wood and Construction Screws) A comprehensive range of wood screws and construction screws designed for timber and building applications. Includes various types for different purposes and materials, including deck screws, general construction screws, and specialized screws for outdoor use, available in stainless steel A2/A4 grades or with corrosion protection.
• Plåtskruv (Sheet Metal Screws) A product category featuring screws designed for sheet metal applications, available in various sizes and materials for different sheet metal fastening requirements.
• Blindnit (Blind Rivets) A product category for blind rivets used for fastening applications where access is only available from one side. Available in various materials and sizes for different applications.
• Bult, Mutter, Bricka (Bolts, Nuts, Washers) A comprehensive range of bolts, nuts, and washers including hex screws, carriage bolts, plow bolts, and associated hardware for workshop, agriculture, and home use.
• Förankring och Plugg (Anchoring and Plugs) A product category covering light and heavy-duty anchoring solutions including expansion anchors, thread anchors, and chemical anchors, plus Drymo wet room plugs approved for wet zone 1.
• Byggbeslag (Construction Brackets) A product category covering construction brackets in various designs, from simple nail plates to adjustable post shoes, used for joining and reinforcing wood construction elements.
• Miljöbox (Eco Box packaging) A waterproof, reclosable, and fully recyclable cardboard packaging made from Swedish forest industry materials. The Miljöbox features a unique construction with folded edges and a laminated surface that prevents water and moisture from penetrating, while remaining recyclable as paper packaging.
• Store System A comprehensive retail store concept for displaying and selling fasteners. Store System includes both packaged products and bulk (loose weight) sales sections with color-coding for different environments and applications, designed to increase sales visibility and improve customer service speed.
• OneOff / Projekt (Project Procurement) A project purchasing and procurement service for acquiring articles outside the standard product range and larger volumes of existing products. OneOff handles procurement of non-standard items and provides technical expertise and full project management support for complex or drawing-specified products.
• Smartpack A blister packaging solution made from cardboard and recycled PET, containing 83% less plastic than traditional blister packaging. Smartpack is part of Arvid Nilsson's sustainable packaging portfolio, complementing the Miljöbox for product types where blister packaging is more suitable.
• Utbildningsportal (Education/Training Portal) A free web-based training platform offering courses on fastening products and applications across seven training areas covering screws, nuts and washers, anchors and plugs, construction brackets, threaded and non-threaded fasteners, corrosion and rust protection, and quality standards. Allows store managers to administer users and track progress.

Quantifiable outcome

• Halved transport volume from suppliers by switching to Miljöbox packaging compared to previously shipped pre-packaged plastic containers.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• aPak ABcoreStrategic or Co-development PartneraPak AB collaborated with Arvid Nilsson to develop the Miljöbox, the first waterproof cardboard packaging for fasteners. aPak brought packaging expertise and was instrumental in the design and engineering of the unique packaging solution. Together with Kafab AB and BillerudKorsnäs, the partnership resulted in an award-winning product (Worldstar and ScanStar awards).
• Kafab ABcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKafab AB acted as the converter in the development of the Miljöbox, manufacturing the innovative waterproof cardboard packaging. Kafab worked closely with Arvid Nilsson and aPak through extensive testing and refinement of the packaging construction.
• BillerudKorsnässupportingOthersBillerudKorsnäs provided the carton board material from the Swedish forest industry for the Miljöbox. Their material was tested extensively in climate chambers to ensure the packaging could withstand moisture and temperature variations.
• Naturskyddsföreningen (Swedish Environmental Protection Association)supportingOthersArvid Nilsson is a supporting company (stödföretag) to Naturskyddsföreningen, supporting their work for a plastic-free ocean. The partnership aligns with Arvid Nilsson's environmental strategy of eliminating plastic from packaging.
• Star for Life (Daughters of Africa Girls Club)supportingOthersArvid Nilsson is a cooperation partner to Star for Life, supporting the Daughters of Africa Girls Club programme which provides guidance and empowerment for girls and young women in southern Africa. This is part of Arvid Nilsson's broader social responsibility programme.
• Solar (Sweden and Norway)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArvid Nilsson was appointed as group supplier for Solar in both Sweden and Norway. The partnership includes deployment of Store System in Solar stores and provides Solar with access to Arvid Nilsson's full fastener range across all segments.
• TESS (Teknisk faghandel)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTESS, Norway's market-leading technical distributor for oil & gas, aquaculture, construction, industry, and public sector, selected Arvid Nilsson as sole supplier of fasteners. All TESS customers across Norway's 130+ service centres have access to the full Arvid Nilsson product range.
• BygmacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArvid Nilsson Store System is installed in Bygma's flagship pro store in Copenhagen. The store features Arvid Nilsson fasteners sold both loose-weight and in Miljöbox packaging, supporting Bygma's sustainability agenda.
• Edströms VerktygminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEdströms Verktyg, a family-owned tools and equipment distributor based in Jönköping, distributes Arvid Nilsson fasteners and installed a shelving system at SP Maskiner in collaboration with Arvid Nilsson.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Berner Group: European B2B distributor of tools, fasteners, chemicals, and consumables for construction, automotive, and industrial trades. Direct overlap with Arvid Nilsson in the building-materials and industrial-supply channels across DACH and Northern Europe.
• Würth Group: Global market leader in fastener and fixing distribution, with a particularly strong presence in the Nordics after its ownership of Arvid Nilsson (2008-2020). Directly competes on assortment, B2B sales model, and industrial/professional customer base.
• Bossard Group: Swiss-listed fastener and fastening-technology distributor serving industrial customers across Europe, including the Nordics. Closely comparable mid-to-large scale B2B fastener specialist with value-added engineering and logistics services.
• Eriks (UK/EU industrial distributor): European industrial-services distributor specializing in components including fasteners, seals, and flow control. Comparable industrial customer base with technical sales and engineered-solutions overlay.

Broad incumbents

• W.W. Grainger: Major industrial-supplies distributor with a broad catalog including fasteners, hand tools, and maintenance products. Serves similar industrial and institutional buyers with a B2B catalog and e-commerce model.
• Hilti Group: Global manufacturer and distributor of tools, fasteners, anchors, and installation systems for construction professionals. Overlaps directly with Arvid Nilsson's anchor and plug categories and shares a professional-contractor customer base.
• Fastenal Company: Global leader in industrial fastener and MRO supplies distribution, with a network of Onsite locations at industrial customers. Larger and more diversified than Arvid Nilsson, but operates a highly analogous model of fasteners, vending, and supply-chain integration.

Others

• Desoutter Tools: Industrial tool and fastening-solution provider (Stanley Black & Decker group). Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but relevant context for industrial fastening market dynamics.

Regional players

• TESS (Løvenskjold): Norway's leading technical distributor for oil & gas, aquaculture, construction, and industry. Sole-supply partner of Arvid Nilsson in Norway; relevant as a regional channel and industrial-scale reference comparable.
• Bygma (as customer+competitor reference): Danish building-materials pro retailer and Arvid Nilsson channel partner. Included as a regional reference point on the retail side of the fastener value chain in the Nordics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ArvidNilssonScandinavia
• LinkedInse.linkedin.com/company/arvid-nilsson-as
• Xx.com/arvidnilsson

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Arvid Nilsson