BOHLIN & NILSSON AB

What BOHLIN & NILSSON AB does

Bohlin & Nilsson Aktiebolag is a Swedish privately held B2B distributor of professional tools, machines, and electrical supplies, founded in 1948 and headquartered in Södertälje. The company positions itself as 'Elbranschens verktygsleverantör' — the electrical industry's tool supplier — and curates a catalog of approximately 2,400 SKUs across eight categories: hand tools, insulated VDE-rated tools, drilling and hole-making equipment, power tools, personal protective equipment, ladders and transport, lifting and cable handling, electrical materials and test instruments, and fastening articles. It distributes third-party brands including Milwaukee, Bosch Professional, Makita, Knipex, Wiha, Bahco, and Brother, alongside its own B&N-branded insulated tool sets. There is no proprietary technology stack; the competitive edge rests on category curation, brand portfolio, and specialized electrical-trade merchandising.

The company operates a dual B2B/B2C commercial model through a Södertälje retail store (open weekdays 6:30–16:30) and a transactional e-commerce platform at bohlin-nilsson.se. Business customers apply for accounts to access contract-based ex-VAT wholesale pricing, while private customers transact at inc-VAT prices. Customer service is delivered by phone and email during business hours. Primary customers are electrical contractors and electricians, with secondary segments spanning other tradespeople, industrial buyers, and Swedish municipalities. Pricing is unit-based across products ranging from ~8 SEK consumables to over 26,000 SEK capital equipment, with quote-on-request for larger orders.

Historically, the company was converted from a partnership to an aktiebolag in 1967, acquired by Malmö-based wholesaler Thomée in 1974, and bought back by six employees in a 1988 management buyout. Ownership consolidated to Tommy Hansson and Peter Nilsson through the 2010s, and the company was sold to a new ownership group in summer 2023. In spring 2026, operations relocated to new premises at Klastorpsvägen 9 in Södertälje. No venture capital, private equity, or institutional investor ownership is evidenced.

Name

BOHLIN & NILSSON AB

Legal name

Bohlin & Nilsson Aktiebolag

Website

https://bohlin-nilsson.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Bohlin & Nilsson AB is a Swedish B2B distributor of professional tools, machines, and electrical supplies serving electricians, tradespeople, industrial buyers, and municipalities in Sweden since 1948 via e-commerce and a Södertälje retail storefront with ~2,400 SKUs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Tools & Equipment Distribution

NAICS

Cutlery and Handtool Manufacturing (33221)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Tools & Tool Accessories Retail (Hand, Power, Pneumatic) (CRAIADAB)

Keywords

• Professional hand tools
• Insulated electrical tools
• Power tools distribution
• Personal protective equipment
• Electrical test instruments

Headquarters

HQ city

Södertälje

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (Tools, Machines, Supplies): Revenue generated through direct sales of tools, machines, and supplies primarily to the electrical industry and tradespeople. The company operates an e-commerce platform and physical store, offering both business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-consumer (B2C) options with wholesale/contract pricing available for business customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Bohlin & Nilsson is a Swedish specialty distributor and retailer of professional tools, machines, and supplies for the electrical industry and other trades, offering approximately 2,400 products across eight main categories including hand tools, insulated VDE/1000V tools, drilling equipment, power tools, personal protective equipment, ladders and transport gear, cable and lifting equipment, electrical materials and test instruments, and fasteners. The company sells curated products from leading brands (Milwaukee, Bosch Professional, Makita, Knipex, Wiha, Bahco, Brother) alongside its own B&N-branded insulated tool sets, through both an e-commerce platform and a physical store in Södertälje, with contract-based wholesale pricing available for business customers.

Product overview

Bohlin & Nilsson AB is a B2B distributor and e-commerce platform offering a comprehensive portfolio of professional tools, machines, and supplies primarily serving the electrical industry in Sweden since 1948, with a catalog of approximately 2,400 products across 8 main categories. The product range is organized as hand tools, insulated/VDE-rated tools, drilling equipment, power tools (from brands like Milwaukee, Makita, and Bosch Professional), personal protective equipment, ladders and transport equipment, cable and lifting equipment, electrical materials and test instruments, and fasteners. The company sells both third-party branded products (Milwaukee Packout, Brother labeling, Knipex, Wiha, Bahco) and its own proprietary B&N branded insulated tool sets. The e-commerce platform enables both business customers and private individuals to purchase through the website, with contract pricing available for business accounts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hand Tools (Handverktyg)

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MilwaukeecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1948Major tool brand partnership - Milwaukee is one of the featured brands on the Bohlin & Nilsson website with dedicated product listings. Products include drill drivers, impact wrenches, tool storage systems (Packout), and accessories.
• Bosch ProfessionalcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1948Featured professional power tool brand with products including drill drivers and other power tools listed on the website.
• MakitacoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1948Major power tool brand featured on website offering products including drill drivers, hot air guns, and other power tools.
• KnipexcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1948German premium hand tool manufacturer specializing in pliers. Featured brand with extensive product range including insulated tools, cable cutters, and specialized pliers.
• WihacoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1948German manufacturer of premium hand tools including insulated tools and tool backpacks. Featured brand on the website.
• BahcocoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 1948Swedish brand of professional hand tools including screwdrivers, insulated tools, adjustable wrenches, and pliers. Extensively featured brand.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Würth: Global B2B distributor of fasteners, tools, and consumables with strong Swedish presence, serving trades and industry through a direct-sales field rep model — comparable business model and customer base to Bohlin & Nilsson.
• Bauhaus Sverige: Swedish home improvement and tools retail chain selling professional and consumer tools, including power tools and hand tools. Overlaps in tool categories, though more skewed toward DIY/consumers than the professional electrical niche.
• Solar Sverige: Swedish subsidiary of the Danish Solar Group, specializing in B2B distribution of electrical installation materials, lighting, and tools to electrical contractors — overlapping almost directly with Bohlin & Nilsson's primary customer segment.
• Storel: Swedish electrical wholesale distributor serving electrical installers, with a focus on lighting, cables, and electrical installation materials. Direct overlap with Bohlin & Nilsson's electrical contractor customer base and product focus.
• Ahlsell: Sweden's largest B2B distributor of technical products including tools, electrical supplies, plumbing, and PPE. Directly comparable as a Swedish B2B-focused distributor serving tradespeople and industrial customers, but operating at significantly larger scale.
• Biltema: Nordic retail chain selling tools, car accessories, and household goods at value pricing across multiple Swedish locations and online. Comparable product categories, but targets a broader consumer/trades audience with multi-store physical presence.

Emerging players

• Toolstation: UK-based trade tools and hardware retailer expanding in Europe with Swedish operations. Competes for the same trade customer base with click-and-collect and trade-counter model, though with less electrical-specialist focus.

Broad incumbents

• Rexel Sverige: Swedish arm of global electrical distribution leader Rexel Group, distributing electrical products, lighting, and tools. Highly comparable in the electrical contractor segment but at much larger scale and broader product breadth.
• Hilti: Premium power tools manufacturer with direct sales and service to construction and electrical professionals. Comparable customer base and product overlap, but operates as a brand owner with proprietary technology rather than a multi-brand distributor.
• Sonepar Sverige: Swedish operations of Sonepar, the world's largest B2B electrical distributor. Overlaps with Bohlin & Nilsson in serving electrical contractors but offers broader electrical-product portfolio and global scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bohlin-&-nilsson-ab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 BOHLIN & NILSSON AB