Swedish fastener manufacturer BUMAX marks its 100 year anniversary of stainless steel fastener production in 2026.

“This is a milestone that’s been generations in the making with manufacturing roots at the site dating all the way back to 1660, this is more than a birthday. It’s a celebration of over three and a half centuries of craftsmanship.”

BUMAX was founded in 1660 as Åshammar Forging and Nail Foundry in Sweden’s Bergslagen steel district.

In 1899, Jonas Jönsson upgraded the foundry into the Åshammar Bolt Factory, which was powered by a 90 horsepower water wheel.

In 1916, the company installed its first cold heading machine “mainly to boost productivity and production capacity, not for product performance or quality improvements.”

The company became one of the first stainless steel fastener manufacturers in 1926.

In 1947, the Åshammar Bolt Factory joined the Bulten Group, gaining broader manufacturing capabilities and distribution networks.

In 1975, Åshammar engineers won a landmark ISO vote to ensure stainless fastener strength is classified by mechanical properties rather than bolt length, shaping the ISO 3506 stainless steel fastener standard.

BUMAX became a registered brand in 1997.

In 2000, the company joined the Bufab Group.

Fifteen years later, the company changed its name to BUMAX AB, aligning its corporate identity with the internationally recognized product brand.

Read the company's history here.