My Brokk

History The Vision to Make a Difference

Since 1976, Brokk has been dedicated to delivering more efficient, profit-enhancing, and safer demolition solutions. From the beginning, we’ve been pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in remote-controlled demolition.

Our origin story

The journey began at Rönnskärsverken, a metal processing plant near Skellefteå, Sweden. In the 1970s, cleaning lead furnaces was arduous and hazardous work. Workers, weighed down by wooden blocks and masks, crawled into scorching furnaces to manually remove slag and brick with handheld tools. Recognizing the dangers, two brothers, Lars and Per-Martin Holmgren, saw an opportunity to improve both safety and efficiency in demolition.

From Prototype to Product

The Holmgren brothers envisioned a machine that would transform demolition safety and efficiency. Their original prototype, crafted by reengineering components from other machines, introduced the industry’s first remote-controlled demolition system. This innovation not only protected workers from hazardous environments but also halved job completion time. While Brokk robots have evolved significantly, the core principles set by the Holmgren brothers remain unchanged.

How Brokk Got its Name

The company gained momentum when Börje Hedlund joined as a business partner. With the Brokk 250 in production, the team sought a distinctive and compelling name. Inspired by Nordic mythology, they named the robot “Brokk” after the dwarf who forged Thor’s hammer. Brokk, symbolizing strength and resilience, perfectly embodies the power and durability of our machines.

Today, Brokk robots remain in use at the original smelter, while their impact has expanded worldwide. Our robots now enhance safety and efficiency in workplaces across the globe.

 

Brokk 250, 1981

Brokk 250, the first serial produced Brokk robot.

 

Brokk milestones

  • 1976: The companies, PE Holmgren & Rivteknik develop the world’s first demolition robot in Skellefteå, Sweden.
  • 1981: The first mass produced remote-controlled demolition machine, the Brokk 250, hits the market.
  • 1987: Another legendary remote-controlled machine is released, the first Brokk 100.
  • 1994: The Brokk 110 and Brokk 150 are released. 1,000 Brokk machines delivered.
  • 2000: The first international subsidiaries established in the USA and UK.
  • 2005: Brokk opens office in China.
  • 2006: Brokk acquires Darda in Germany, the world’s leading manufacturer of compact crusher attachments, splitters and other tools.
  • 2007-2010: Intense product development, with the introduction of the Brokk 50, Brokk 400, Brokk 260 and Brokk 160.
  • 2011: The biggest Brokk robot ever, the Brokk 800, sees the light of day.
  • 2012: Brokk acquires Ahlberg Cameras, the world’s leading supplier of camera equipment for the nuclear industry.
  • 2014: Brokk’s owner, Lifco, is listed on the Nasdaq OMX stock exchange.
  • 2016: Brokk celebrates 40 years of relentless innovation.
  • 2016: Brokk acquires Aquajet Systems, the world’s leading manufacturer of hydrodemolition robots and equipment.
  • 2010-2017: Fast-paced international growth sees the establishment of Brokk Australia, Brokk France, Brokk Italia, Brokk China, Brokk Norway, Brokk Switzerland, Brokk BeNeLux and Brokk Middle East.
  • 2011-2017: Industry-leading product development generates the Brokk 100, Brokk 60, Brokk 120D, Brokk 110, Brokk 280 and Brokk 500.
  • 2017: Brokk introduces SmartPower™, the world’s most intelligent power system, purpose-built for heavy duty demolition robots.
  • 2018: Brokk unveils four new machines – the Brokk 170, Brokk 200, Brokk 300 and Brokk 520D.
  • 2018: Brokk introduces Brokk SmartConcept, consisting of the next generation of SmartPower™, SmartDesign™ and SmartRemote™.
  • 2018: A new service and support concept reaches the market, called Brokk UpTime™.
  • 2019: Brokk introduces the Brokk 70, the smallest demolition robot in the range.
  • 2021: Brokk launches the Brokk 900, the worlds biggest demolition robot.
  • 2021: Brokk Connect, an online platform developed especially for connected Brokk robots is announced.
  • 2022: The launch of the online support platform, My Brokk, marks the next step in Brokk’s digital journey.
  • 2024: Brokk revolutionizes demolition technology with Brokk SmartPower+ generation.
  • 2025: Brokk launches Smart Attachments, a range of tools designed to complement the Brokk SmartPower+ generation of robots.
  • 2025: Brokk unveils the Brokk 130+, a powerful new demolition robot engineered to push the boundaries of demolition performance.

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// The Brokk team