founder Tore Andersson was born in 1944. Raised on a family farm with five siblings, Tore grew up in a modest cottage with just one room and a kitchen, humble beginnings that would later shape a remarkable entrepreneurial journey.

In 1963, at age 19, Tore moved to Västerås to study electrical engineering. After graduation, he joined Asea, a major industrial company.

A Modem That Changed Everything

In 1974, Tore and a neighbor built a short-haul modem for data transmission over copper wire, based on a design by the neighbor’s colleague.

The modem was simpler, cheaper, faster, and more robust than existing alternatives, and it doubled as a fuse. Asea needed such a device but wasn’t interested in manufacturing it. With encouragement from his neighbor, Tore took the leap and began marketing the modem through press releases and newspaper ads.

In 1975, Tore officially registered the company name Westermo Teleindustri AB, inspired by an old village suggestion box bearing the archaic spelling of Västermo. He left Asea, moved his family back to Västermo, and rented two rooms above an old carpentry shop in Vi. The workspace was far from ideal. Freezing in winter, sweltering in summer, and home to bees nesting in the walls. Sugar left out by the coffee pot was quickly claimed by the buzzing residents.

Building a Team and a Reputation

Westermo’s first full-time employee was Tore’s nephew, Christer Andersson, who joined in 1976 and remained with the company for an impressive 48 years until his retirement in 2024.

A turning point came in 1979 when a thunderstorm in Västerås knocked out critical industrial electronics at ASEA. Westermo’s modems, however, absorbed the surge and protected the rest of the equipment. Asea urgently contacted Tore, requesting every modem in stock. What began as a disaster became a breakthrough, Asea became Westermo’s largest customer and helped introduce the company to international markets.

That same year, Westermo invested in a soldering machine, the KM-1, which evolved into several variants. New products followed, and while there was no formal export strategy, strong relationships were built across the Nordic region and Europe. By the late 1980s, distributors handled most of Westermo’s exports.

Making Noise in the Market

A 1985 customer survey revealed high satisfaction with Westermo’s products, pricing, and delivery, but the company lacked visibility. Tore was convinced to advertise. A creative agency produced four bold full-page ads. The first declared, “Westermo breaks the silence.” The second, “Det är svårt att apa efter Westermo” (“It’s hard to copy Westermo”), was a direct jab at a competitor Tore believed was imitating their designs. The final two ads read, “At Westermo, no customer is too small” and “Westermo takes the prize.” The campaign made a lasting impact.

A New Home and Leadership Transitions

By 1983, the company had outgrown its original space. Poor ventilation and steep stairs posed safety risks, and one employee had already suffered a serious injury. Tore purchased land from his brothers and applied for a building permit for a new 800 m² factory. Initially denied due to ancient remains on the site, the permit was eventually granted after Tore threatened to relocate the business. The new factory, designed to blend into the local landscape with red paint and a wooden facade, was inaugurated in 1985 by the county governor, with the community invited to celebrate. Over the years, the facility has expanded to 4,500 m².

In 1985, Tore stepped back from daily operations to focus on technology, appointing Jan-Erik Lundström as CEO. During his two-year tenure, turnover rose by 80%. He was succeeded by Torben Larsson, who led for six years before Tore resumed leadership until his son Thomas was ready to take over at age 25. Thomas had interned on the board for two years and eventually assumed ownership as well.

After a decade, Thomas passed the reins to Lars-Ola Lundkvist. Shortly thereafter, Westermo was acquired by the Beijer Group (now Ependion) and became a publicly traded company. In 2017, Jenny Sjödahl became CEO, and since 2022, she has also served as President and CEO of Ependion.