Ulefos and Furnes Form New Industrial Alliance

Ulefos Holding AS and Furnes Jernstøperi AS have established a new industrial partnership aimed at strengthening Nordic manufacturing and securing long-term production capacity for critical water and wastewater infrastructure. The collaboration will operate through CK Partners AS, a jointly owned company that unites resources, expertise and manufacturing capabilities across the two industrial groups. The initiative is intended to improve competitiveness and ensure continued delivery of sustainable, reliable and cost-effective products to Nordic markets at a time when demand remains below normal levels and international competition continues to intensify.
The partnership brings together three foundries into one coordinated production system in order to optimise output across brands, product categories and customer requirements. By creating greater flexibility in where and how products are manufactured, the companies are positioned to reduce operational vulnerability, improve delivery capacity and strengthen long-term resilience.
The move is driven by prolonged low activity in construction and water-related projects, combined with increasing pressure from manufacturers operating in lower-cost markets. Carl Diderik Cappelen, owner and chairman of Ulefos Holding, says the market has been unusually weak for an extended period, and that the new structure creates better conditions for competing effectively across the Nordic region. Jacob Kjær, co-owner of AVK Group and Director of AVK Advanced Manufacturing, adds that the partnership is intended to protect both jobs and industrial capabilities by ensuring foundry operations remain anchored in the Nordic region.
CK Partners AS will be owned by the Cappelen and Kjær families, combining long-standing industrial traditions and experience. The Cappelen family will hold 49 per cent through Cappelen Holding, representing the seventh generation of ownership of the Ulefos group.
The remaining 51 per cent will be held by the Danish Kjær family’s AVK Group, which has been the majority owner of Furnes Jernstøperi since 2019. Morten Sæderup Nielsen, chairman of AVK Water Solutions and chairman of the joint venture, says the partnership will create a strong Nordic industrial player focused on water and wastewater solutions, with an ambition to develop and produce sustainable, cost-efficient and dependable infrastructure products for the region.
The management team has been appointed with responsibility across the combined structure. Oddbjørn Maurdalen will serve as CEO and Jan Halvor Sæl as CFO. Martin Sagen will lead the foundry system and oversee operations across all production sites. Erik Andreas Henriksen will be responsible for the development and sales of Ulefos products, including production and sales activities linked to the Esco valve factory in Kongsberg. Sales and product development for Furnes products will continue under the direction of Oddbjørn Maurdalen, who will establish an office for the sales and development company in Hamar during 2026.
Under the partnership, the three foundries will be rebranded as part of a unified system: Ulefoss Jernstøperi in Nome municipality (formerly Ulefos Jernværk), Stange Jernstøperi in Stange municipality (formerly Furnes Jernstøperi), and Harjavalta Valimo in Finland (formerly Niemisen Valimo). Martin Sagen explains that this integrated approach enables products to be manufactured across sites regardless of brand, allowing Furnes products to be produced at Ulefoss and Ulefos products to be produced at Stange, improving capacity utilisation and strengthening logistics planning.
Furnes supplies street castings such as manhole covers, frames, grates, drains and related components, while Ulefos supplies comparable product ranges and also delivers valves for water and wastewater applications through Esco. These businesses will continue to operate separately in the marketplace while benefiting from shared manufacturing flexibility. Oddbjørn Maurdalen says customers and suppliers can expect day-to-day operations to remain stable, while improvements in product development, logistics and more sustainable local manufacturing based on green energy will be introduced through the new structure.