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.

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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.

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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, the first serial produced Brokk robot.