Hedson Technologies AB
In mid 99, Drester AB merged with Infraröd teknik AB.The merging process began and on May 1st 2000 the two companies became Hedson Technologies AB. This new company has two production units, but many central areas such as marketing, purchase and accounting has merged togehter . Hedson Technologies AB is now a leading market actor for infra-red drying and cleaning devices in the automotive sector, concentrating on the business areas Body Shop, Automotive Industry and Tyre Shop. Although the company name is Hedson Technologies AB, the names Drester and IRT remains as product brand names and the names that are shown on the market.
In February 2001, Business area Paper was sold to the French company Solaronics, already present in the same business, as a further step in concentrating on the chosen business areas. At the same time the IRT production plant was split off into a new company, Teknik-System AB, the two main customers being Solaronics-IRT AB and Hedson Technologies AB.
History IRT
Infrarödteknik AB (IRT) was founded 1967 by Hans-Eric Nilsson, a talented inventor and entrepreneur. One of the basic ideas behind the company was a new reflector concept based on the physical law that gold has the highest reflectivity of all materials for short wave infrared heat. Infrared heating modules and cassettes in a large variety of shapes and sizes were created and as an offspring the necessity for electrical control units and mechanical stands, suspensions, conveyors belts etc soon became clear. The company grew.
During the first years IRT was engaged in solving all kind of drying, curing and heating problems for the Swedish industry, but soon the management realised that concentration was essential. In the early 70’s, paper and pulp industry became the main customer.
Although the first project for the car manufacturing industry was realised already 1973 for SAAB-Scania Automobile AB, it was not until 1977 the company decided to start a 4 year development program in co-operation with Volvobil AB (the Volvo dealers in Sweden) and to dedicate two persons full time to the car business. At that time all installations were tailor-made to the specific needs of the customers.
With the development program, IRT got its first standard products, i.e. products built in large numbers for standard applications. In 1980, the IRT-600 Paint Curing Arch and in 1981, the IRT-100 Paint Curing Mobiles were introduced to the car refinishing industry. A distribution network was set up in various northern European countries.
During the same time, intensive product development within Business area Paper led to introduction of several new products, including applications for edge drying of paper web, equalisation of moisture profile and drying of paper coatings, improving both machine speed and thus profitability and paper quality.
The export was now growing rapidly and in order to take care of the large car manufacturing market in Germany, a subsidiary was founded there in 1984. In 1985 the export share of the company was already at 75%.
In 1988/89 IRT was acquired by two large Finnish companies, Valmet OY and Imatran Voima OY, the world’s largest supplier of paper machinery and Finland’s leading energy supplier of both hydroelectric and nuclear power.
Business area Automotive introduced the first rails systems (IRT-500 series) and the second generation mobiles (IRT-200 series) in 1990. At the same time IRT was established in the southern Europe. In 1991, IRT Automotive took its first step overseas – to the US and Canada – and in1992 they started in Latin America (Argentina and Brazil) and in Japan. By now the export share reached an incredibly 99,8%.
During the 90’s the growth continued, especially for Business area Automotive. The leading position for Paper was challenged and soon Automotive was number one. Another two daughter companies were founded – one in France 1994 and one in North America 1999, both focusing entirely on the automotive business. The third generation mobiles and arches were introduced as well as the second generation rail systems. The number of distributors increased steadily. By the turn of the century, IRT was present in about 60 countries world wide.
In mid 99, IRT was acquired by Drester AB, another Swedish company in the auto refinishing business. The merging process began and on May 1st 2000 the two companies became Hedson Technologies AB.
Infrarödteknik AB (IRT) does not exist any more. But in a way it does. The products, the spirit, the knowledge still are well known for craftsmen in automotive refinishing and manufacturing industry alike. In spite of a new company name the brand name IRT will persist.
During the years, IRT has been renowned for high quality, high technical skill and an international focus. We will continue on that road. IRT will continue to be the world leader in infrared paint curing technology.
History Drester
 Drester AB was founded in 1978 by Sten Drennow and Leif Stern. Sten was a young graduate engineer with a marketing talent and Leif was a divinely gifted inventor with a unique ability to find unconventional solutions.
Already from the beginning the rounded forms were there. To be able to manufacture at reasonable cost, they started using deep drawing tools and later also injection moulded parts.
Sten and Leif found a tool for drawing of hoods for electric engines ad with this as a basis they made the first Solvent Wash Clam in 1979. The idea was to develop products mainly to improve the working environment in automotive and industrial workshops.
This rapidly became a success and during the years that followed, both a Blaster and a Check Station for diesel injectors were developed, as well as other products such as a Fuel Tank Drainer. The Spot Blaster, which you still find in the Drester product range, became a best-seller. It was an excellent tool for corrosion repairs. The Minivent fan and the centrifugal pump with a magnet based drive were presented, and today both are still in production.
In 1980, the idea of developing Spray Gun Cleaners first came up, and Leif developed the first Gun Cleaner, the Thinner Clam, based on the existing Wash Clam. At that time, the spray painters simply cleaned their spray guns in a bucket with solvent and it was a great progress both in terms of working environment and pollution when Drester launched a product to facilitate this hazardous work.
The Thinner Clam quickly became a success. The company grew rapidly and Sten Drennow found distributors in several countries. The product segment for body shops increased. In 1985, the company moved to Arlöv outside of Malmö. Up to now, Drester had been focusing on developing and marketing whereas the production was subcontracted. Now, Sten and Leif wanted their own manufacturing facilities. The rapidly expanding production volume required more space and in June 1987 Drester gathered all activities at the existing premises.
In 1988, Drester presented the first Wheel Washer. It could wash car wheels with a patented wash technique, using only cold water and plastic granules. Today, these machines are sold with great success and Drester (nowadays Hedson Technologies AB) is the world leading manufacturer of Wheel Washers, and the Drester Wheel Washers are market leaders. In 1989, Peter Beijbom was engaged as the head of the developing department, and a concentration in the business areas Body Shop and Tyre Shop started.
During the first half of the nineties, Drester strengthened the position in the body shop area and became a leading manufacturer in this area. Products like the Gun Cleaner 3500, Clean-a-Can were launched. Drester realised that water borne paints were coming and wanted to take the lead on the market. In 1992, the Aqua Cleaner 2000 was launched.
Spray Gun Cleaners and parts cleaners mean pneumatic pumps, but the pumps available on the market – and used by the competitors – did not fulfil the customers’ demands for reliability. Drester therefore decided to develop it’s own pump for use in automatic Spray Gun Cleaners, and during 1994, the production of the diaphragm pump started. This extremely reliable technical masterpiece with few moving parts and great tolerance towards aggressive and polluting liquids has been one of the key factors to Drester’s success when it comes to Spray Gun Cleaners during recent years.
In 1995, the Body Shop business area was strengthened by the Drester 6100 infra-red dryers. By using medium wave technology, Drester could offer a product that was safe and easy to use. Through the integrated air system, AMS, the dryers were adapted to water borne paints.
In 1996, the Drester 8000 was launched, an automatic Gun Cleaner for both thinner based and water based paints. The same year, the company was bought by Universal Exports AB.
Since the start back in 1978, the company has shown a yearly growth of about 20% in average.
The Drester 1000 Aqua Cleaner, launched in 1997, was a new pioneering Gun Cleaner for water borne paints, developed together with leading paint manufacturers. The environmental requirements have always been important to Drester, and Peter Beijbom had now developed a technique where the paint residues could be separated from the cleaning water, permitting the water to be reused over and over again.
In 1997, the offices in Arlöv were enlarged to give space for the planned growth, ad a subsidiary, Drester Far East, was established in Hong Kong to cover the South East Asian markets.
In 1998, a new generation of Drester Wheel Washers and Drester Infra-red Dryers were launched. By now, Drester was present world wide and the company prospered.
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