FROM THEN UNTIL NOW
Join us in our proud history
In the 1950s Dr W von Döbeln developed a principle for accurate determination of the brake power of the cycle ergometer. At the same time professor Per-olof Åstrand was involved in a program of education at GIH, with a fixed aim: to teach gymnastics teachers, athletics leaders and interested “amateurs” the foundations required to be able to inform and instruct in many health questions. Shortly thereafter GIH and Professor P-O Åstrand persuaded Monark to take up the production of the cycle ergometer with the pendulum system, a system that still lives and thrives in our products today.
Our story in Vansbro started much earlier in the bicycle factory Kroon, in 1910. From the Kroon era we brought with us the tradition of robust, high-quality bicycles, Qualities that still reflects on our products today. Quality that has followed our product portfolio throughout the years.
1910 - 1934
IT ALL STARTED
- WITH TWO SWEDISH COMPANIES
About the same times as Kroon, Monark in Varberg was founded. Before taking the name Monark it was called "Svenska Cykeldepoten" (The Swedish Bike depot). Birger Svensson founded Svenska cykeldpoten and he was later known as the Swedish Bicyle Monarch. The factory becomes a well-known business in Sweden and 1934 when celebrating 25 years, they changed the name to Svenska Cykelfabriken Monark.
You can read more about our sister company Monark here >>.
1950
MONARK AND THE ERGOMETER
In the 1950s, when the first pendulum ergometer was developed, Per-Olof Åstrand, professor of physiology at GIH in Stockholm, was educating interested amateurs how to do physiological tests. It seemed natural to do these tests on a bicycle ergometer, the bicycle ergometer became popular
As demand increased, Monark was persuaded to take up the production of the pendulum bicycle ergometer, the same principle, is still used on our bicycles today, with refined and renewed technology.
Download PO Åstrand's book here>>
1970-1996
MONARK EXERCISE AB
In the 1970s, Monark bought the bicycle factory CH Kroon and the factory in Vansbro has since then manufactured bicycles under Monark.
In 1995, the production of ergometers was moved to Vansbro, the following year Monark Exercise AB was founded, and this is the name the factory in Vansbro goes by today. Monark Exercise AB manufacture products under two brands, Monark sports & Medical and Monark Cargo.
Read more about Monark Cargo here >>
2021
MONARK TODAY
Monark Exercise is part of Cycleurope AB with Salvatore Grimaldi as owner. The group consists of brands such as Bianchi, Crescent, DBS, Everton, Gitane, Kildemoes, Monark, Peugeot, Puch, TEC and Spectra.
From the summer of 2022, we are concentrating fully on our own brands, after Bianchi took back its distribution in the Nordics, which we previously handled in Sweden.
2040
MONARK AND THE FUTURE
With a sustainable production trough our own factory and Swedish-made products, our ambitions to contribute to a more sustainable society has really succeeded.
Monark Exercise will sell products that help improve quality of life and increased performance. Our products will be developed to be attractive and with high quality within their applications.
SUSTAINABILITY
SUSTAINABLE IS AS IMPORTANT AS QUALITY TO US.
Read more about us and our work towards a sustainable future.
