A new book from Business History Publishing, "Stålpionjären", tells the story of entrepreneur and steel pioneer Pelle Söderberg, a pivotal person in Sweden's early industrialization and the founder of the Söderberg business family.
The entrepreneur and steel pioneer Pelle Söderberg was a tone-setting figure when industrialization and freedom of enterprise came to Sweden in the late 19th century. He was also one of Sweden’s first nationwide sales agents and launched an entirely new product, bessemer steel, on the Nordic market. In the modernized iron and steel industry, he quickly became a major player, and created the iron and steel wholesale firm Söderberg & Haak.
For the first time, the pioneer Pelle Söderberg’s time, life and work are depicted in a rich biography, based on previously unresearched sources. A story about one of Sweden’s first nationwide trade agents – and with it a depiction of how the country developed when industrialization and business freedom came in the late 1800s. The women who were important to Pelle’s life and development also appear. Meet the man who started the famous Söderberg business family.
Project team
The book is published by Business History Publishing. Torsten Söderbergs Stiftelse financed the research.
The project group was:
- Research and author: Benito Peix Geldart
- Editor: Karin Jansson Myhr
- Image editor: Mikaela Nordin
- Art director: Patrik Sundström
- Project manager: Anders Sjöman
- Print: Livonia Print
