2010
VIKING celebrates its 50 year anniversary on 1 February 2010.
Director MSc (Economics) Tage Sørensen, OD steps down as Chairman of the Board after 50 years and appoints Managing Director Jens Lindholm as his successor.
CEO Kjeld Amann retires after 13 years at VIKING. Global Sales and Marketing Director Henrik Uhd Christensen is appointed new CEO.
VIKING acquires fire suit manufacturer Quest Enterprises, Inc. in Walsenburg, Colorado, USA.
VIKING establishes a new branch office in Mumbai, India. |  |  |
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2009
A new subsidiary is opened in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
A servicing station is opened in Liverpool, UK.
Global Sales and Marketing Director Henrik Uhd Christensen is named
"Young Business Leader of the Year 2009" in Esbjerg Municipality. | |  |
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2008
VIKING continues to lead the way in global maritime and offshore safety and reaches its long awaited milestone of 1.000.000.000 DKK in turnover despite stiff competition in several markets and fluctuating currencies.
VIKING Life-Saving Equipment Istanbul Denizcilik Ticaret AS opens its doors for servicing maritime life-saving equipment in the Turkish region.
Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik tours VIKING Life-Saving Equipment’s Laem Chabang-based facility in Thailand. Trip part of bi-lateral anniversary celebrations marking 150 years of diplomatic relations between two proud maritime nations
VIKINGs double slide is certified as the highest capacity marine evacuation system on the market
VIKING launches the only liferaft designed and tested specifically for Arctic sailing
Offshore safety reaches new heights with VIKING’s new ETSO compliant helicopter transportation suit
VIKING launches a new SOLAS approved breathable constant wear suit ideal for operations in both cold and warmer climates (PS4170)
VIKINGs new dual chute evacuation system is short-listed for the prestigious Safety At Sea Award
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2007
VIKING wins international SASMEX Safety at Sea award for the VELS SMS system.
VIKING is nominated for the prestigious DI product award for innovation in protecting lives by integrating sensor technology into lightweight and flexible fire-fighter suits.
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2006
Lean manufacturing principles streamline production
Combined helicopter transportation and immersion suit - PS4173 for offshore purpose nominated for the honoured Seatrade Awards
The new MiniSlide system, the VELS SMS, was launched for the first time in March 2006 in Norway.
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2005
VIKING establishes two new subsidiaries in St. Petersburg, Russia and Shanghai, China
Initiated the implementation of our global IT system, SAP
Employee no. 1.000 joined VIKING in October 2005 in Thailand | |  |
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2004
VIKING Iceland takes over a new service station in Akranes, Western Iceland | |  |
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2003
VIKING achieves the OHSAS 18001:1999, 923 working environment certification
VIKING implements the new quality system, VMS (VIKING Management System)
that complies with ISO 9001:2000
www.VIKINGsafetyshop.com - VIKINGs electronic product catalogue - is launched
VIKING Singapore gains ISO 9001:2000 certification
VIKING Singapore moves to a new 4000m2 building | |  |
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2002
VIKING's new MiniSlide system, the VEMS (VIKING Evacuation Minislide System)
for fast and safe evacuation from low heights is type approved
VIKING's 150 DKS (self-righting) and 150 DKR/IBA (open reversible) liferafts are type approved
VIKING opens 9,000 m2 factory in Bangkok, Thailand
VIKING establishes a new subsidiary company in Hafnarfjordur, Iceland:
VIKING LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT Iceland ehf.
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2001
VIKING takes over activities of a the Norwegian company,
Norsafe Selantic, that manufactures offshore life-saving equipment:
VIKING LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT Bergen AS
An extension of 7,800 m2 to the existing head offices is built with 6,600 m2 for production and 1,200 m2 for offices, conference rooms and lecture rooms
VIKING Denmark is awarded a prize for the best working environment by the Danish Workers' Union, Denmark
VIKING receives the biggest order ever in 41 years of existence by winning a public tender with Tirrenia Navigation, Italian shipowners and their four regional shipyards Toremar, Siremar, Saremar and Caremar
VIKING Asian Centre, a new hub for Asian markets, is established in Singapore and made fully responsible for handling all countries in the Asian region, including Australia and New Zealand | |  |
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2000
Katty Tørnæs, VIKING's Managing Director since 1992, dies and VIKING's Group Finance Director, Kjeld Amann, is appointed new Managing Director | |  |
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1999
VIKING evacuation chutes are introduced onto the market
VIKING establishes a subsidiary company in Stockholm, Sweden:
VIKING LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT Sweden AB
VIKING establishes a subsidiary company in Vancouver, Canada:
VIKING LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT Canada Ltd. | |  |
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1998
A servicing station is established in Estonia
VIKING´s new Fast Rescue Boat is approved
The VIKING MiniSlide is introduced to the market | |  |
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1997
VIKING's 50 person automatically self-righting liferaft is approved according to the new international regulations - the first on the global market
The production in Batam is certified according to ISO
Esbjerg is elected town of the year and VIKING is elected its best workplace | |  |
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1996
Katty Tørnæs, Managing Director of VIKING receives the "La Veuve Cliquot" prize of 1996, as Business Woman of the Year
VIKING launches its first internet site
VIKING consolidates their position in the market by establishing the following
servicing stations: VIKING USA, Cape Canaveral; VIKING UK, Southampton;
VIKING France, Marseille and VIKING Spain, Algeceiras
VIKING´s MES (Marine Evacuation System) is approved for ships with no speed limits - a global first
VIKING establishes a new production site on Batam Island, Indonesia:
PT VIKING LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT Indonesia
VIKING establishes a subsidiary company in Hamburg:
VIKING LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT Deutschland GmbH | |  |
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1995
VIKING establishes a servicing station in Le Havre: VIKING Service
VIKING lifejackets and fire-fighter suits are approved according to CE
VIKING establishes a subsidiary company in Hong Kong:
VIKING LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT Hong Kong Ltd. | |  |
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1994
Marine evacuation systems are used during a real emergency for the first time. The Finnish cruiseliner Sally Albatross is shipwrecked and within 90 minutes the VIKING MES systems installed on board evacuates all 1100 passengers and 158 crew | |  |
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1993
VIKING changes its name from Nordisk Gummibådsfabrik to VIKING LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT A/S and all of our products (VIKING, MUSK OX, NORVIK) are unified under the product name of VIKING.
VIKING establishes a subsidiary company in France:
VIKING LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT France S.a.r.l. | |  |
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1992
Jens O. Bjerre-Madsen, Managing Director during VIKING's 32 years,
retires and is succeeded by Katty Tørnæs.
VIKING 2nd sales office in Holland is established
VIKING is certified by DnV to DS/ISO 9001
VIKING establishes a subsidiary company in Spain:
VIKING LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT Iberica S.A.
VIKING establishes a subsidiary company in Singapore:
VIKING LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT PTE LTD. Singapore | |  |
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1991
VIKING and MUSK OX are certified by the British MOD to AQAP 1
VIKING establishes a subsidiary company in Turku, Finland:
OY VIKING SERVICE Ab - now VIKING LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT (FINLAND) OY | |  |
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1990
VIKING London establishes a sales office and servicing station in Aberdeen, Scotland
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1989
VIKING establishes a servicing station in Miami, Florida: High Seas Safety of America, Inc. - later (1994) incorporated in VIKING LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT (America) INC
"VIKING I", a floating training centre, is opened in the UAE
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1988
VIKING establishes a sales office and servicing station in Abu Dhabi, UAE
VIKING introduces a 50 person throw-overboard liferaft specially designed for the dual-track marine evacuation slide
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1987
MUSK OX production is enlarged and moved to new premises in Bramming just outside Esbjerg
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1986
VIKING starts Inflatable Constructions, a new line of alternative inflatable products
The 1983 Amendments to the SOLAS '74 regulations of the IMO enter into force. VIKING's liferafts must now comply with newer, stricter regulations
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1985
VIKING establishes a subsidiary company in Dubai, UAE: VIKING LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT Middle East
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1984
VIKING licenses production of VIKING enclosed fibre glass lifeboats, VIKING-DODWELL, to a Japanese company
VIKING establishes a subsidiary company in Oslo, Norway: A/S Nordisk Gummibåtsfabrikk - now VIKING LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT Norge A/S
VIKING evacuation slides are introduced onto the market
VIKING Denmark is receives an award from the town of Esbjerg for outstanding community service and for promoting Esbjerg
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1983
IMO introduces amendments to the SOLAS '74 regulations
The largest davit-launched liferaft in the world is introduced onto the market, the VIKING 35 DKF with a capacity of 35 persons
Inauguration of new VIKING servicing facilities in Copenhagen: VIKING Service
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1982
VIKING establishes a subsidiary company in Miami, Florida (USA):
VIKING LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT (America) INC
VIKING takes over production of MUSK OX immersion and fire-fighting suits
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1979
VIKING extends activities to include fully enclosed fibre glass lifeboats in the product range
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1978
VIKING Denmark is awarded a diploma and honour in recognition of their efforts of merit in connection with Danish export
VIKING is awarded a diploma by the National Association of Danish Work in recognition of outstanding production initiatives and service to the community
VIKING establishes a subsidiary company in London, UK:
VIKING LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT UK LTD. | |  |
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1977
VIKING establishes a subsidiary company in Rotterdam, Holland:
VIKING LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT Holland B.V.
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1974
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) introduces new regulations, SOLAS '74. VIKING liferafts are subsequently manufactured in accordance
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1970
VIKING takes over the production of fibre glass boats from "Nakskov Shipyard"
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1969
VIKING builds a swimming pool for testing products
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1968
VIKING introduces a new product on the market: the davit-launched liferaft enabling passengers to enter liferafts directly from the ship's deck
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1966
The passenger ferry "Skagerak" is shipwrecked on the 7th of September
22 VIKING 20 person liferafts are used in the succesful rescue of those on board, drawing worldwide attention to VIKING liferafts | |  |
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1965
VIKING moves from the small harbour facilities to newer and larger facilities on Sædding Ringvej.
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1963
VIKING liferafts experience a break through as a result of two incidents:
The rescue of survivors from the shipwrecked cutter "Dagmar Larsen" of Esbjerg
after a 3½ day stay in the liferaft, and the Navy's 6 day test of a VIKING liferaft in the
North Sea
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1960
Production of inflatable VIKING rubber liferafts starts at the harbour of Esbjerg under the company name of A/S Nordisk Gummibådsfabrik | |  |
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