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Take a brief look at our long yet exciting history
Our history in brief
Guard is a market-leading provider of industrial automation and system integration solutions in Norway and Sweden. Since 1982 we have been delivering open, scalable and secure solutions that automates and optimizes physical processes for clients across the world.
Our success is built on trust and our ability to deliver. Our high ethical standards and sustainable solutions help us minimize the technological and financial risks for our customers. For us, it’s all about building relationships so that, together, we can achieve our shared goals and ambitions. That’s why we also like a challenge – preferably a complex one. We stick at it until we reach the objective – time after time.
1982
TS Electro Engineering
The company is established in Sandefjord, Norway by Terje Sørlie with the vision to increase industrial efficiency and productivity through full-range automation supplies and computer-based control systems.
1994
Plant SCADA
TS Electro Engineering brings AVEVA Plant SCADA, formerly known as Citect, to Norway. This forms the beginning of Windows based supervisory control and data acquisition.
1997
Web based reporting
TS Electro Engineering develops its first reporting tool which lays the foundation for web based reporting in the water and waste water industry.
2001
Guard Systems Engineering
The company is established as a spin-off from GS Group in Sandefjord to specialize in industrial automation and communication solutions.
2003
Bergen
Guard Systems Engineering establishes its first branch office located in Bergen.
2009
Langhus
Guard System Engineering establishes its second branch office in Langhus close to Oslo.
2010
Arendal
Guard System Engineering continues to expand within the Norwegian market and establishes its third branch office in Arendal.
2010
Karl Kristian Sunde
The industrial investor Karl Kristian Sunde sees a great opportunity for data-driven value creation in the automation industry and acquires Guard System Engineering.
2012
Vara
Guard System Engineering establishes its first international branch office in Vara, Sweden.
2015
Guard Automation
To accelerate growth of the company, Karl Kristian Sunde acquires TS Electro Engineering which is then merged with Guard Systems Engineering to form Guard Automation.
2017
ISO Certification
Guard Automation becomes ISO certified as one of the first independent industrial automation suppliers in Scandinavia.
2017
New headquarter
Guard’s new headquarter is opened in Sandefjord.
2019
New CEO & CTO
History repeats itself as Jan-Terje Sørlie is appointed as new CEO & CTO of Guard. The vision is still to increase industrial efficiency and productivity, but now with the aid of data-driven value creation.
2020
Guard Cloud
Guard sets a new standard for industrial data collection, analyses and insights with the launch of Guard Cloud.
2020
Stockholm
Guard establishes its second branch office in Sweden.
2021
Information security
Guard becomes certified according to ISO 27001 as one of the first independent automation suppliers in Scandinavia. This founds the basis for the company’s services within cyber security solutions for operational technology.
2023
Expanded headquarter
Guard is expanding its headquarter in Sandefjord to keep up with demand.
2023
Trondheim
Guard establishes yet another branch office in Norway located in Trondheim.
2024
Stavanger
Guard continues its geographical expansion with a new branch office in Norway located in Stavanger.
2024
Guard acquires LMT Elteknik AB
With the acquisition of LMT Elteknik AB, Guard now encompasses five branch offices and approximately 50 employees in Sweden. This expansion establishes a solid competence platform for industrial automation in Sweden, aiming to replicate the data-driven success experienced in the Norwegian market.