Swix

In the 1940s, Börje Gabrielsson led Sweden's largest pharmaceutical company, AB Astra. He loved cross-country skiing but was frustrated by skis that lacked grip and glide on varying terrain. Therefore, he called for a scientifically tested ski wax that could handle such challenges.

During 1945 alone, they conducted six thousand equipment experiments on two hundred different substances. They quickly reached a conclusion. It wasn't smart to create a universal wax because conditions and types of snow vary so much. Therefore, they developed what became the first series of wax and klister adapted to different conditions, but no difference was seen between the waxes.

To distinguish them from each other, a color was added to each of the mixtures. This is how our characteristic colors came about.

The wax and the brand name Swix were launched on what is considered our birthday, November 28, 1946.