Our history

Over the last 80 years, we’ve continued to experiment, invest and invent. Today, Habia is a global leader in custom cable solutions for the world’s most demanding applications. We like to think that if Carl could see us now, he’d agree that his innovative and entrepreneurial spirit lives on.

1941

Habia was founded by Carl “Charlie” Herbert Jacobson in Stockholm, Sweden. The company was located in the Hammarby dockyards as a manufacturer of bakelite components – which was the polymer of the day. Charlie named the company “Hammarby Bakelit Industries KB”, and called it “Habia” for short. In 1947, Habia becomes a limited liability company (Aktiebolag).

1950’s

Habia becomes one of the first companies in Europe to start manufacturing PTFE components. This new plastic was commercialised in the US during the late 40’s and Charlie saw the possibilities of this modern material. He set up a new operation on the family farm in Brantshammar, near Knivsta in Uppsala county. Mainly, he manufactured different types of components and high-pressure hoses, but in 1957 our first cable was made.

1960's

Habia goes international. As the wire and cable business grew, factories were set up in France, Germany and Åland, Finland. Charlie’s son Carl-Bertil, or ‘Obi’, joins the company and leads the mission for the expansion. In 1969, the first sales office opens in Breda, Holland.

1977

During summer, Habia is sold to Beijer Sponsor, who continue the international expansion until the mid 80's. New factories were set up, each with a different product focus. Sales offices were also established in France, Germany, UK, Spain, Belgium and the US.

In the end of the 70's, The Swedish Ministry of Defence (FMV) contacts Habia for help in developing a new naval cable standard after ordering four type Västergötland-class submarines. The only cables available for submarines at the time were rubber cables, which were not very oil-resistant and very heavy. Habia took on the challenge, and created a range of lighter, oil-resistant cable solutions for the Swedish Navy. Shortly after this, cable production was moved to Söderfors in Sweden as more space was needed due to the rising demand for military cables.

1980’s

Our first dedicated cable systems department opens. Building on our earlier work with the Swedish Ministry of Defence, Habia started manufacturing pressure-tight glands (penetrators) for submarines. Soon after, a company specialising in sonar equipment for submarine hunting was founded: Svensk undervattensteknik. They called on Habia for our cable systems expertise and we became a primary supplier of cable harnesses.

1985

Habia Group is split up and Habia Cable is formed, consisting of a factory in Sweden and sales offices in the UK, the Netherlands and Belgium. The company becomes part of Beijer Alma group. Other parts of Habia Group become what is now Axon in France, Habia Teknofluor in Sweden, Optinova/Scantube in Åland, Finland, and Fercable Prysmian in Spain.

1990’s

Habia’s coaxial wonder cable Flexiform is launched on the market. While developing coaxial cables in close collaboration with Allgon antennas, we saw the need for a much more flexible solution than the existing ones which used semi-rigid copper. One of our engineers in Söderfors had the crazy idea of dipping the cable in tin instead of copper… and the hand-reformable Flexiform cable was born. This solution was – and still is – a major success, and revolutionised the antenna industry to enable it to become what it is today.

In the same decade, the new Habia Cable undergoes a second wave of international expansion, with sales offices being opened in France, Germany, Poland, South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan. Thanks largely to the success of Flexiform, our factory in Söderfors is further expanded.

1997

Habia designs a special communications cable for the Cassini-Huygens space probe. The cable travelled all the way to Saturn, and operated soundly throughout its 3.5 billion kilometre journey. Cassini was one of the most successful space missions ever, and the Huygens probe’s successful landing on Titan is still the furthest landing from Earth that’s ever been made. On September 15, 2017, Cassini finally descended onto the surface of Saturn.

2000

Thanks to Flexiform’s success, Habia sets up a new factory in China, focusing on manufacturing of the coaxial cables. The same year, Habia acquires Isotec Kabel GmbH, a manufacturer of high temperature wires and cables in Norderstedt, Germany – making this Habia's largest market. Now known as Habia Cable Norderstedt, this production facility focuses on wire and cables in fluoropolymers, mainly for customers in the industrial sector. 

2005

Habia Cable begins manufacturing harnesses in Liepaja, Latvia.  

2007

Habia Cable acquires CS Technology, a Swedish company specialising in cable systems for defence applications.

2008

Harness manufacturing within Habia is moved to a new factory in Lubieszyn, Poland. Design and prototyping remains the focus for our Swedish operations until 2014, when all cable system development and manufacturing is moved to Lubieszyn. As a result of increased demand, the production facility is expanded.

2009

Habia Cable expands its footprint in Asia, setting up a factory for industrial wires and cables next to its coaxial cable factory in Changzhou, China.

2016

Habia invests in unique equipment to manufacture long lengths and large cross sections of fluoropolymer wires and cables to meet the demands of customers primarily in the offshore sector. This technology matures over several years...

2021

...Habia launches Zeroarc™, a ground-breaking insulation system that enables the power needs for an unlimited range of applications, today and in the future.