Per-Olof Söderberg

"The foundation of the old Ratos was laid by a merchant in Dalarna. Per-Olof Söderberg was a blacksmith master at Garpenberg works. Garpenberg had connections to Högbo works in Gävle, which early on worked to produce high-quality steel, so-called Bessemer steel. In Gävle, the seed was sown for what would become Sandvik, one of the most successful steel companies in the world."

"Söderberg then became a trader, traveling around and selling the new steel, which created the conditions for a much more extensive industrial iron industry. At this time, the second half of the 19th century, the industrialization of Sweden began, and the need for iron and steel increased rapidly, with factories, homes, and railways being built. Per-Olof Söderberg soon realized that there was a need for an intermediary between the ironworks and the industry. Therefore, in 1864 he established a wholesale iron business and teamed up with Leonard Haak, who, however, soon disappeared from the firm."