1971
The year Orwak was founded by Olof Robert Wilhelm Åkerberg, who came up with the original idea and gave Orwak its name based on his initials (K = Komprimatorer “compactors”). The business concept built on the idea of safe and clean waste compaction and the first in-bag-compactor Orwak 5030, a patented solution, was invented and displayed at major exhibitions in London and Paris.
1973
The year when Orwak went international! Several distributors were established in Europe and the start of Orwak UK was a success from day one. Orwak were committed to giving its customers the possibility of sorting and compacting in one machine and the models Orwak 5032 and Orwak 5033 were born.
1978
The first big baler was designed and Orwak was the pioneer in marketing a unique concept – the Multi Chamber Baler. This system later became a huge success that contributed to Orwak’s continued growth worldwide.
The 1980’s
Orwak conquered the supermarket business in the UK. All major target groups chose our unique multi-chamber-baler model 8020 and thousands of units were installed! A number of new markets and distributors were developed.
Orwak USA Inc. was inaugurated. The unique trash compactor Orwak 5030 was readily accepted by major fast food companies, restaurants and hotels. Model Orwak 8010, the fastest down-stroke baler in the world with a cycle time of just 10 seconds, was born!
The French market was first to demand a compactor for plastic bins and Orwak was first again, introducing its simple but effective in-bin-compactor model Orwak 4000.
The 1990’s
Orwak entered the Japanese market and our heavy-duty baler model Orwak 5070-HD was launched, at first targeted at the Japanese market with tough requirements for speed and bale density.
Orwak continued to expand and moved to new production facilities. The smallest (model 3100) respective the biggest (model 3600) Orwak baler so far were born and Orwak also introduced a compactor for larger plastic bins – model Orwak 4100.
In 1998 Orwak started a sales company in Poland – a promising future market!
Year 2000-2012
When acquiring Morinders and Presona, we formed Orwak Group and after a couple of years, Brickman was fully integrated in the Orwak-assortment.
New products were launched and at The Cologne Fair in 2003, Orwak revealed its latest development, the attractive and low-built Orwak 3300 baler.
In 2007 Orwak introduced the concept “The Silent Family” when a new line of front-loaded balers with silent operation replaced several classic models. Two years later the twins Orwak 3105 und 3110, with extra small footprint, were added to the family.
2013
TOM, a new waste compaction system for public spaces with a lot of foot traffic, were introduced to the market.
2014
At the world’s largest shop-fitting exhibition EuroShop in Düsseldorf, Orwak launched ORWAK POWER, a brand new dynamic range of balers featuring the Black Star Technology – a completely new hydraulic concept. ORWAK POWER: STRONGER, FASTER, SMARTER!
2015
Orwak joined San Sac Group, owned by Accent Equity.
2016
Orwak North America was founded and we launched model 4240 for in bin compaction.
2017
Orwak Easi UK was established and ATS-Orwak began representing Orwak in sales & service in Sweden.
2018
San Sac Group acquired Proshop, the Orwak distributor in Russia, and Orwak launched model 3120 – a new addition to the COMPACT baler family.
2019
Orwak celebrated machine no. 100 000 since the start in 1971.
2020
In January, it was announced that Sulo, a global company headquartered in France, acquired Sac Group Group. In december, Orwak launched the extra low-built baler Orwak 3220.
2021
Orwak celebrates 50 years as a dedicated actor in the recycling industry and the waste management world!