ABSTRACT
Many firms start international operations when they are still comparatively small and gradually develop their operations abroad. This chapter analyses the internationalization of four Swedish firms — Sandvik, Atlas Copco, Facit and Volvo. All of them sell more than two-thirds of their turnover abroad and have production facilities in more than one foreign country. Of the four firms Sandvik is the oldest and also the one which first started its internationalization course. The first contacts with representatives were established in the 1860s. Sandvik's early start with representatives in foreign countries was an innovation at that time. Until then the Swedish iron and steel exporting had mainly been undertaken by trading firms. In 1905 Atlas produced the first air compressor. In 1917 the company was merged with another firm, producing diesel engines. Atlas Copco is five years younger than Sandvik but started the internationalization process considerably later.
