The roots of IMAS can be traced a long way back, namely to 1945 in which year the business was founded by the manufacturer, Henry Poulsen, in central Copenhagen. Learn more about the history of IMAS from the timeline below.
1945
The business, H. Poulsen, is founded by the manufacturer, Henry Poulsen.
1948
H. Poulsen moves to the suburb of Brønshøj.
1952
Up until 1952, the focus area of H. Poulsen is the production of aluminium buttons.
This was also the year (1952) marking the employment of 10-year old Mogens Poulsen –second generation and son, Henry Poulsen – in the capacity as errand boy.
1952-1958
During the years 1952-1958, H. Poulsen develops a good and steady collaborative relationship with the renowned Danish engineering consultants, FL Smidt og Co. – at the time the predominant customer of the enterprise. Unfortunately, this collaboration was brought up short when, in 1958, FL Smidt og Co. in Copenhagen was destroyed by fire.
1957
15 years old, Mogen Poulsen leaves school to be apprenticed as a machine worker with H. Poulsen under the supervision of his father, Henry Poulsen.
1960-1972
H. Poulsen machines all Cuckoo-lark parts for copies of 19th century Bornholm grandfather-clocks.
1961
19-year old Mogens Poulsen has served his apprenticeship, and – after compulsory military service – he is again employed with H. Poulsen, where he remains for the next few years.
1964
The manufacturer, Brdr. Michaelsen in Hedensted offers to train Mogens Poulsen as a mechanical engineer. Thus, on 1 August 1964, he leaves H. Poulsen to take on employment in Hedensted.
1966
Henry Poulsen is taken seriously ill. Mogens Poulsen leaves his job at Brdr. Michaelsen i Hedensted in order to return and take over the reins of H. Poulsen.
1967
In August of 1967, Mogens Poulsen initiates his own production of snap couplings for pneumatic equipment. This, then, unique product constitutes the foundation for a financially sound growth of the business that, in the same year, is renamed to ”H. Poulsen & Søn” (H. Poulsen & son).
1972
After many years’ illness, Henry Poulsen dies. The second generation, Mogens Poulsen, takes over the ownership of H. Poulsen & Søn.
1973
The premises in Brønshøj prove to be too small. Hence, H. Poulsen & Søn invests in larger buildings on Baldersbækvej 46 in Ishøj (another Copenhagen suburb).
Also, it has become time to plan ahead. Since personal names as names of businesses do not reveal much about the activities of such businesses, the name of the firm is changed from ”H. Poulsen & Søn” into ”Ishøj Mekaniske A/S” (Ishøj Mechanical).
1980
As, once again, the company lacks space, the 1980s see the yet an expansion, i.e. the purchase and incorporating of Baldersbækvej 45. This is not least owing to Mogens Poulsen’s development and commencement of the manufacturing of cylinders for PFAFF industrial sewing machines. A project that soon comes to constitute 93 percent of the turnover.
1989
Another Mogens Poulsen development project proves successful – in collaboration with Dan-inject, the anesthetising gun becomes a reality. To this very day, it remains a major Dan-inject success.
1991
The third generation, Allan Rasmussen, son of Mogens Poulsen, takes up apprenticeship as a machine worker at Ishøj Mekaniske.
1995
Allan Rasmussen tries his strengths against other firms within the trade.
2000
Allan Rasmussen follows the footsteps of his father and grandfather. He gets his basic professional training with Ishøj Mekaniske and takes over the daily management after having measured his strengths against similar firms within the trade for a number of years.
2005
In June 2005, Mogens Poulsen retires, and Allan Rasmussen takes up the post as managing director of Ishøj Mekaniske.
2006
On 1 January 2006, Allan Rasmussen takes over Ishøj Mekaniske, and the machining workshop is set up for a new chapter to take its beginning.
2008
As the financial crisis hits Danish society, Ishøj Mekaniske is well in hand, commercially. However, as the crisis entails a recession within the trade at large, Ishøj Mekaniske is obliged to resign itself to a period of stagnating developments.
2012
However, from 2012 and onwards, developments begin to turn around, and – once again – Ishøj Mekaniske is commercially successful. Thus, the purchase of 6 machines eliminates superfluous floor space.
2016
In the spring of 2016, Allan Rasmussen is approached by Sulzer/Micpak Denmark A/S concerning the feasibility of the company’s purchase of approximately 3000 square metres of suitable buildings in Greve being vacated as a customer is taking their activities abroad (M. Krøger (subsequently Sulzer) – manufacturer of joint-filler guns). Soon, the buildings on Baldersbækvej are sold.
2017
In the autumn of 2017, Ishøj Mekaniske moves into the new buildings, located on Geminivej 4-6 in Greve – with only seven days of production standstill.
2018
Ishøj Mekaniske leases a little over 1000 square metres to close collaborative partners.
2020
Organizational changes has been made allowing CEO Allan Rasmussen to focus on his responsibilities in the Sales Department in the future.
In the hope of inspiring more young people to take a vocational education Ishøj Mekaniske has entered into a collaboration with the Youth Center in Greve Municipality and seven local primary and lower secondary schools. On 17th of June Ishøj Mekaniske Roskilde won the price for best Internship in Køge Bugt 2020. We won the price for our commitment and efforts to get more young people in the local area to choose a vocational education and apply for a job in the industry.
In addition, the factory now has a food registration so that we can now produce and deliver components for customers in the Food Industry.
This year Ishøj Mekaniske celebrates its 75th anniversary.
2021
Ishøj Mekaniske changes its name to IMAS A/S.
IMAS takes yet a giant technological leap, installing its first KUKA robot in interaction with a new Brother M140X2 lathe. Thus, our machine works is now capable of providing 24/7 batch manufacturing of lathe-turned workpieces.
IMAS participates in the SMV Climate Ready project for small and medium-sized manufacturing facilities, which is part of the UN Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). This project facilitates professional assistance as to the mapping out of our machine works’ carbon emission footprint – together with a proposal as to how the machined workpieces can be manufactured at yet more reduced carbon emissions.
Finally, by September, the Covid-19 situation in Denmark is under so much control as to allow the celebration of the postponed 75-year jubilee.
IMAS wins the 2021 Greve Educational Award (Greve Uddannelsespris) owing to our machine works’ strategic focal points such as for instance education and competence lifting. Likewise, IMAS assumes responsibility with respect to helping the local area’s young apprentices and students.
2022
IMAS invests in yet a new Citizen L12 LFV lathe for the purpose of our continued capacity for meeting our customers’ desires and requirements.
As of the turn of the year 2022/23, all Danish businesses must separate all waste that is comparable to household waste. At IMAS, we are already ahead of the game, as we have introduced the separation of our waste into 11 different types of waste, and thus more of the machine works’ waste is now converted into recyclable resources.
The credit-rating company Bisnode has accorded IMAS the triple-A rating which is the highest obtainable credit rating. The machine works thus joins a distinguished club of trustworthy companies – of which only two per cent of Danish businesses is a part.
Having introduced a new and efficient air-to-water heat pump, IMAS has made itself independent of gas which has meant a 76 per cent reduction in our heating costs. Moreover, the heat pump is powered by renewable energy – namely electricity produced by wind, water and sun – and thus our carbon emission per kW heat has been reduced by 94 percent.
