Where it all began and still exists – the story of Golvabia

From flooring installer to one of the most appreciated flooring companies in the Nordics

When I step into Golvabia's office in Anderstorp, the first word that strikes me is “cozy”. Every space is well-balanced, thoughtfully designed, and warm. It smells of wood, coffee, and something more difficult to define… perhaps the security of a company where generations have walked in the same footsteps.

In displays, on shelves, and in small details lie materials that quietly testify to Golvabia's DNA. Wood samples with precision in every grain. Ceramics in Scandinavian shades. Textiles so soft that you want to run your hand over them. Everything shows the whole that Golvabia has built its reputation on: quality, design, and function.

In a spacious meeting room, we settle down and Pontus Davidsson, the fourth generation in the family business and today’s CEO, begins to tell the story. The story starts in the 1940s when Ivar, then a floor layer, discovered that he could help more people by selling floors instead of just laying them. What began as a practical solution soon grew into a company that went from installer to distributor and later to manufacturer.

Kjell, Pontus's maternal grandfather, became the one who took the company forward and shaped it into a well-known name with customers throughout the Nordic region.

”Many of our customers have been with us for over 50 years. That says a lot about who we are, who my grandfather was, and how much we value being close and building long-term relationships,” says Pontus.

In the 1990s, with Kjell at the helm, a crucial decision was made: Golvabia would start its own production. A choice that gave the company control over quality and a clear identity as a product company.

Proximity, responsiveness, and loyalty that are ingrained in the walls

In an industry that has become increasingly global, Golvabia has chosen to remain local and close to its customers. ”We are not a company where the owners sit far away. We work in the company, we meet the customers, and we are involved in everyday life,” says Pontus. This is especially evident in

Quality as a promise of a sustainable everyday life

In Anderstorp, they talk about quality without grand gestures. It shows in how Pontus gives a tour, how his fingers follow the grain of a wooden board, and how he describes how the surface should behave in a home that lives. It is a way of working that is more about polishing a diamond than chasing the next trend.

The quality is evident in practice: European suppliers, early investments in EPDs, life cycle analyses, and Swan labeling, as well as in the thoughtful decisions about how a floor should feel over time. "We always start with the user. How it feels at home today and how it will feel in ten years guides our choices," says Pontus.

Innovation happens here in small steps. A new color tone, a more easily laid format, an improved function. Adjustments that may not be immediately noticeable but make a difference in the long run. These are changes that integrate into the whole and create the security that has become part of Golvabia's signature.

Materials, craftsmanship, and Småland logic

In the factory, we are met with a calm confidence. Here, people have worked for decades and carry the company's craftsmanship in their hands. The production chain is a source of pride, and particularly prominent are the thin wooden floors that Golvabia developed long before they became a trend. Thin veneer, smart click systems, and a stability that provides a floor with a long lifespan in a home.

Techniques such as cold pressing, cork for comfort, and reusable constructions may sound advanced, but behind them lies a simple thread of thought: care for the user and the everyday life the floor is meant to function in.

The design language is Scandinavian, warm, and intentional. Golvabia does not chase after everything new but chooses thoughtfully. "We want our floors to feel just as right in ten years as they do today," says Pontus, lifting a sample of the vinyl floor Maxwear. Durable, comfortable, and appreciated by both floor layers and homeowners. A floor that behaves like wood but withstands life in a different way. It summarizes Golvabia's philosophy: function, feel, price, and design in a balance for people who care about interior design while living real lives.

Forward with feet still in Anderstorp

When we talk about the future, Pontus describes it with the same calm clarity as the rest of the company's choices. Growth is not about chasing market shares but about keeping up as customers grow and projects increase. The industry is changing rapidly, and Golvabia wants to continue being a relevant and reliable partner without losing what has always been their strength.

They see a larger role in projects and new construction where clarity and accessibility are crucial. Product data, samples, and information should be easy to find and understand. Here, digital collaborations like the one with Toxic become an important part of the journey. At the same time, plans are being made for more space and smarter working methods. The feet are still in Anderstorp, but the steps forward are clear, always grounded in proximity to the customer, local anchoring, and understanding of the everyday life where the floors will live. Just as it has been for 75 years.

A family journey that continues forward

When I ask what Ivar and Kjell would have said if they saw the company today, Pontus laughs and says that grandpa would probably have been most proud of the carpets – the product that has been around the longest and still stands strong. But he also believes they would have appreciated something else: that the relationships they built long ago still exist, that Golvabia remains where it all began, and that the values that shaped the company back then still carry it forward.

A family tradition in motion with the heart still in Anderstorp. That is Golvabia.