Skip to main content

HISTORY

Hampiðjan was founded in 1934 during the Great Depression and has grown into a large international company with operations in 72 locations across 21 countries and about 2,000 employees. The headquarters are located at Skarfabakki in Sundahöfn, where the main offices, net workshop, and the company’s main warehouse in Iceland are situated. The heart of the company’s production is Hampidjan Baltic in Lithuania, where threads, knotted nets, braided super ropes, and fully assembled fishing gear are produced.

Hjörtur Erlendsson
CEO

“We are determined to maintain our leadership and remain at the forefront of the industry. Our nearly 90-year history has shown that product development and innovation are key to achieving these goals. Continuous and tireless product development is at the core of our business, ensuring that Hampiðjan’s products and designs are always based on the best available technical knowledge. Our customers trust that they are receiving the most advanced solutions on the market.”

In the spring of 1934, amid the Great Depression, a group of thirteen captains and engineers founded a production company in Reykjavík to manufacture trawl nets, tows, and fishing lines for the Icelandic fishing fleet. This initiative addressed a significant shortage of these materials for fishing gear between the wars.

Since then, Hampiðjan has grown and prospered, becoming one of the largest fishing equipment companies in the world. The production of nets and ropes has always been the company’s core business. Over the past two decades, we have further expanded our market advantage with revolutionary products and innovative solutions for the fishing and oil industries, including a variety of ultra-tow designs that are stronger than steel.

“In 2023, Hampiðjan achieved two major milestones: the acquisition of the Norwegian company Mørenot and registration on the main list of Nasdaq Iceland. These achievements open up significant opportunities for further growth and optimization.

We embrace the future and the opportunities it brings. We look forward to serving our customers well and engaging in sustainable practices with the ocean and its fishing resources. Hampiðjan’s commitment to environmental sustainability underscores its role as a responsible member of society.”