Earliest export

In 1952‑53 Godtfred Kirk Christiansen tours the Nordic countries to investigate the possibility of exporting LEGO products. On his journey, he meets Axel Thomsen and his wife Grethe, who own AB Lundby Leksaksfabrik, a toy factory in Lerum outside Gothenburg, Sweden. AB Lundby Leksaksfabrik produces doll’s houses and doll’s furniture, and in 1955, the LEGO Group signs an agreement with the company to sell and distribute LEGO products in the Swedish toy market.

In the 1950s the Swedish toy market – unlike its Norwegian neighbour – is not affected by import restrictions. At the same time, the LEGO Group’s factory in Billund, Denmark, does not have enough spare capacity to manufacture the products needed by its growing foreign markets. Therefore, in 1955 the LEGO Group expands its business arrangement with Norske LEGIO A/S, which has been manufacturing and selling LEGO products in Norway since 1953. Norske LEGIO A/S begins exporting Norwegian‑made LEGO products to Sweden – while the LEGO Group supplements with LEGO products from the Danish factory.

In 1959, the LEGO Group decides to set up its own sales company in Sweden, Svenska LEGO AB, under the leadership of Bror Åsberg. The LEGO Group knows Bror Åsberg well. He was general manager of Lundby Leksaksfabrik in 1955 and signed the business agreement on its behalf between the LEGO Group and the Lundby toy factory.

In 1967, the LEGO Group patents the LEGO DUPLO brick – big bricks for small hands, designed for pre‑school children. The philosophy behind the product is that all dimensions of the LEGO DUPLO brick are exactly twice those of the standard LEGO brick. Hence, the name: DUPLO, which refers to “double”.

In 1968, the LEGO DUPLO brick is tested in Sweden. During the test launch, the interlocking quality of the LEGO DUPLO brick in its interaction with the LEGO brick was refined before being launched on the global market in 1969.