The story behind Elkington
Elkington AB was founded in 1961 by Axel von Platen, a lawyer with a strong interest in business.
Covers and hatches have been part of the company from the very beginning, when Elkington operated as an agency business. Over the years, different business areas have come and gone, but hatches and covers have remained at the core of the company.
The name Elkington originates from the British engineer Vivian Elkington, November 1898 – November 1963. In the 1920s, he won a design competition announced by BP, British Petroleum, to develop a lid for extreme, heavy-duty industrial environments. His solution was judged to be the best.
The company that went on to manufacture the hatch was Dover Engineering Works in Dover, UK, which had an agreement with a foundry in Norway. Elkington AB later held a licence agreement with that foundry. When the licence period expired, Elkington AB continued its collaboration directly with the UK, first with Dover and later through Gatic.
The video shows footage from the late 1950s or early 1960s at Dover Engineering Works, featuring the types of hatches produced at the time.
Expanding the Range of Access Solutions
In 1987, Otto von Platen and Erik Ekberg took over Elkington AB from Otto’s father, Axel von Platen. By that time, the company had already started to focus exclusively on covers and hatches, and its network of suppliers had continued to grow.
Otto and Erik decided to broaden the business beyond ground-level covers for extreme environments. Under their leadership, Elkington expanded its range to include wall, floor, and roof hatches, creating a more complete offering for safe access in buildings and infrastructure.
The product range developed to support many different needs, including access for installation, maintenance, evacuation and smoke ventilation. Even then, Elkington’s ambition was to be the natural choice for architects and engineers, regardless of the type of hatch or cover being specified.
Throughout this development, the company remained firmly committed to being responsive, knowledgeable and customer-focused.
A New Chapter with Bergman & Beving
In the summer of 2023, Elkington AB entered a new chapter when Otto von Platen and Erik Ekberg decided to retire after many years of leading the company. The company was acquired by Bergman & Beving, a Swedish group with a long tradition of developing strong, specialised companies in selected niches.
The acquisition marked an important step in Elkington’s continued development. With Bergman & Beving as owner, Elkington gained the support of a stable and experienced industrial group, while continuing to build on the knowledge, customer focus, and product expertise that have shaped the company for decades.
Today, Elkington remains focused on delivering high-quality hatches, access covers and bespoke access solutions for buildings, infrastructure and industrial environments. As part of Bergman & Beving, the company continues to develop its offering with the same commitment to safety, function, quality and long-term customer relationships.
