Öhlins is known worldwide as a leading manufacturer of suspension components and today has a presence in almost every high-calibre motor racing series in the world. The Swedish company was founded in 1976 by Kenth Öhlin and is still a family-owned concern. Its 350-strong workforce produce more than 130,000 suspension units per year, of which 97% are exported. The annual turnover amounts to around 100 million euros.
Öhlins has always been very much involved in motorsport, winning its first Motocross World Championship in 1978 with Gennady Moiseev in the saddle. There have since been more than 300 international motorsport titles won with suspension systems supplied by Öhlins. The company is represented in all major international racing series, including Formula 1, MotoGP and the Motocross World Championship, and its trademark gold suspension components can be found on the equipment of top teams in a variety of racing series. In addition to motorsport, Öhlins is also a highly respected original equipment manufacturer for many high-quality motorcycles and exclusive automobiles. For example, Öhlins’ CES valves for electronic damper control are used as OEM components by Audi, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Volvo and VW.
In motocross, Öhlins’ gold-coloured forks and shock absorbers have a long history of success and are the premium and exclusive suspension components that many top sportsmen and women prefer. Öhlins provides an exclusive service to contestants in the ADAC MX Masters, attending to their needs at each of the seven race venues during the season. The two service technicians, Kevin Oppenberg and Bela Kujundzic, are always available to the teams in the paddock as direct contacts and service providers.
Milestones in company history
1976: Öhlins Racing AB founded.
1978: Gennady Moiseev becomes first rider to win World Championship on an Öhlins.
1984: CES R&D building opens in Jönköping, Sweden.
1987: Yamaha acquires 75% share of Öhlins Racing AB.
1998: Öhlins receives ISO 9001 certification. Öhlins USA is founded as a subsidiary company and distribution centre in North Carolina.
2007: Kenth Öhlin buys back 95% of the shares from Yamaha. Öhlins Distribution & Technical Centre opens at the Nürburgring in Germany.
2009: First mechatronic suspension in the Ducati Multistrada 1200S. Global presentation of Road & Track Autosport products.
2010: Unveiling of the Dual Ride Height System at Ferrari. No fewer than 21 Grand Slam victories on two and four wheels.
2011: Öhlins Auto Norden opens as a service and distribution partner for Scandinavia. BMW R1200GS first EC application in the accessories market. Two-millionth CES valve sold.
2012: Presentation of the mechatronic system on a Ducati Panigale. More than 250 world championship titles won with Öhlins products. 3 million CES valves sold.
2013: Öhlins opens factory in Thailand. Mechatronic Smart EC on Yamaha R1M and Ducati Panigale 1299S.
2014: 4 million CES valves sold.
2015: 5 million CES valves sold. New Öhlins Racing headquarters opened.