Kistamässan replaces Sollentunamässan

After more than 35 years of running a succeful exhibition business the doors are finally closing on Sollentunamässan for good. At It’s peak Sollentunamässan employed over 90 people and had a turnover of 179 million SEK in a venue with over 17 000 sqm of space, which made it the third largest exhibition company in the country.

The founder of Sollentunamässan Gustaf Dahlén, was one of the pioneers within the exhibition business in Sweden. When the business grew new opportunities where found in the communication wise centrally placed in Sollentuna, near the new growing capital city airport Arlanda. The first exhibition that was opened in Sollentuna was the sports exhibition SPORTEX quickly followed by a number of other successful concepts as for instance the gift fair FORMEX, Resmässan, Trädgårdsmässan, Vildmarksmässan, Nordisk Reklammarknad and Konstmässan.

Sollentunamässan is sold and closed down
– Sollentuna Expo Center takes over and the idea about Kistamässan is formed.

In a joint venture with SKANSKA and Posten part of the company were sold to those parties. The recession within the IT and telecom industry was tough for the company and the decision to close the business down was taken in 2003.

In the same year the business starts again under the name of Sollentuna Expo Center with Leif Dahlén, Staffan Svenby and Peter Wanderydz as initiators.

The halls in Sollentuna soon proved too limited and new possibilities for the company were looked into. Kista, an area close by, was chosen and the construction for a new site stated during 2007. – Kistamässan opened it’s doors in September 2008.