The creators, F.W. Lindqvist and J.V. Svenson, named their kerosene stoves from 1892 Primus, meaning first. In short, because they were the first on the market with them. And since then, the Primus brand has become more or less synonymous with stoves and cookers, especially outdoor or camping ones.

Tested in extremes

Primus stoves have been tested in extreme conditions since their inception. For example, Roald Amundsen prepared food on them during his trip to the South Pole in 1911. But also Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary in 1953, who were the first people ever to reach the top of Mount Everest.

Nowadays, the Primus company is known as a manufacturer of reliable, safe and sustainable stoves not only for those continuing the above-mentioned expeditions, but also for people whose goals are not nearly so high – but who, even for their less ambitious expeditions beyond the limits of everyday life, require uncompromising quality. In addition to outdoor enthusiasts, the stoves, dishes and other accessories of the Swedish manufacturer will also be appreciated by lovers of camping and garden parties.

How time went with Primus

We mentioned that the Primus company has been operating continuously since 1892, but in the history of the brand (in addition to the above-mentioned years 1911 and 1953) there were also other milestones that are worth remembering. For example, the very first known expedition, the participants of which packed Primus equipment for the trip, was Andrée's expedition, which already tried to conquer the North Pole in 1897. Only then did Primus get its first logo.

In 1908, the Primus factory was opened in the very heart of Sweden, on the island of Lilla Essingen in Stockholm. During the 1930s and 1950s, Primus developed its own LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) stoves and lamps. In 1950, the company opened a larger factory in Hagfors, Sweden. Ten years later, Primus received its iconic oval logo.

Sustainability above all

Primus' first environmental efforts began in 1978, when the manufacturer began developing gas stoves for African countries to help reduce wood burning in the region. In 1995, the Primus brand factory was opened in Tartu, Estonia, and a year later the Multi-Fuel project was created, which is the first outdoor stove that can work on different types of fuel, from LPG to so-called white gas to kerosene and jet fuel. This solution was tested by Göran Kropp during his expedition to Mount Everest.

Award winning products

They did not rest on their laurels at Primus in the following years either and brought PrimeTech (2006), stoves that have twice the combustion efficiency compared to conventional solutions. In 2011, the company brought the award-winning OmniLite Ti stove, which can again use multiple fuels, and two years later, thanks to the then newly patented combustion technology, it came with Primus Lite, the smallest complete cooking system to date.

Around 2015, Primus introduced an innovative logo together with other products, and the latest novelty in the manufacturer's offer appeared in 2017, in the form of Primus PrimeTech outdoor cooking sets. These are the very first regulated hose heaters for year-round outdoor use. And again they earned many awards.