Bertil Andersson
Bertil Andersson, who together with Gunnar Sandkvist and the ITH Foundation founded ITH Förlag AB, publisher of around 120 issues of Fluid Scandinavia, has passed away.
Early Life and Education
Bertil was born on April 5, 1941, in Vänersborg. His parents then lived in Dalsland but soon moved to Närke, where Bertil grew up in the small community of Kvinnersta, just south of Örebro. Later, his siblings were born – sisters Ulla and Kerstin, and brother Bengt.
At the age of 13, he began attending Karolinska Higher Secondary School in Örebro, where he graduated on May 8, 1961, from the mathematics branch of the science program.
After graduation, Bertil completed his military service in Skövde (1961–1962), where he met Margareta, whom he married in 1963.
He then moved to Stockholm to study mechanical engineering at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), specializing in machine design. During his final year, he worked at the Department of Fluid Technology, teaching hydraulics and pneumatics. In 1966, he earned his Master of Science in Engineering degree.
Career
After graduation, Bertil joined the technical department of Sperry Vickers in 1966, a multinational company in the hydraulics industry. Two years later, he became head of the department and remained there until 1979.
He then moved on to Mecman, first as Head of the Hydraulics Division and later as Development Manager, a position he held until November 1984.
That same year, he became CEO of Hydraulik Consult, a leading company in industrial hydraulics, where he stayed for nine years.
After nearly three decades in the hydraulics field, Bertil had built an extensive network. In the autumn of 1993, he founded HMAB Hydraulik & Miljöteknik AB, aiming to advance hydraulic technology through consulting and by organizing symposiums.
Bertil was deeply committed to the industry’s progress, especially in research and education. He served as board member and chairman of the Hydraulics and Pneumatics Association (HPF) and as chairman of the Fluid Systems Technology Association (IFS).
He also recognized the need for a Swedish or Scandinavian trade journal in hydraulics and pneumatics, as the existing ones were only in German or English. Using his wide network, he initiated a publishing project together with the ITH Foundation. The result was Fluid Scandinavia, whose first issue was published in 1995. The magazine, soon also distributed in Norway and Denmark, was warmly received.
Personal Life and Interests
Outside of his professional life, Bertil had a deep passion for music, community life, and sailing. He married Margareta in 1963, and they had three children: Anette (born 1966), Heléne (1971), and Magnus (1976). The family settled in Järfälla, where they bought a house in 1968.
Bertil began playing brass instruments in the 1960s, mainly the tuba, and was active in an orchestra where he also served as chairman for several decades. He collaborated with other orchestras and choirs and became a well-known figure in Järfälla’s cultural life. He also served as treasurer in an association promoting local culture.
A lifelong member of the Aspnäskyrkan Church in Järfälla, he served as treasurer there for 13 years.
Sailing was another of Bertil’s passions. After earning his skipper’s license in 1972, he and Margareta bought a sailboat in 1976, which they enjoyed sailing until 2020. He was a member of two yacht clubs and served as treasurer of the Jakobsberg Boat Association for 23 years.
