Laerdal Yesterday and Today
Åsmund S. Lærdal, innovator and founder of Laerdal Medical AS started the company in the 1940s as a small publishing house, specializing in greetings cards and children's books. The company soon expanded into the manufacturing of wooden toys. Pioneering in soft plastics in the early 50s, Laerdal made millions of realistic play dolls and "furniture friendly" toy cars.
The know-how gained from producing toys, opened new doors into making realistic wound simulations. First aid and emergency medicine with an emphasis on training became our main field of activity. The turning of business focus is symbolized with a girl who died in the late 1890s.