Felipa7295: Enhanced content and organization

2026-02-07T22:50:32Z

Enhanced content and organization

>IndArticles at 08:34, 20 October 2021

2021-10-20T08:34:08Z

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	\|death_date = {{Death date and age\|df=yes\|2003\|07\|27\|1907\|07\|04}}		\|death_date = {{Death date and age\|df=yes\|2003\|07\|27\|1907\|07\|04}}
	\|death_place = [[Mumbai]], India		\|death_place = [[Mumbai]], India
	\|nationality = ~~Danish~~		\|nationality = Indian
	\|known_for = Founder of [[Larsen & Toubro]]		\|known_for = Founder of [[Larsen & Toubro]]
	}}		}}

imported>Tharun S Yadla: Added Larsen & Toubro template

2021-03-06T05:58:58Z

Added Larsen & Toubro template

New page

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox person
|name = Henning Holck-Larsen
|image=Henning Holck-Larsen 2008 stamp of India.jpg
|caption=Holck-Larsen on a 2008 stamp of India
|birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1907|07|04}}
|birth_place = [[Frederiksberg]], Denmark
|death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2003|07|27|1907|07|04}}
|death_place = [[Mumbai]], India
|nationality = Danish
|known_for = Founder of [[Larsen & Toubro]]
}}
'''Henning Holck-Larsen''' (4 July 1907 – 27 July 2003) was a [[Denmark|Danish]] engineer who Founded the [[India]]n engineering firm [[Larsen & Toubro]] (L&T).

== Early life and career ==

Henning Holck-Larsen was educated at the [[University of Copenhagen]] (and what is now the [[Technical University of Denmark]]). He came to [[India]] in 1937 as a chemical engineer working for [[FLSmidth|F. L. Smidth & Co.]] of [[Copenhagen]]. Partnering with his former schoolmate and fellow employee [[Søren Kristian Toubro]], he set up [[Larsen & Toubro]] in 1938. The idea of L&T was conceived during a holiday in [[Matheran]], a hill station near [[Bombay]].<ref name="the_hindu_formula">{{cite news
| url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2006/03/06/stories/2006030600380500.htm
| title = The Toubro formula
| publisher = [[The Hindu]]
| date = 6 March 2006
| access-date = 13 May 2009
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080317102248/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2006/03/06/stories/2006030600380500.htm
| archive-date = 17 March 2008
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> Holck-Larsen was a risk-taker while Toubro was more conservative.<ref name="the_hindu_giant">{{cite news
| url = http://www.blonnet.com/2007/07/04/stories/2007070450270900.htm
| title = The engineer behind the giant
| author = N. Ramakrishnan
| publisher = [[The Hindu]]
| date = 4 July 2007
| access-date = 13 May 2009
}}</ref> Larsen and Toubro saw opportunities in India at time, when few Europeans had realised the country's potential for industrial growth.

The first office of L&T, located in Bombay, was so small that only one of them could use it a time.<ref name="larsentoubro_evolution">{{cite web
|url=http://www.larsentoubro.com/lntcorporate/common/UI_Templates/html/common_AABL_BHIS.htm
|title=Evolution of L&T
|publisher=L&T
|access-date=13 May 2009
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713184540/http://www.larsentoubro.com/lntcorporate/common/UI_Templates/html/common_AABL_BHIS.htm
|archive-date=13 July 2011
}}</ref> Initially, L&T represented Danish dairy equipment manufacturers. However, the Danish imports were restricted during the [[World War II]], forcing L&T to start a small workshop that provided servicing and undertook small jobs. The imports stopped after the [[Operation Weserübung|German invasion of Denmark]], forcing L&T to start manufacturing dairy equipment indigenously, a move that was successful.<ref name="larsentoubro_evolution" />

Seeing opportunity in ship repair during wartime, Larsen and Toubro formed a new company called Hilda Ltd. Around this time, L&T also started two repair and fabrication shops. The internment of German engineers who were supposed to build a soda ash plant for the [[Tata Group|Tatas]] provided L&T another new opportunity.<ref name="larsentoubro_evolution" />

In 1944, Larsen and Toubro established Engineering Construction & Contracts (ECC). L&T started collaborating with international companies around this time. In 1945, it signed an agreement with the [[Caterpillar Tractor Company]] of USA for marketing earthmoving equipment. L&T also started representing British manufacturers of equipment used to manufacture a variety of products including biscuits, glass, hydrogenated oils and soaps.<ref name="larsentoubro_evolution" /> At the end of the World War II, the war-surplus Caterpillar equipment were available in bulk at low prices. However, L&T lacked the money to purchase them. Therefore, Larsen and Toubro decided to raise additional equity capital, and as a result, Larsen & Toubro Private Limited was established on 7 February 1946.<ref name="larsentoubro_evolution" /> After India gained independence in 1947, L&T set up offices in [[Calcutta]], [[Madras]] and [[New Delhi]].

Larsen and Toubro gradually transformed L&T into a large business house with diverse interests, and went on to become one of the most successful Indian companies.

After retirement, Holck-Larsen served as the chairman emeritus of the company. He used to call India his "adopted homeland" and divided his time between Denmark and India.<ref>{{cite news
| url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/07/28/stories/2003072802791300.htm
| title = L&T co-founder Holck-Larsen dead
| publisher = [[The Hindu]]
| date = 28 July 2003
| access-date = 13 May 2009
}}</ref> He died in 2003 at the Breach Candy hospital, [[Mumbai]].

== Awards and recognitions ==
* [[Ramon Magsaysay Award]] for International Understanding (1976)
* [[Knighthood]] from Queen [[Margrethe II]] of Denmark (1977)
* Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Industrial Peace (1980)
* Chemtech Foundation's Chemical Industry Stalwart Award (2000)
* Bombay Management Association's Lifetime Achievement Award (2001)
* Citation from the Indo-European Union Business Summit for promoting business beyond boundaries (2002)
* [[Padma Bhushan]] (2002) for contribution to Indian industry.<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web |url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6U68ulwpb?url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 November 2014 }}</ref>
* India Post issued a commemorative postage stamp of Rs 5.00 on 12 June 2008

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Larsen & Toubro}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 2000–09}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Holcklarsen, Henning}}
[[Category:1907 births]]
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:Larsen & Toubro]]
[[Category:20th-century Danish businesspeople]]
[[Category:Danish expatriates in India]]
[[Category:People from Frederiksberg]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Copenhagen]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in trade and industry]]
[[Category:Ramon Magsaysay Award winners]]

Henning Holck-Larsen - Revision history

Felipa7295: Enhanced content and organization

>IndArticles at 08:34, 20 October 2021

imported>Tharun S Yadla: Added Larsen & Toubro template