Built by Älmults Bruk Aktiebolag (Älmult Company Ltd.) in the town of Älmhult in the far south of Sweden during the 1940s and 1950s, these two 20 and 28-inch shapers were of entirely conventional design - though of typically Swedish high quality.
The Älmult 20-inch model had, of course, a ram stroke of 20 inches, (500 mm) and maximum and minimum clearances between the slide and table of 385 mm (15 inches) and 75 mm (3 inches) respectively. The table had a top surface of 300 x 490 mm (11.8" x 19.3") with four T-slots, a height of 345 mm (13.4 inches), a horizontal travel of 650 mm (25.6 inches) and a vertical travel of 150 mm (6 inches). The table was supported at the front by sliding on a horizontal bar bolted to two cast-iron uprights upon which it could be adjusted for height. To hold long shafts that needed machining lengthwise, a clearance hole 50 mm (2 inches) in diameter was formed beneath the ram. Fitted as part of the standard equipment was a swivel-base machine vice with 244 mm (9.6 inches) wide jaws and an opening capacity of 265 mm (10.4 inches).
Power was provided by a 3 h.p. 1400 r.p.m. 3-phase motor, mounted inside the base and coupled by a V-belt to a dry disc clutch and gearbox to give six rates of stroke of 21, 30, 43, 60, 85 and 120 per minute. The gearbox was of robust construction, splash lubricated and held hardened and ground gears mounted on shafts running in ball races.
Held in V-ways, the ram - fitted with a tool slide having a travel of 150 mm (6 inches) - was driven by the usual link mechanism that incorporated a Whitworth-type quick-return arrangement to accelerate the return, non-cutting stroke; the stroke length was adjustable when running. 
The Älmults 20-inch shaper weight approximately 1300 kg (2866 lbs)
Much larger and weighing 2313 kg (5100 lbs).
Älmults 28-inch shaper was intended for heavy industrial use and incorporated hydraulic drive to the table with the feed rate adjustable while running. At extra cost, a centralised lubrication system could be fitted as well as a tilting universal table and a keyway cutting attachment.
Power came from a 7.5 h.p. 3-phase 1400 r.p.m. motor connected by a dry plate clutch and gearbox to give eight stroke rates of 16, 22, 29, 36, 48, 67, 86 and 110 per minute. Like the 20-inch model, this gearbox was of robust construction, splash lubricated and held hardened and ground gears mounted on shafts running in ball races.
Held in V-ways, the ram - fitted with a tool slide having a travel of 170 mm (6.7 inches) - was driven by the usual link mechanism that incorporated a Whitworth-type quick-return arrangement to accelerate the return, non-cutting stroke; the stroke length was adjustable when running. 
  The maximum and minimum clearances between the slide and table were 440 mm (17.3 inches) and 75 mm (2 inches) respectively. The table had a top surface of 700 x 425 mm (27.6" x 16.7") with four T-slots, a height of 445 mm (17.5 inches), a horizontal travel of 775 mm (30.5 inches) and a vertical travel of 185 mm (7.3 inches). The table was supported at the front by sliding on a horizontal bar bolted to two cast-iron uprights upon which it could be adjusted to set the required height. To hold long shafts that needed machining lengthwise, a clearance hole 75 mm (2.95 inches) in diameter was formed beneath the ram. Fitted as part of the standard equipment was a swivel-base machine vice with 315 mm (12.4 inches) wide jaws and an opening capacity of 330 mm (13 inches)..