Founded in 1883 by Swedish engineer and inventor Gustaf de Laval, Alfa Laval's products are focused on three core competencies: heat transfer, separation, and fluid handling and in each it possesses the number-one market position. De Laval patented the centrifugal milk-cream separator in 1878. The legacy of this invention is in the Alfa Laval's separation business, generating about one fifth of group revenue with 25%-30% global market share. Alfa Laval expanded later into heat exchangers, its largest segment, and eventually fluid handling.