Gjesdal Mekaniske Verksted AS was formed in 1988 in an old shovel factory at Lommeland in Gjesdal Municipality. Tor Ole Talg and Jarle Stene, the company's founders, took on a variety of jobs in its early years. These ranged from setting up cowsheds, replacing home roofs, and more intensive mechanical labour.

The first significant purchases were a compressor, a jigsaw, and a lathe. A substantial investment for a small company in those days. In addition to working for the corporation Tor Ole worked as a contracted technician at companies such as Polaris and Rogaland Research.