If you take on a task, do it well and do it quickly.’ These were Bjarni’s guiding words, which defined his work and which he taught his students.

Bjarni was born in Reykjavík in 1897. After completing his studies with his father, he went to Denmark, where he studied mechanical engineering and worked for about two years in various departments of the Flydedokken shipyard.

In 1922, together with Markús Ívarsson, he purchased the workshop of Bjarnhéðinn Jónsson, and the two of them founded the machine workshop Héðinn.

Bjarni passed away prematurely on December 9, 1938, at the age of 42. In the heartfelt tributes to him, it was said that he regarded it as his mission to create employment in the country. He was quoted as saying: "My role is to awaken people’s interest in establishing companies to make use of the raw materials available in Iceland"—and his focus was directed mainly toward the utilization of the nation’s marine products.

Bjarni was an unusually honorable man, cheerful, well-liked, and with many friends. He was respected and held in affection by all.
After his passing, his widow, Jóhanna Þorsteinsson, born Olsen, served on the company’s board for many years, and their son, Ásgeir Bjarnason, would also go on to work at Héðinn as an engineer and manager.