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00:00Transcription by CastingWords
00:30In the early 19th century, the foundation of the Poporzova steelworks was prompted by the necessity to meet the demand of rail production in the Hungarian Empire.
00:40High-volume construction presented a major challenge to the Chamberlain's office in Banskyschavnica, which managed Hungarian iron production.
00:47Anton Glenda, a representative of the management of the mill in Kroniet, drew up the proposal for the location of the new plant.
00:53The location in the Hron Valley below Brezová Hill met the required conditions.
00:59The river Hron had a sufficient volume of water, sourced from the catchment valleys, which enabled its use for energy and to provide a route for the consistent supply of timber by rafting it from the surrounding forests.
01:11The proposal for the construction was approved in 1839 by Prince Augustus Lubkovic, the president of the Minton Mining Court Chamber in Vienna.
01:19Construction began in 1840, and once it went into operation, rail production continued uninterrupted until 1884, when the steelworks shifted its focus towards structural and construction products.
01:32But whatever the plant produced, it would forever hold the title of the Hungarian Empire's first-ever rail producer.
01:38Jelizhána-Pobrozová
01:40Jelizhána-Pobrozová already supports the sixth generation of residents of the remote area of Horehronia.
02:02For more than 180 years, they have always been a decisive link, affecting the standard of living in the entire region.
02:10Although years of success alternated with years of doom and gloom, the factory was lucky to have the right people in management.
02:17Their ability, skill and courage to make the right decisions have brought it to the forefront of global seamless steel tube production.
02:24The 1960s brought a new direction in the development of the company.
02:38In 1961, a vertical two-stream device for the continuous casting of steel was put into operation in Poprozová, placing it in seventh position globally.
02:48The steelworks became a pioneer of this technology in Czechoslovakia.
02:51The gradual modernisation was a long and winding road.
02:55Competent authorities postponed the complex developments of the new steel plants indefinitely.
03:01In 1963, Anton Kolenichka took up the post of the company director, and together with the management, which also included Julius Stark and Bohemil Samek,
03:11they had no qualms about protesting against poor decisions.
03:14In order to fully justify the concept, an increase in the supply of tubes to the Ukraine and other countries of the former Soviet Union played its part.
03:22The Federal Ministry of Metallurgy and Heavy Engineering decided on the implementation of the so-called T-Programming Poprozová.
03:46At the same time, it prompted the need to resolve the production issues of seamless and drawn tubes comprehensively, from steel production to final end product.
03:56A prospect study from 1972 dealt with the production of seamless and precision tubes, and the introduction of structural steel into the production program.
04:06As export requirements increased to 170,000 tonnes of seamless and 80,000 tonnes of precision tubes in 1973, a new concept forecast to be operational by 1990 was necessary.
04:17This included the construction of the construction of an electric arc furnace and equipment needed for continuous steel casting.
04:25The objectives of the development of the tube program, which were characterised by high production efficiency and evaluation of raw materials and energy, were gradually realised.
04:34On 12 April 1972, Tube Drawing Mill No. 1 was put into operation, which commenced production of precision tubes with diameters ranging from 4 to 30 millimetres.
04:47It was a comprehensive assortment, but it was in high demand.
04:57The traction devices had modern thyristor power regulators, and the process of bundle selection was handled on the line by an automated overhead conveyor system, which was designed and produced in Europe.
05:09This significantly reduced the amount of manual work.
05:11In 1979, a seamless tube drawing mill was constructed, with an annual capacity of 170,000 tonnes.
05:20In 1980, Tube Drawing Mill No. 2 became operational, and it became one of the largest plants in Europe, with a production capacity of 65,000 tonnes of tubes per year.
05:30The range was primarily intended for export to the Soviet Union.
05:34A significant shift in steel production came in 1982, with the construction of a modern four-stream facility for continuous steel casting.
05:54Outdated steel production techniques, and the need for more modern equipment for continuous steel casting, were causing considerable problems, which intensified the urgency to address the production output.
06:04The goal was to build a closed-loop production cycle.
06:15Preparations for the construction of an electric arc furnace began in 1986.
06:20Anton Stuhlreicher took over as the company director.
06:24Under his leadership, the steelworks initiated negotiations at the highest level regarding the necessity to build an electric steel plant with a single powerful smelting unit.
06:33The company, Hutny Projekt of Prague, developed the project, in which one of the conditions for inclusion in the investment plant was a strictly limited budget.
06:43However, they had already exceeded the sum of 500 million Czechoslovak crowns within their proposal.
06:49Due to this fact, it was decided that the subsidiary establishments of the steel mills would be dealt with separately, and that the steel mills would finance them from their own resources.
06:57During the commotion of preparations in the construction of the new electric steel plant, the Velvet Revolution of 1989 occurred, which brought about a major transformation in ownership and management.
07:10Despite an uncertain future, the foundation stone for the 60-ton electric arc furnace was laid in 1990.
07:16This historical turning point demanded the making of good decisions, as the future of the factory was uncertain.
07:36The entry of the Poplazova steelworks into the first wave of share-based privatisation was a necessary step in order to save the company.
07:44The management made this decision despite the fact that after 1989, the metallurgical industry was in a poor situation, with a tendency to lean towards gradual liquidation.
07:54On the 1st of May 1992, the joint stock company Zyelizhiana Poplazova was founded.
08:00Its start was very difficult, and the eastern and homeland markets were falling apart.
08:05A new philosophy of directing trade towards the west was adopted.
08:10A strategic step was the founding of the international trading company Pipex International on the 7th of October 1993 in Biella, Switzerland.
08:17The year 1993 is considered to have been the most difficult in the history of the company.
08:24The recession affected the production of steel tubes, and anti-dumping measures made it difficult to sell the products on the European market.
08:31The consequences of the depression in the engineering industry were reflected by the insufficient demand for metallurgical products.
08:38Their prices stagnated, and, to make matters worse, the cost of input materials increased.
08:47Despite the unfavourable circumstances, the management of the joint stock company continued with the adopted strategy.
08:58Financing the completion of the electric steel plant was problematic.
09:01However, thanks to the enormous efforts of the management, the company obtained a loan of 800 million crowns, with the assurance of a state guarantor.
09:09And so, the most important investment project, which ended the 20-year effort of building a closed-loop production cycle, and represented an investment of 1.3 billion crowns, resulted in the increased throughput of the steel mill.
09:21By building a new high-performance ecological electric arc furnace, and putting it into operation in February 1993, the plant became self-sufficient, and Poprezova became a major smelter.
09:34The completion of its modernisation came with the construction of a three-stream system for third-generation continuous casting, which in 2013 eventually completely replaced the original one, which had been in operation for three decades.
09:47Simultaneously, with the first smelting in the new continuous casting process, the new dust-suppression system of the electric arc furnace and the ladle furnace were put into operation.
09:57The furnace came to life at a time when many factories were fighting for their existence.
10:13The situation in the plant in Poprezova was also very difficult.
10:16The decrease in operating capital from the loss-making company was constant, and was joined by the inappropriate licensing policy of the Slovak Republic government, which enabled the export of metal waste.
10:28The company found itself in the red, recording a loss of 500 million crowns in 1993 and 1994.
10:36In the historical ups and downs of the steelworks, the crucial turning point occurred yet again.
10:41Either the factory falls, or it rises and moves on.
10:44Many other businesses went bankrupt, and even the rescue of Poprezova required the determination and strength to face negative influences.
10:53An extraordinary general meeting was convened, in which a new management board was formed.
10:57In 1994, Vladimir Sotak became the chairman of the board and the general director of Zyelizhjana Poprezova.
11:17Deputy chairman of the board and director of capital development, Ludovid Ehring.
11:22The production director is Vladimir Svarik.
11:25The HR director is Marijan Zyma.
11:30The technical director is Josef Marciok.
11:35Economic director is Marijan Kurecik.
11:39And the commercial director is Julius Krivan.
11:42The ambition of the newly elected board was to save the company while achieving its long-term prosperity.
11:53Since August 1994, a group of specialists from the Swiss company J.P. Kalms Consultants has been working with the company.
12:00The conclusion of the in-depth analysis confirmed that the joint stock company had the potential to become a profitable metallurgical enterprise,
12:07but it had to meet the conditions of restructuring.
12:10The first revitalization program in Slovakia was developed in Poprezova.
12:14Thanks to this, the board managed to obtain a loan of 300 billion crowns from Slovensko's body telna, and in 1995, the company made a profit.
12:23The majority owner of the joint stock company, Jelizhjana Poprezova, became the company CPA under the leadership of Jan Banas,
12:40consisting of seven co-owners, all with equal share ownership of the company.
12:44Over the course of several years, the revitalized company issued bonds, which resulted in the acquisition of 800 million crowns for further development.
12:54The board of directors approved a new strategy based on the diversification of business activity.
12:59In addition to the production of seamless steel tubes in the parent company, they began to focus on production in the field of heavy engineering, metallurgy and tourism.
13:07By purchasing the companies DAS and TS Pilsen, Jelizhjana Poprezova gained control over the production of forging presses ranging from 100 to 30,000 tons.
13:19No company in the world could boast such a cash production range.
13:23The companies mentioned were on the verge of collapse at the time of their takeover,
13:27but thanks to the correct management philosophy, Jelizhjana Poprezova integrated them into a showcase of Czech industry.
13:37ZP Group includes the Spanish companies Transmesser and TAP, with the production of precision tubes, co-drawn tubes and tubes made from carbon and low alloy steel.
13:51The CEO is Johan Ramon Domenech. These rank among the top companies in the world due to their production technology.
13:58The basis of the production of the joint stock company, Jaramat Kalinovo, whose general director is Peter Balazs, is refractory materials, with the main production being fire clay, refractory concrete as well as other materials.
14:15ZP Echo Quelet, headed by CEO Roman Veverka, is the majority supplier of steel scrap to the parent company.
14:23And KBZ, located in Kosice, also supplies input materials to Poprezova.
14:29Its managers are Andrzej Orelin, Otto Ivan and Anton Mokha.
14:35In 2019, the company Jelizhjana Poprezova took over ownership of the Hungarian company Tomfair, a manufacturer of welded tubes and components, which are produced for the automotive industry.
14:48The most important business and distribution channel for the sale of steel tubes on the global markets is Pipex Italia, whose general director is Luigi Kuzolin.
15:01The company Slovra, whose general director is Andrzej Romerovicz, is focused on the sale and distribution of products on the Polish market.
15:12In the Czech Republic, the company ZP Trade Bohemia, with its seat in Prague, provides business services. Its general director is Martin Czermak.
15:21Pipex Deutschland is located in Germany, whose CEO is Silvio Rossi.
15:26Part of the parent company's production is also sold by the Spanish company Transmesa.
15:31A significant part of the company's production is sold directly from Poprezova to the commercial markets of Central and Eastern Europe.
15:39Jelizhjana Poprezova realises less than 5% of its total sales on the domestic market.
15:52Product logistics are provided by Zanononi Slovakia, which delivers truck shipments to countries within the European Union, arranges rail and container deliveries, and cooperates with overseas logistics partners.
16:04Its general director is Anna Kovaceva.
16:09With the intention of incorporating highly sophisticated production and technological procedures, the ZP Research and Development Centre was established in cooperation with Professor Ludovic Parilak.
16:21Since its beginning in 2008, the subsidiary company has recorded significant achievements in the field of research and development.
16:29The centre also works closely with leading research institutions and universities within the European Union.
16:35One of the strongest partnerships is with the Technical University of Materials, Metallurgy and Recycling in Koshitsa, which is headed by Iveta Vashkova.
16:45The CEO of the company is Pavol Beraksa.
16:52The company ZP Informatica, whose general director is Jan Gabon, monitors and maintains IT and technical systems for Jelizhjana Poprezova and its subsidiaries.
17:03Another pillar of the business is the tourism industry.
17:14The recreational multiplex of the joint stock company, Tale, commenced construction of a golf and ski resort in 1998.
17:21It has become a favourite destination for winter sports fans and with the opening in 2002 of the first championship golf course, Grey Bear, Tale has become a sought after all year round tourist centre.
17:33The golf course has hosted several of Europe's most prestigious professional golf tournaments and hosts other major events.
17:40The nine hole little bear course was introduced more recently.
17:44The general director of the company is Jozef Sotak.
18:00Today, Jelizhjana Poprezova is among the European and global leaders in the production of steel tubes.
18:07A prerequisite for its success consists of a professional work team made up of dedicated and highly qualified employees.
18:17The steelworks are among the pioneers in the development of apprenticeship education.
18:22They have been focused on the organised professional growth of younger generations for 86 years.
18:28The system of training the younger generation was disrupted during the 1990s,
18:33when the state-run education lost its ability to respond to the needs of production and the labour market.
18:40As soon as legislation allowed it, the steelworks purchased the schools,
18:44which they had been building for many years prior to them being confiscated by the state in 1968.
18:50They established a private metallurgical vocational school and later a private college.
18:55Today, the school provides students with comprehensive material support, modern specialist classrooms and laboratories.
19:02In each grade, students wear school uniforms.
19:05They receive laptops and protective work equipment.
19:08Education is free and students receive rewards for productive work.
19:18As one of the few schools in Slovakia, the Occupational Training School has practised a dual education system since its inception,
19:25while the curriculum and focus of the education are oriented to the needs of the founder.
19:39The above-standard social programme has its own tradition at Zelizyana Poplozova,
19:43and not only in the field of improving qualifications with the possibility of a work-study programme,
19:48together with a dignified working environment.
19:51Healthy meals are provided by the subsidiary company ZP Gastro Service, whose director is Jana Kohutova.
20:01Healthcare is provided through the subsidiary company ZP Rehabilitatia, whose managing director is Maria Niklova.
20:09A novelty in recent years is rental apartments, which are increasing in popularity.
20:14In the social sphere, the company has the ZP Foundation and the Mishko Sotak Foundation,
20:20which not only help employees if they find themselves in need, but also support gifted children in the region.
20:26The pride of the steelworks is the brass band, the history of which is two years older than the factory itself.
20:35The company also pays attention to sports.
20:38Out of the 18 clubs, the most important ones have emerged, and today, in addition to the elite players,
20:44the steelworks support children and youths, especially in football and bowling.
20:49In the football club, there are around 300 registered players in 12 different age categories.
20:58In Pobrezova, they are proud of their history and they protect their cultural heritage.
21:03Valuable ancient monuments are cared for by the ZP Metallurgical Museum.
21:08The company newspaper Pobrezovan was first published in 1930 as the first legal workers' newspaper in Slovakia.
21:15Despite the fact that their publication was temporarily stopped in its early years,
21:20it has been published continuously since 1945.
21:24Through the newspaper, the company maintains contact with its former employees.
21:30The management of the company also saved Horikronia's jewel, Lupture Castle,
21:35which has been under meticulous reconstruction for the past 20 years.
21:40The generations of today look back and respect the work that their predecessors had to carry out
21:45under very harsh conditions, and yet, were able to maintain high standards.
21:50Today, we can talk with even greater pride about the current successes of the company,
21:54which has been led by Vladimir Sotak Sr. for the past 29 years,
21:58and as the chairman of the board and CEO of Zheluzhiana Poplozova.
22:03Vice Chairman of the Board and Economic Director is Marianne Kuricic.
22:07Member of the Board and Commercial Director is Vladimir Sotak Jr.
22:12Member of the Board and Production Director is Milos Dekoret.
22:16Member of the Board and Technical Director is Martin Domovets.
22:20Member of the Board and HR Director is Jan Vilim.
22:24The Chairman of the Supervisory Board is Jan Banas.
22:31183 years have passed since workers' boots first hit the hard ground
22:36in the picturesque valley of the Huron River.
22:39Right from its earliest roots, the mere idea to construct a factory as part of a complex,
22:46when, in the 19th century, the largest and most technically advanced manufacturing in the Hungarian Empire was conceived,
22:53the Poplozova steelworks were destined for success.
22:58Today, as they progress into the 3rd century,
23:01they are among the oldest metallurgical companies in Central Europe.
23:04They constantly strive to improve the production process
23:07and constantly pay considerable attention to the current trends.
23:11An interesting fact is that 26% of the energy which is consumed by the factory
23:15is produced by the factory itself through five small hydroelectric plants,
23:20a steam gas plant and by solar energy.
23:22The Poplozova steelworks have always been one step ahead
23:25and thanks to them they have written and will continue to write the history of the industry of the European format.
23:32The mind, courage and firm hands of those who run the factory
23:37and the generations locked in metallurgy in coordination with the right decisions
23:42have been, and will always be able to, face the challenges of progress.
23:47Thanks to the right direction and management philosophy,
23:50it is indisputable that Jelizhjana Poplozova has a bright future.
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