100 years of production in the chateau in Žďár

Jaro J. Rousek

The factory of František Špilar

1920 - 1939

3_082__A5In 1920, Jaroslaf Josef Rousek buys the former match factory established in 1855. The facilities are transformed into a factory for padlocks and other metal goods like furniture fittings, fireplace or stove hardware and masonry tools. In 1930, Josef Rousek (Jaroslav’s nephew) becomes the new owner. A year later, the production of fishing rods and reels commences with the assortment broadened by 11 types of hinges, 11 padlocks, small saws, ovens, garden tools, fireplace or stove hardware, locks, hasps, bars and masonry tools. Within the years 1933-1934, the company expands in the field of fishing production, starts exporting abroad, and Josef Rousek becomes the owner of several patents improving the fishing rods and tools. In 1935, František Špilar (Jaroslav Rousek’s son-in-law) establishes his own factory for pressed goods, furniture fittings, locks for the railways, sewing machines, sheet metal toys and tools nearby. In 1936, Irma Rousková, the widow of Josef Rousek, takes over the Jaro J. Rousek company. At that time, the company offers 21 locks, 18 bars and hasps, new saws, ladles, 9 types of scissors, 72 types of fishing rods, 15 types of reels and a myriad of other fishing tools.


1939 - 1948

1_081__A4-A3The 1941 - 1945 raw material shortage is solved by the production of combined products using duralumin, a waste product of the military industry. The increase in the number of employees: Jaro J. Rousek from 180 to 290, Špilar from 70 to 110. Both companies changed their production orientation towards military purposes (e.g. pressing sheet metal for mess tins, spoons etc.). In 1946, the company exports around the globe - from Singapore, through South Africa to New York. In 1948, both companies are nationalised and taken over by the state company Branecké železárny, n.p.

TOKOZ a.s.

1948 - 1989

1b_h003

On January 1st 1950, an independent company is set up, Továrna na kovové zboží, n.p. (Metal goods factories) giving birth to the acronym - TOKOZ. Three years later, TOKOZ starts using polyamide to produce reels, winches and holders for fishing rods partially replacing aluminium or brass. In 1958, aluminium pressure die casting is set up enabling fishing rods made of fibreglass and TOKOZ 395 butterfly padlocks with aluminium body to be produced. Within the years 1961 - 1970, the assortment is broadened by rod (piano) hinges, foundry and painting tools, metal office furniture and tv antennas.

 

In 1966, metal office furniture, garden and foundry tools, antennas, duralumin poles and masonry tools are discontinued. They are replaced by the production of special window fittings. In 1968, the production of the most successful export padlocks, the TOKOZ 112 line, commences. In 1970, TOKOZ sets off on the way of automation gradually implementing computerised cooperation. The assortment of building fittings is broadened once again in 1971. This time it is the TOKOZ III. The TOKOZ V. fitting follows in 1975 remaining among the assortment until the present day. The seven years to follow see the launch of the 600 and 700 padlocks product lines with cast zinc body. In 1985, the MK 100 skidding winch production is launched under a Japanese licence.

 

INTERESTING: A new hotel and tv transmitter is opened at Ještěd in 1973 with its laminated roof panels supported by prestressed fibreglass TOKOZ rods (2.5 cm thickness and 11 m length).

1989 - present

37030-187488881401455-229263314-nOn December 1st 1989, the company shop on Nádražní Street is opened. On December 13th 1989, a licence agreement is signed with the German company ROTO Frank AG for the production of the Roto Centro 100 fitting. The German company remains the largest customer of TOKOZ for the following 30 years. In September 1992, Ing. Vladimír Chládek becomes the general director of the TOKOZ state company. In the same year, an open market competitiveness analysis terminates the fishing equipment production. In 1998, the company is privatised by Ing. Vladimír Chládek and Vladislav Veselý renaming it TOKOZ a.s. Due to the rapid development of the custom production, including automotive parts, a large assembly hall is newly built in 2001. The construction of assembly halls continues, and a new pressing shop hall is built in 2003. Major investments are made into the pressure die casting technologies of aluminium and zinc alloys, large new machines in the pressing shop and CNC machines in the tool shop. Ing. Vladimír Chládek becomes the majority owner of the company 9 years after the privatisation. In 2008, the US 250 manhole cover lock is launched. In 2012, the assortment is broadened by the TOKOZ PRO lock cylinders and new padlocks belonging into the same family with 3 patents. Two years later, a second product family is launched fitted with the TOKOZ TECH cylinders with 2 patents. In May 2014, a new tool shop building at the rear end of the company facilities is opened, and the facilities of the non-ferrous metal foundry are enlarged and modernised. The warehouses are moved, the buildings are insulated and the development shop is modernised. In 2017, robotisation replaces the most demanding physical labour. The last new item for the time being comes in 2019 with the launch of the top mechatronic cylinder TOKOZ ePRO with access control placing TOKOZ among the most innovative players on the locking technology market.

From Jaro J. Rousek and J. Špilar to TOKOZ a.s.

tokoz_loga-01 tokoz_loga-02 tokoz_loga-03 tokoz_loga-04 tokoz_loga-05

1920

Jaroslav Josef Rousek buys a former match shop, founded in 1855

1930

Josef Rousek, Jaroslav's nephew, becomes the new owner

1920

the former match shop is transformed into a factory for the production of locks, fittings, iron goods

1935

František Špilar, son-in-law of Jaroslav Rousek, establishes his own factory for pressed goods

1936

the Jaro J. Rousek company is taken over by Josef Rousek's widow, Irma Rousková

1941 - 1945

the number of employees increased: for Jaro J. Rousek from 180 to 290, for Špilarů from 70 to 110

1946

the company exports worldwide - from Singapore, through South Africa to New York

1948

nationalisation of both companies, connected to the company Branecké železárny, n.p.

1/1/1950

a separate company Továrny na kovové zboží n.p. (Metal goods factories) established, abbreviated TOKOZ

1970

beginning of automation - gradual introduction of cooperation computers

1973

transmitter on Ještěd - the roof is supported by a skeleton made of prestressed fiberglass rods from TOKOZ

1/12/1989

the company store opened on Nádražní Street in Žďár

1931

started production of fishing rods and reels, rapid export abroad

1932

the company sells hinges, padlocks, fittings for fireplaces and stoves, masonry tools

1941 - 1945

production of combined rods from duralumin - waste from the arms industry; war production (shells, spoons)

1953

aluminum and brass for the production of winches replaces polyamide

1959

production of fishing rods from fiberglass and padlocks TOKOZ 395 (with butterfly mechanism) with aluminum body

1961 - 1970

extension of the assortment with rod (piano) curtains, foundry and painting tools, metal office furniture and television antennas

1966

Production of metal office furniture, gardening and foundry tools, antennas, duralumin sticks and masonry tools ended. Production of special window fittings introduced.

1968

production of the most succesfull export-oriented locks of the 112 series started

1971

extended range of building fittings - TOKOZ III

1971 - 1978

introduced the production of padlocks of the 600 and 700 series with a body cast from zinc

1975

new window fitting TOKOZ V - in the assortment to nowadays

1985

introduced production of MK 100 skidding winch according to the Japanese license

1992

production of fishing tackle was ended after the analysis of competitiveness on the open market

2001

rapid development of custom production, including car parts

2008

lock for manhole covers US250

2012

TOKOZ PRO cylinders and new padlocks of the same family with 3 patents are launched on the market

2014

TOKOZ TECH cylinders and new padlocks of the same family with 2 patents are launched on the market

2019

top mechatronic cylinder TOKOZ ePRO with access control - TOKOZ is among the most innovative players on the locking technology market

13/12/1989

signing of a license agreement for the production of Roto Centro 100 fittings with the German company ROTO Frank AG - the largest customer of TOKOZ for the next 30 years

1992

Ing. Vladimir Chládek becomes the general director of TOKOZ s.p.

1998

privatization of the company by Mr. Vladimír Chládek and Mr. Vladislav Veselý - renaming to TOKOZ a.s.

2001

a large assembly hall built

2003

a new pressing shop hall built; significant investments in die-casting technologies of aluminium and zinc alloys, new productive and large machines in the pressing shop and CNC machines in the tool shop

2007

Mr. Vladimír Chládek becomes the majority owner of the company

May 2014

a new tool shop opened, the space for non-ferrous metal foundries expanded and modernised, warehouses relocated, buildings insulated, and the development workshop modernised

06/11/2020

TOKOZ HELPS - November 6th 2020 at 12 o’clock, a BabyBox ceremoniously opened at the main entrance of the company,