Quality heating. For 55 years.

BULGARIAN VERSION

The Česká Třebová region is known for its long local tradition in the metal industry dating back all the way to 1909. Many companies disappeared over the years, many were incorporated into others and some were transformed into completely new enterprises. The origin of the engineering company in Česká Třebová, which after many changes to its name, organisational structure, product range and owners became the largest Czech manufacturer of radiators in 1990, dates all the way back to 1949. First of all, as an enterprise under the name of Podnik místního hospodářství and subsequently as Kovovýroba and Koventa. Establishment of the Koventa engineering company in 1965 essentially marked the beginning of the history of the KORADO joint-stock company. However, the city of Česká Třebová had to wait until after 1989 for that. Since then, the KORADO brand has been an inherent part of the region!

The first RADIK D91 steel panel radiators started to come off the production line in 1990. This product brought with it several important innovations such as a side cover for the radiator and use of a covering grille on top. This meant a major improvement in its appearance at that time. It was the first radiator to be produced with this model name and it has retained the designation RADIK until this very day, i.e. for all of 30 years.

Start of construction of the new KORADO production plant at a cost of almost CZK 3 billion.

Start of production in the new production plant and awarding of ISO 9001 certification.

The year 1998 brought with it acquisition of a 98% stake in the formerly German-Bulgarian production plant in the Bulgarian town of Strazhitsa and establishment of a subsidiary manufacturing company, KORADO Bulgaria. The site subsequently underwent significant renovation and modernisation to meet the demanding European production parameters and production of RADIK steel panel radiators was commenced there. These are produced here in almost the same product range as at the parent plant and are used to supply the markets of Southeast Europe. Bulgaria currently serves the markets of Romania, Ukraine, Hungary, France, Bosnia and Herzegovina and of course the local Bulgarian market. In 2018, this subsidiary produced 467,497 steel panel radiators. The remaining share is owned by local institutional and individual investors. Shares are freely traded on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange in Sofia.

Restructuring of the largest subsidiaries and a major positive turnaround in the company’s economic performance.

Record number of radiators produced and sold - for the first time ever, we produced and sold more than 2 million steel panel radiators.

In 2006 and 2007, the production capacity of the new KORADO plant in Česká Třebová was no longer sufficient to meet capacity requirements. Therefore, decision was made to increase the production capacity of the plant. Within the framework of the NZK II project, a fourth large-capacity welding line was set into operation, together with additional presses for production of shells and extended transfer areas. A second packing line was set into operation as well as a second pressing line for production of radiator covers. The second part of the paint shop, which had until then only been prepared structurally as a backup for potential further development, was also completed and set into operation. The NZK II project increased the production capacity of the KORADO plant in Česká Třebová from two to three million radiators per year.

Integration of LICON HEAT into the KORADO Group in 2013 marked a significant step towards strengthening the position of the entire group on the European market. This acquisition expanded the product range to include a complete range of floor, bench, wall-mounted and specialty convectors. The tradition of manufacturing convectors, at that time under the LIKOV brand, dates back all the way to 1968. Over time, the company underwent modernisation and in 2004, changed its name to LICON HEAT. Together with these changes, the company also launched a new heat exchanger and together with it adopted a new export business strategy. The subsidiary LICON HEAT, based in the North Bohemian city of Liberec, produces around 25,000 convectors per year. Most of them are destined for large foreign construction projects, but a significant number are also installed in Czech households under the KORADO brand. Newly launched this year is a complete portfolio of brand-new floor convectors under the name KORAFLEX.

Since its establishment in 2009, the Czech company ThermWet s.r.o. has been engaged in the development, production, design and supply of optimal ventilation systems with heat recovery for family houses, flats and small commercial premises throughout the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This is a logical step for KORADO a.s. in terms of which conventional methods of heating are supplemented with energy-saving heat recovery systems.

Thirty years have passed since introduction of the first RADIK model, more than 40 million radiators have been sold and the product has won customers all over the world with its quality and wide portfolio. But even now, there are still new avenues to pursue. Innovation has taken RADIK radiators all the way to the RADIK VKM8, a version offering universal connection to the heating system, this being the latest new product to be offered by the KORADO brand.