We have carefully arranged the key moments of our history on a timeline for you. Alongside the important facts, we have also included interesting anecdotes to help you get to know our company better.
In 2024, we celebrated the 90th anniversary of the company's founding.
Hardening furnace for heat treatment of bodies for steel cutting blades.
Greater focus on larger diameter blades.
We purchased sharpeners for large diameter blades, lasers for band saws with marking machines that we originally designed.
In 2018, we undertook extensive renovations and built a new hall for 600,000 EUR.
In 2016, we invested in the purchase of soldering machines for blades and metal cutting equipment.
In its 80 years of existence PILANA has become one of the largest producers of tools in Europe.
Our special thanks also go to you.
PILANA reaches a combined annual sales record of 45 mil. €
A vast reconstruction of technical equipment takes place as well as refurbishment of production and office facilities.
Production of tools continues successfully in the trend of using the highest quality DIN and ISO steels.
The individual Pilana companies carry on their cooperation in many fields from production and sales to shipping.
The whole Pilana Group with its 600 employees reaches annual sales of 885 mil. CZK. This is double of year 2000.
Among key products one may find circular saw blades with tungsten carbide, industrial knives, bans saws, machines and tools for cutting of metals, frame and gang saws, saw bodies and hand tools.
80 % of the production is exported to almost 80 countries in the world.
Other limited liability companies are registered on 1. 6. — they are Pilana Tools , Slévárna, MCT, Nástrojárna, Pilana Zborovice.
The headquarters of company Naradi in Prague is dissolved, delimitation of property takes place and the works in Hulin become independent. The company is divided into divisions — from production to sales.
Privatisation project is approved within the larger Voucher Privatisation. Pilana a.s. (i.e. Inc.) is established.
On 1. 11. Walker Pilana, a limited liability company, is established as the first one to come out of the approved privatisation project.
The total sales of the company reach more than 530 mil. Czech Crown, the annual sales plan is met to 101,5 %
A linden tree of "freedom" is planted during the visit of the industry minister attended by the director of the whole company.
To increase quality of tools a plan is introduced to modernize machinery for production of segmental saws for cutting of metals.
Celebrations take place of 45th anniversary since the foundation of the company. The company no longer produces just sawblades but also electromagnetic fastenerse, perfectors and fasteners with permanent magnets.
A foundry is built to produce cast milling tools and exact steel casts. First prototypes of sawblades with diamond segments are tested.
Modernisation of switchboard takes place.
1. 8. Ing. Robert Plaček starts his employment with the company.
The average salary reaches 2 482 Czech Crowns per employee.
On 1. 3. Ing. Jiří Michal starts his employment with the company.
The most demanded products are circular saws for wood and metals, hand tools for metal cutting, bandsaws for carpenters or saws for gardeners and frames for metals.
On 5. 8. Ing. Jaroslav Čudrnák starts his employment with the company.
The company gets engaged in the technology of production of saw segments.
More than 50 % of the production of circular sawblades is exported to the USSR.
Average montly salary compared to year 1972 grows by 100 %, in absolute number by 37 Czech Crowns.
The celebration of May 1st takes place.
In cooperation with company TOS Varnsdorf the production of exact drilling rods for milling centers is started. As a result the Golden Medal at the International Engeneering Exhibition in Brno is awarded.
The production of the company reaches 216 mil. Czech Crowns in total sales of which 54,2 % falls on Hulin and 45,8 % falls on Zborovice
This year sees the beginning of production of hand and machine band saws for cutting of metals.
"Experiment", a trial system of business management is introduced ... ... its results are however unknown.
The official chronicle of the company comes into existence.
Celebration of 30 years since the foundation of the company takes place.
First series of meetings with German technicians takes place where information on production and refinement of metals is exchanged.
A new production line for measuring devices "Perfektor" is introduced.
A new fire station is built.
Pilana celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Nationalized company "Pilana" is made part of the newly established government owned company "Naradi" (i.e. Tools in English) with its headquarters in Prague.
The most modern production facility of the company is put into operation – workshop for general reconstruction and repair of machines.
A wooden production hall catches fire. Due to speedy reaction of the local fire brigade no harm is done to the adjacent buildings.
The branch in Hulin restarts the production of circular saws, planes and light chain saws.
As a result of production extension a new branch is established in a former sugar mill in Zborovice.
Nationalized "Pilana" in Hulin employs 675 people.
In July 1947 the highest montly export sales figure is reached since the foundation of the company.
Its also time to have fun — for the relaxation of the employees a recreation and wellness center is leased in Luhačovice.
Representatives of the company set on a successful journey across Scandinavia to secure important supplies of material for production of saws.
Josef Studenik is given the task of joining 9 engineering companies and making them into one larger enterprise.
Based on Mr. Studenik´s proposal the new name "PILANA" is approved and a total of 9 companies all across Czechoslovakia are becoming members of one holding.
At the end of the of the year Mr. Studenik leaves the company.
The works are empty and heavily destroyed by the German occupying forces. The greatest damage is done to the modern production hall. It is the end of WW2 and the Germans are positioned nearby in the village of Brest attacking the liberating Red Army holding Hulin.
First employees are returning back to work on 11. 5. During the ensuing two weeks most machinery is repaired.
Josef Studeník is arrested and accused of collaboration with the Nazis on 12. 5.
A new administrative management is installed in the company on 15.5. to prepare the nationalization of it.
Josef Studenik is released in October due to an intervention of the workers and the new administrative management of the company who signed a petition demanding his release.
On 20. 10. the new administrative management is dissolved and the company is returned to Josef Studenik.
This takes only a couple of days and on 27. 10. the company is nationalized once again with Josef Studenik staying on as its director. At this moment the company employs 800 people.
The company now employs 1 200 employees many of whom were spared of forced labour in Germany due to intervention of Josef Studenik.
In this year the football club "Studenikova XI" is established in Hulin.
The most modern production hall so far is opened and along with it the production of milling cutters and knives.
The company loses Josef Katze as he is deported due to his Jewish origin.
The company establishes its first technical office, stockroom but also its first-aid station. A new administrative building is being built.
During the Nazi occupation of the Czech lands Josef Studenik manages to find new markets in Germany and other Western European countries.
The occupation authorities assign "supervising entity "into the company.
The production is expanded for frame saws and band saws and a new production of circular saws is introduced. Production of gang saws and frame saws is also established this year.
Mr. Josef Katze starts his employment with the company and becomes the first official sales representative. Due to his abilities the total sales of the company start gradually rising after resolution of initial problem of the company.
Mr. Josef Studenik, sales representative of various companies and private entrepreneur, founds "The First Moravian Works for Saws and Tools" Studenik & co. in former gasworks ČSD Hulín. The newly established company specializes in production of carpenter tools while offering repairs of old and used woodworking tools.
This year the first punching machine for making of teeth in steel saw bodies is purchased and the production of band saws is started.
Nadrazni 804, 768 24 Hulin, Czech republic
Tel.: + 420 573 328 200, fax: + 420 573 328 140, e-mail: info@pilana.cz (mini)
