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A Century of Experience for the New Millennium.

Our mission is development based on a rich tradition. Only in this manner will we continue to develop in harmony with nature, the environment and society, spreading across borders, and becoming a successful international company, binding us and offering us all a better future.

Unior celebrates a venerable anniversary 100 years

We are dedicated to continued development based on a century of rich tradition and knowledge. We also remain focused on our mission, which is grounded in the values of excellence, entrepreneurship, innovation and responsibility. With that in mind, we are particularly proud of the fact that in the last one hundred years, we have grown from a simple smithy into one of Slovenia’s largest corporate groups. At the same time, we have been able to develop successfully in foreign markets, growing into a reputable international entity that works with some of the world’s most important companies. In the long term, it is development in harmony with nature, the environment, and societies beyond our borders that will ensure a better future for all of us.

With this approach, we are expanding the role and strength of our brand, enabling us to operate successfully and distribute our products in over 100 countries. More than 95% of our products are exported, of which by far the largest share goes to Western Europe and the highly demanding automotive industry. In view of the rapid changes and competitive environment, we have to offer more and more added value, leading to pioneering development in a number of fields.

We have a large market share in connecting rods and control mechanism parts for the automotive industry, making us one of the largest smithies in Europe, as well as one of the most important suppliers for the most eminent automobile brands around the world. Under our own brand, we make premium hand tools, used mainly by professional users worldwide. Distinguished by a wealth of knowledge and experience, we design and manufacture demanding special purpose machines for medium and large-scale machining of metals.

Our vision marks us out as a visible, progressive international company in the metal processing industry. Implementing our own innovative process of working with our buyers, suppliers, similar companies and research organizations, we will develop, manufacture and market solutions with an ever-greater added value. We are and will continue to be the linking element in the dynamic UNIOR Group, which makes the most of its synergies to ensure a safe investment for its owners and a future for its employees.

Constant innovation and improvements have left an important mark on our company’s 100 years of tradition. Today, Unior is distinguished by excellence in the processes of drop forging steel, cold forging, machining own forgings, sintering, and designing original solutions for the production of hand tools and special purpose machines.

The advantages we offer our buyers include competitiveness, flexibility, a varied production program, keeping up with trends in the automotive industry, a visible brand with a long tradition, in-house development and our own sales network, quality repair services, and products with a long useful life.

As we are closely linked to our environment and the tradition and experience of our ancestors, we are well aware that investing in the surroundings where we live and work is priceless. From its earliest beginnings, Unior has left an important mark on the development of Zreče, as the town infrastructure grew along with the company. Unior had a decisive influence on the development of tourism in Zreče, as well as of the town itself, contributing significantly to the quality of life in Zreče and the surrounding area. Not just the local economy, but education, culture, sport, and general social development are largely dependent on Unior. The company boasts a broad field of activity. Thanks to the know-how, hard work and ambition of all generations, we are proud to have created a number of jobs and made an important contribution to the visibility of the area, the number of people that visit it, and the considerable progress of the entire region.

With that in mind, Unior places a lot of importance on the region where we work. We are helping a number of organizations and societies by raising awareness and providing moral and financial support. We also support current initiatives and a variety of one-off events with sponsorships and donations. Every year, we provide regular support for many cultural, sport and humanitarian projects. We are proud of our long scholarship tradition, which has eased the financial burden on a number of families in the region when it comes to their children’s education. At the Slovenske Konjice-Zreče School Centre, we have our own workshop for our future employees. We recognise that employees are the foundation for the reliable operation of any company and the only way to create a century of tradition shrouded in history.

A century of tradition, reliable and highly-qualified employees, first-rate know-how, the most up-to-date technological solutions, products and services of the highest quality, corporate social responsibility, and a modern marketing approach – these are our main qualities.
The rapid development of technology and information means that we will always be faced with new challenges. We are well-aware that only satisfied and motivated individuals with the best of competencies and an ability for teamwork can handle them. When it comes to realizing our vision, the support and development of our employees are invaluable. With that in mind, we place great emphasis on protecting and promoting health, ergonomics, flexible working hours, new HR practices, training, strengthening intergenerational relationships and improving dedication.

We have inherited the stories of our hard-working and innovative ancestors, but today we are writing a new story – one that is not concerned with merely preserving the past, but focused on creating the future. Our achievements give us courage. We can do things that others cannot, because together we are stronger, more determined and more successful. The credit for this goes to the great spirit of belonging here at Unior – persistent and determined, yet flexible in the face of change.

Unior d.d. Management Board

Darko Hrastnik, Chairman of the Management Board
Branko Bračko, Member of the Management Board

Statements by employees and former employees

Bojan Leskovar

former works manager of the tool shop, head of the forge in the 1950s, and director of Unior Atras

….That time saw a special development in sintering, i.e. hot forging of sinter, when sintered blanks form and these are then closed-die drop forged. This is what I wrote about to Mr Osole. Mr Osole then came to the institute and I must say that, unlike before, he made a decision very quickly. I showed him my laboratory and he saw how it all worked. We came to an agreement and I came to Zreče in 1973.

…Well, if there was pressure on economics, on money? Of course there was. I still remember when the first sintered pieces came. It was a hub. I was especially attached to the hub because I was developing it for Titan, and there were some problems there. When the first one came out of the furnace, I took it and went to director Osole and told him: “Comrade Director, this is the first piece.” I remember it well. He was sitting on the other side of the table. He looked at it and said: “Good. Save the invoice.”

… I was in the plant practically all the time. There was nothing else. Every now and then, I went for a ramble across Rogla, skiing, mountains, but otherwise I mostly stayed at the plant…

Jože Boček

former foreman in the forge

“Where have you been today?”, I asked my neighbour. “To the factory”, he said. “I went there to ask for work.” “And, did you get it?” “Yes”, he said. And I immediately went down to Košir. And we came to an agreement. What else can I do, I thought. My dad had land, and I had nothing to do at home. Well, there was work, just no money…

…You made a forge, or forged a cogwheel. It had to be deburred. And then you put it aside. If the controller came around twice or three times, he checked the thickness and that was it…

…Some workers from elsewhere stayed, some got scared and went back. When Matavž went on sick leave, I slowly started doing the job. There was no one else as backup. So, I started doing that and I stayed there. There were hard-working boys coming from school. And they were good. You had to tell them a few things at the beginning, but they were better at these things.

… I would still rather be a smith than anything else. If I were young again, I would just be a smith. I loved that work so much and I was interested in it.

Dragica Potnik

former forewoman in the quality department – forge

… I had the utmost respect for the smiths because I knew that we came from them…

…They demanded order. They were making three thousand caps upstairs. I was making a thousand. Because I couldn’t. I couldn’t do more. He came back two months later and said: “You’re not making enough. They make three thousand of them upstairs.” And I thought to myself: “Jesus…” I was the only one making those pieces. I was making them for export. And I said: “All right., Then I’ll make four thousand.” He came back two months later and said that they were making six thousand of them upstairs. I was making eight thousand…

Martin Špile

smith

…Everything was more by rule of thumb then. We had the calliper gauge, nothing more, but we worked by rule of thumb. When you made a piece, you looked at it. You didn’t have to be as precise as later on, when technology evolved…

…It was fire when you came to the forge. It was so hot, you wouldn’t believe it. This has changed now by one hundred percent..,
…Things became more and more demanding every year, when we entered the western markets. When we forged parts for Bosnia, for tractors, it wasn’t so important. The parts were processed so that they went a couple of millimetres to the left or right. When we came to the west, to Germany, and we forged parts for the automotive industry, for Mercedes and Audi, things became more complicated. Everything had to be done precisely.
…There was an incredible demand for smiths. From 1975 to 1985, things developed so fast that they brought workers from Bosnia. Those were good workers. But there weren’t enough of them. And they brought them from Ćuprija, from Serbia. These were people who weren’t used to such work. People rotated fast in the forge. You had one assistant until lunch and one after lunch because the first had already run away. He just left the gloves and disappeared. It could happen that you had three assistants in a single shift.

…There was always work and salaries were paid. I was in the same company from the beginning to the end, and I am proud of that…

Cvetka Šrot

former assistant in the general staffing department

…Then, at the time of that crisis, salaries were very, very low. Me and my husband, we both worked at Unior. We had four kids and let me tell you, we almost couldn’t make it…

…Then, at the time of that crisis, salaries were very, very low. Me and my husband, we both worked at Unior. We had four kids and let me tell you, we almost couldn’t make it.

…They had different courses and seminars, and the smiths got trained in the workshop or the forge. When the numbers grew so high that there was a lack of metal workers, they established their own vocational school. By 1990, all these students got a job…
…At the time, the company was also building new blocks of flats. The workers that came first got single rooms and later family flats…
…It is true that the company has always invested a lot in development. This is how Rogla, the tourist centre, was built, as well as Terme Zreče. Even though we initially thought that it wouldn’t work out, you can see today that a lot was done and a lot of people have jobs today. Both in Terme Zreče and in Rogla…

Stane Jurca

former head of the Sinter plant, former head of tool shop II, technical director

….That time saw a special development in sintering, i.e. hot forging of sinter, when sintered blanks form and these are then closed-die drop forged. This is what I wrote about to Mr Osole. Mr Osole then came to the institute and I must say that, unlike before, he made a decision very quickly. I showed him my laboratory and he saw how it all worked. We came to an agreement and I came to Zreče in 1973…

…Well, if there was pressure on economics, on money? Of course there was. I still remember when the first sintered pieces came. It was a hub. I was especially attached to the hub because I was developing it for Titan, and there were some problems there. When the first one came out of the furnace, I took it and went to director Osole and told him: “Comrade Director, this is the first piece.” I remember it well. He was sitting on the other side of the table. He looked at it and said: “Good. Save the invoice.”

… I was in the plant practically all the time. There was nothing else. Every now and then, I went for a ramble across Rogla, skiing, mountains, but otherwise I mostly stayed at the plant…

Zlata Koprivnik

former head of accounting

…Well, those of us working in the offices didn’t know anything about a strike being planned. Maybe there was some talk of a strike the day before. We came to work in the morning, and they didn’t let us into the offices. The yard was full of people…
…We had a holiday home in Umag. Let me tell you, it was great. There was a bus going there and back every week. We had a great time there…