Foundation of the company
Foundation of the company
1990
Vapos Ltd. was formed through the Articles of Partnership on 26.10.1990 and entered in the Commercial Register on 1.11.1990. The company was founded by four partners for a limited period of time until 31.10.1995.
Partners:
Josef Bernard
Václav Haman
Jiří Chýle
Vladimír Hnát
1991
From February the company started to manufacture in leased premises on the area of approx. 220 m2. The first products were copper packing rings for sealing high liquid pressures.
- May - beginning of the production of woodworking machines and of wood tools of own construction.
- September - exhibition of two machine types (shapers) at the Engineering Fair Brno.
At the end of the year the company had 26 employees, out of which 3 were salaried employees and 3 were indirect employees.
1992
The company was developing quickly, expanding its range to three machine types (shaper, mortiser, circular saw).
- October - exhibition at WOOD Tech Brno.
Production facilities expanded to 280 m2.
The number of employees rose to 40, out of which 5 were salaried and 3 indirect employees.
1993
The company leased new facilities of approx. 650 m2.
- February - a new powder paint shop for parts launched 3 m x 1,8 m x 2 m.
- Exhibitions - Prague, Nitra, České Budějovice, Brno
Number of employees 52, out of which 6 salaried and 4 indirect employees.
1994
The company expanded its range of machines to ten types and milling cutter tools to twenty types.
- The company did not have enough capacities for production and for that reason transferred part of the production into cooperation with the company Elitex Lomnice n. Pop.
- Exhibition - Prague, Nitra, České Budějovice, Brno.
Number of employees 64, out of which 7 salaried and 4 indirect employees.
1995
The contract of lease of production facilities ended. Two partners decided to leave the company.
- July - the company moved to new premises with an industrial floor space of approx. 1000 m2 and non-industrial one of approx. 900 m2. A new stage in the development of the company began in own premises. The company continues with production of woodworking machines and tools. The cooperation with Elitex Lomnice n. Pop. was ended.
The number of employees decreased to 42, out of which 5 salaried and 4 outside employees.
Partners:
Josef Bernard
Václav Haman
1996
The company liaised with the company Radek Bernard and acquired another partner. The manufacturing programme expanded by production of automobile parts and other machinery parts.
- June - the company developed vertical centre with a CNC control.
- September - vertical machining centre was presented at exhibition WOOD Tech in Brno
- Exhibitions - Prague, Brno
Number of employees 45, out of which 5 salaried and 4 outside employees.
Partners:
Josef Bernard
Václav Haman
Radek Bernard
1997
The company ended the serial production of woodworking machines. The production of milling cutter tools continued. The company produced 3 vertical machining centres with a CNC control and put them into serial production of automobile parts for Škoda Auto.
- Exhibitions - at the Engineering Fair Brno the vertical centre FVC - 2x710 CNC obtained a prize of the magazine Technik for an original technical solution.
Number of employees 48, out of which 8 salaried and 4 outside employees.
1998
The company started development of horizontal machining centres for machining of metal parts. Further, production of accurate machinery parts was expanded. The company started production of accurate friction bearings for a French customer.
The company started sale of vertical centres FVC 2x710 CNC. The first customer was Škoda Auto. 6 of these machines were sold altogether, out of which 2 to Germany.
- Exhibition - at the Engineering Fair Brno the five-axis horizontal centre HSC 630 5X was awarded a gold medal in the category of machine tools.
Number of employees 45, out of which 5 salaried and 4 outside employees.
1999
The company got the certificate according to requirements of the standard ČSN EN ISO 9002:1995.
- May - negotiation with the company Lucas-Varity was begun concerning the possibility of machining a brake holder. The construction of a new hall 40m x 12,5m (500 m2) was started.
6 more machining centres FCV 2x710 CNC were produced, out of which 4 were sold and 2 were put into serial production of automobile parts for own needs.
The company stopped exhibiting machines.
The number of employees decreased to 42, out of which 6 salaried and 4 outside employees.
2000
Completion of construction of the new hall for TRW Lucas production. Industrial floor space of approx. 400 m2. The company started machining of brake holders for TRW Lucas (former Lucas-Varity).
- February - development of a five-axis machining centre was begun within the programme TECHNOS (without subsidy from the Department of Industry and Trade).
The number of employees rose to 62, out of which 9 salaried and 4 outside employees.
2001
The production for TRW Lucas was increased.
The number of employees rose to 70, out of which 9 salaried and 4 outside employees.
2002
The line for machining of brake holders for TRW expanded by 2 machines. 5 machines of own production in total for the capacity of 800 000 pieces of breaks per year.
The company got the certificate according to requirements of the standard ČSN EN ISO 9001:2001.
The number of employees rose to 74, out of which 10 salaried and 4 outside employees.
2003
The company expanded the range of machined parts. Begins to machine and assemble pulling arms of cars Škoda Auto for the company Prof Svar Mnichovo Hradiště.
The line for TRW Lucas is expanded to 6 machines with the capacity of 980 000 pieces per year.
The number of employees rose to 80, out of which 11 salaried and 4 outside employees.
2004
The company increased production by approx. 12% compared to the year 2003. The line TRW Lucas was expanded to 7 machines with the yearly capacity of 1 150 000 pieces.
The company started to cooperate with the company Kovosvit MAS Inc. Sezimovo Ústí. Kovosvit MAS Inc. ordered the development of the Vertical centre FCV 1450. The machine was exhibited at the Engineering Fair Brno at the Kovosvit MAS Inc. stand under the marking FCV 1450 SPEED 5AX and then sold to Kovosvit.
The company bought a new turning centre from the company Mazak.
The number of employees 80, out of which 11 salaried and 4 outside employees.
2005
The company needed to expand its technological floor space.
- March - construction of a new measurement control centre of approx.150 m2.
- April - reconstruction of a boiler house for the tool shop. New industrial floor space of approx. 220 m2 created.
- June - gas heating installed in all the company premises.
- September - window replacement and floor reconstruction at the assembly shop.
- October - purchase of a new 3D measuring instrument from the company Wenzel (1600 x 800 x 800).
- construction of the new system of quality according to requirements of the standard ISO/TS 16949:2002 begun.
The company raised production by 10%.
The number of employees rose to 85, out of which 11 salaried and 4 outside employees.
2006
Reconstruction of the shop floor continued. A new floor level built in above the workplace Mazak of the area of 360 m2. In the new area there are offices, a conference room and an electric workshop linked by an elevator with the assembly shop.
Volume of production rose by 33% compared to the year 2005.
Certification according to requirements of the standard ISO/TS 16949:2002.
The number of employees rose to 92, out of which 12 salaried and 4 outside employees.
2007
Reconstruction of the building of a welding shop, a paint shop and sanitary facilities, including new facades and epoxy floors completed.
- February - purchase and implementation of a new information system Helios-Orange.
- April - the company bought a new horizontal centre HSC 630 4X and two turning centres from the company Mazak.
- development of five-axis machining centres began with contribution from the Department of Industry and Trade within the programme IMPULS.
- July - construction of a new tool shop began.
- November - the new tool shop completed. 340 m2 of a new industrial floor space created, and a new sanitary facility of approx. 40 m2.
- the company created new information network for 25 stations and a new telephone exchange.
- construction of a new kitchen and canteen began.
The volume of production increased by 36% compared to the year 2006.
The number of employees rose to 100, out of which 14 salaried and 5 outside employees.
2008
The company obtained new orders from the company TRW Lucas for the end customers BMW, Peugeot, VW and Renault. It was necessary to increase the industrial floor space and prepare new technology.
- April - construction of a new hall began for production expansion of TRW Lucas.
- purchase of a turning centre from the company DMG.
- May - purchase of a boring machine VHN 10 CNC.
- September - production of a new line of own construction for the new production of TRW Lucas.
- purchase of a new 3D measuring instrument from the company Wenzel (500x400x400)
- October - the new hall completed, a new industrial floor space of approx. 540 m2 created, 80 m2 of offices including sanitary facilities, and 85 m2 of chip-forming industry.
- production of new tools for the new production of TRW began.
- December - Re-audit ISO/TS 16949:2002.
In the fourth quarter the orders decreased by approx. 25% due to recession in the car industry.
The number of employees decreased to 88, out of which 12 salaried and 4 outside employees.
2009
The company has 2800 m2 of industrial floor space and 2200 m2 of non-industrial space (offices, dressing rooms, sanitary facilities, etc.). It employs 84 employees, out of which 12 are salaried and 4 outside employees. All industrial floor spaces have epoxy floors, and buildings underwent a complete reconstruction. Shop floors have sliding gates with a remote control.
The company has a very good technology and in total 19 CNC machines. Other 3 machines are going to be made in this year, out of which 2 are going to be presented at the Engineering Fair Brno.
The new computer network and the modern information system Helios-Orange enable very good communication between the employees and our business partners, and with the whole world.
Partners:
Josef Bernard
Radek Bernard