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Erection of the silk spinning works of Tolna (Tolnai Selyemgyár) was started in 1898 upon the initiative and co-operation of Bezerédj Pál, landowner in the Country of Tolna, appointed representative of the Government for silkworm breeding. The facility was property of the Hungarian State, and started operation two years later. Silk was spun on 120 machines; the daily output has reached 50 kg of pure silk yarn. Raw material was provided by silkworms bred in Hungary, largely because the Bezerédj family has promoted Tolna County to be the centre of Hungarian silkworm breeding. The year 1918 has brought an important change into the history of the silk spinning factory. The Hungarian government has rented the factory to the shareholders' company Magyar Királyi Selyemfonodák Haszonbérleti Részvénytársaság. This company has implemented a new organisation structure and management system. During the 2nd World War, the facility was declared a warfare production unit; the imposed task was to produce silk yarn for 31 tousand square meters of parachute material. To meet this objective, the workforce was increased to 750 people. From the production output, 40 domestic and two foreign users were supplied. After the war, industrial capital centralisation has resulted in subordination of the Tolna facility to the Hungarian Silk Industry Concern. Silk production gradually decreased and even ceased after a crisis period between 1965 and 1970. The Tolna facility was gradually transformed, and produced expanded yarn, coloured yarn and various tissues for industrial use. After the switchback to capitalist economy (1989), the factory has again become a self-standing business organization. However, the newly created Tolnatext Ltd. (yarn processing and industrial textile weaving company) was still owned at a rate of 97% by the Hungarian Silk Industry Concern. This mother company was finally liquidated in 1991, because of bankruptcy, and the shares represented be Tolnatext Ltd. were sold. The facility was purchased in 1995 by the German company Dr. Günther Kast GmbH & Co. The production profile has remained essentially unchanged, i.e. concentrated on production of expanded yarn and tissues for industrial use. Presently, Tolnatext Ltd. is the only Hungarian manufacturer with this profile. About 50% of the production output is exported. Both production and sales are increasing at a dynamic rate. The glorious traditions of the Tolna silk industry ar on show in the "Room of Reminiscence" museum area created within the factory. This exhibition was opened on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the factory, in 1975. Since then, it stands open for any visitor interested in this trade. The exhibited material offers a reliable image of the valuable past experience of the company, enabling its present staff to maintain the fame of Tolnatext on the international markets. |