At the closing of the year 1949, a laboratory for electronic measuriing
instruments was established in the Institut za elektrozveze the later
Industrija za elektrozveze, on Linhartova street in Ljubljana. Its task was
to develop and produce a variety of measuring instruments for general use.
During those early years domestic electronic products were non-existent and
import almost impossibile. A group of young professionals undertook the
difficult job of developing the needy instruments whereby they were completely
dependent on their own skills for all mechanical, assembly and electrical works.
They had no previous experience and yet many a developed instrument from that
period set the foundations for future serial production.
There was a shortage of all kinds of electronic devices and constituent parts,
in thr country, at that time. Even the Institut i. e. Industrija za elektrozveze
required a large number of measuring instruments for carring out its work as
did also the Postal Authorities, the Army, the Medical Service and the ever
developing industry in country.
Laboratory personnel increased and additional work space was acquired.
Mechanical workshops and the making of boxes as well as assembly of devices was
organised.
In 1956, the number of personnel counted 86 people, full of working energy.
They formed laboratories for measuring instruments, medical electronics, parts
and measuring aids, servicing and measuring rooms, prototype workshops and
small series assembling.
The demand for instruments continuously increased and the laboratory developed
and expanded taking up a whole floor and part of the attic in the building on
Linhartova. Further expansion was not possibile.
At the close of 1956 the opportunity appeared of obtaining a completely new
building in the village of Horjul. After completing the necessary preparations
the staff moved to their new surroundings in January 1957.
Two busses were bought which commuted the technicians, technologists, skilled
workers and other from Ljubljana to Horjul every day. This was no easy feat
especially during the long and cold winters. On the other hand Horjul offered
new work space and excellent and willing workers who quickly qualified and
were integrated into the work of the new factory. Work progressed and by the
end of 1957 there were 114 workers of whom 84 were in production and 30 in
development.
The exceptional growth of production in the following years and the quick
and successful integration of the new workers into all production phases soon
produced the need for more production space. Therefore, at the beginning of
1960 the development laboratories moved back to Ljubljana. At the same time
production space capacity due to reconstruction works doubled and new additional
production and measuring equipment was purchased.
Therefore, the Factory called "OM 12" as part of the Industrija za elektrozveze,
now grew into a true factory and after integration and the forming of Iskra,
as from the 1. 7. 1962, it operated as the working organisation ISKRA Kranj,
Tovarna elektronskih instrumentov Horjul. The research laboratories in Ljubljana
however,were incorporated in the then established Zavod za Avtomatizacijo.
The Horjul factory operated as an independent unit until 1975 when on the
reorganisation of Iskra it was included as the Basic Organisation of
Associated Labour in Iskra Elektromehanika Kranj. It went under this name until
1. 7. 1979 when the working organisation Elektrozveze was established in which
the Horjul factory was incorporated as the Basic Organisation of Associated
Labour, Elektronika up to 1. 1. 1985. Since then it has become an independent
working organisation named "Iskra - Merilna elektronika Horjul".
Transfer to Horjul
