History and development of the company

Main milestones of the company

1943   Founding of ESA
1948   Buying of a licence of a Swiss company Maxim-Aurau for production of sheathed tubular heating elements of flat-oval cross section
1950   Becoming a state-owned company and changing its name to Elektro-Praga Hlinsko
1960   Starting with a production of sheathed heating elements with circular cross section
1964   New production hall featuring area of more than 7000 m2
1991   A joint stock company again
1994   Change of the name to ETA a.s
2001   Quality certification ISO 9001:2000
2001   Changing of ownership and the name to Backer Elektro CZ. The member of BACKER GROUP, a part of Swedish concern NIBE INDUSTRIER AB
2008   Reconstruction of the second production hall featuring area 5000 m2
2008   Consolidation of top management of companies Backer Elektro CZ a Eltop Praha s.r.o
2010   Implementation of the quality management system ISO 9001:2008
2011   Implementation of  the environmental management ISO 14001:2004

History and development

Production of electrical heating elements has a more than fifty-year tradition in Hlinsko. In 1943, a small joint stock electrotechnical company ESA was founded. It started with production of small household appliances, namely cookers and irons where resistant spirals of own production inserted in ceramic base were used.

In 1948, a licence of a Swiss company Maxim-Aurau for production of sheathed tubular heating elements of flat-oval cross section has been bought. This launched an outstanding expansion of production of electrical heating elements and subsequently heating appliances. After becoming a state-owned company in 1948, the company subsequently changed its name to Elektro-Praga Hlinsko in 1950.

A research and development department was founded in 1953. Thus, production of heating elements for various industrial applications was enabled.

In 1960, a production of sheathed heating elements with circular cross section has been started. Since 1964, this production has been concentrated to a new production hall featuring an area of more than 7000 m2. Modern and productive technologies together with construction variability led to dominant market share on the Czechoslovak market.

In 1991, Elektro-Praga Hlinsko became a joint stock company again and the name was changed to ETA a.s. in 1994, the name being identical to its registered trade mark. Production facility of heating elements was incorporated as Plant 03 of the company. During 1999-2000, the heating elements produced in this Plant under ETA trademark kept its traditional dominant position on the Czech and Slovak market.

Since the beginning of 2001, the Plant 03 has been acquired by Backer Elektro CZ, s.r.o., a member of BACKER GROUP, a part of Swedish concern NIBE INDUSTRIER AB. This concern of European significance has three divisions, whereas the heating elements division belongs to the most important ones. It has 25 production plants all over the Europe, one of them being Backer Elektro CZ. 

At present, annual production of Backer Elektro CZ represents about 1,5 million complete heating elements in wide range of technical parameters for various usage in many applications in industry, traffic, household appliances, gastronomy etc.

Due to long term experience and know-how in development and construction and with its advanced production technology, Backer Elektro CZ is competent to fulfil the most demanding requirements of its customers in volume as well as industrial production of electrical heating elements.

In addition to its core business, Backer Elektro CZ produces instantaneous water heaters, storage water heaters, towel dryers and bathroom infrared heaters.