TELPOD

History

1946- National Radiotechnical Works

1948- Telecommunications Components Manufacturing Plant

Initially, a wide range of products was produced at the factory, which can be divided into three groups:
radio parts - potentiometers, switches (antenna, range),
radio technical accessories - knobs, plugs, clamps, headphone cords and headphones, crystals for receivers

detector (also a complete "Detefon" receiver according to the pre-war pattern),
electrotechnical equipment - sockets and fuse inserts, stabilizers, soldering irons.
In 1956, due to the development of many electronics assembly plants in Poland, there was a need for specialization

production profile. The Krakow factory focused and specialized in the production of potentiometers, resistors,

wound capacitors and selenium rectifiers. In the 1960s, a number of products were improved

and the production profile was extended to include varistors, power capacitors, multi-turn potentiometers, adjustable potentiometers,

double, volumetric and film resistors and selenium rectifier stacks for motorcycles and electrostatic precipitators.

1961- Manufacturing Plant of Telecommunications Components Telpod

In 1967, a research and development facility was established at the factory, separated as the Experimental Department of Electronic Devices and Components. Since 1969, it has made intensive efforts to master the production of hybrid thick-film systems. However, due to insufficient results, in 1971 a license and machines were purchased from the company "Sprague Elektromag Division" from Belgium, which were installed in a newly-built building. Based on the new technology, about 40 types of systems have been implemented for production - both passive and with active semiconductor elements. In 1972, another foreign license was purchased from the Japanese company "Chori-Cosmos" for modern high-quality precision variable resistors and precise slide and rotary potentiometers for stereophonic receivers. For the purpose of launching this production, a huge complex of buildings was built in 1974 at 4 Romanowicza Street.

1971- Krakowskie Zakłady Elektroniczne Telpod

1973- UNITRA-TELPOD

"Telpod" became part of the union "Unitra", which resulted in the correction of the name. The Krakow factory produced components not only for the "Unitra" union, its products were also used in the products of other unions - "Predom", "Mera" and "Telkom". Practically, there was no electrotechnical device manufactured in a country where parts from Telpod would not be used. A large part of the production was also exported, not only to the Comecon countries (USSR, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary), but also to foreign exchange recipients (Belgium, France, East Germany, India, Pakistan, Turkey).

In the 1960s and 1970s, there was a dynamic increase in the production potential. Telpod absorbed objects adjacent to the original location. At the end of the 1970s, the factory occupied an impressive area with various buildings along Lipowa Street from Przemysłowa Street to Romanowicza Street and a new complex of buildings behind this street (both parts of the factory were connected by a characteristic bridge). 

In the 1970s, the production profile was finally shaped, dominated by electronic components: fixed and variable resistors, capacitors and hybrid microcircuits. Already in the years 1970-1974 the value of production increased threefold. At the end of the 1970s, Telpod produced 466,000. resistors, 60 thousand. potentiometers and 7 thousand. chips per year. In addition, the factory also produced machinery and technological equipment as well as control and measurement equipment. Not only production, but also employment increased dynamically, with more than half of the staff in production positions being women. Due to the exhaustion of the labor market in Kraków, a branch office of the factory in Szczucin and a plant in Żabno were established in 1971.

Two  technologies - hybrid systems and potentiometers, which were implemented in the first half of the 70s, established the factory's position as a modern technology plant. These products were a real hit on foreign markets - the export of products in the 70s increased more than 2.5 times. Thanks to the export of products to Western countries, the plant acquired foreign currencies. The Research and Development Center of Hybrid Microelectronics and Resistors was also given its own building - at 39 Zabłocie Street, and at the end of the 1970s the name of the entire factory was changed to "Centre for Research and Production of Hybrid Microelectronics and Resistors Unitra - Telpod".