History

From the history

Only few companies can be proud of the fact that their brand is used as a synonym for certain products. Everyone come across the products of our company everywhere, and not only in the Czech Republic. It is possible to find the FAB brand at almost every step throughout the day, in units, companies, in theatres, hospitals, administration buildings, in shopping or business centres.

As time went by:

1911 – 1949 From establishment to socialization

The history of FAB brand started on the 9th October in 1911 when the company „Factory for metal goods Faborsky – Seda“ was established („Továrna na železné zboží Fáborský – Šeda“) in Rychnov nad Kneznou by freeholders Alois Faborsky (1880 – 1. 7. 1937) and Frantisek Seda. The production program was, as the company name suggests, production and retail of hardware goods. At the time of the company’s founding the company had back then only 20 employees. Alois and Marie Faborsky bought off Frantisek Seda´s share in 1916. After Alois Faborsky died in 1937, his son Antonin (28. 4. 1912 – 21. 1. 1991) took charge of company management. The lock production was reduced due to a lack of material during occupation and the company started to develop again after liberation. The company was nationalized in 1948 (27. 6. 1948) and incorporated initially under a National board of Branecké metal-works, national establishment (hereinafter only as n. e.) in Branka near Opava, then under a National board of Czechoslovak metalworking and machine industry n. e., and finally in a Factory for building fittings n. e. Boskovice.

1950 – 1990 From TOZAKOV to FAB

The company was renamed again in 1950 to a Factory for locks and fittings (known as TOZAKOV) in Rychnov nad Kneznou and in 1955–1958 was included to Orlicke machine-works and smelting works n. e. in Skuhrov nad Belou. Another move happened in 1958, under Branecke metal-works again. The announcement of an independent enterprise FAB Rychnov nad Kněžnou under VHJ Prago-Union happened on the 1st January 1969. The name FAB was derived from a part of a surname FABorsky. The company’s name was changed again in 1971 to Orlicke machine-works n. e. and the company was known under this name until the early 90´s.

1992 – 2007 From a joint-stock company to a multinational concern ASSA ABLOY

The transformation of the joint-stock company and company privatisation took place from 1st May 1992. In 1997 FAB a. s. became a part of the multinational lock concern ASSA ABLOY AB with its head office in Sweden.
In the second part of 2005 there was a change of FAB, a. s. (joint-stock company) to FAB, s.r.o. (Ltd.).

In summary:
9. 10. 1911 – establishment of a Factory for metal goods Faborsky – Seda (Továrna na železné zboží Fáborský – Šeda)
1948 – part of a National Board of Branecke metal-works, n. e. Branka u Opavy (Národní správa Braneckých železáren, n. p.)
1948 – part of a National Board of Czechoslovak metalworking and machine industry n. e. Praha (Národní správa Československých závodů kovodělných a strojírenských n. p.)
27. 6. 1948 – company socialization, part of a Factory for building fittings n. e. Boskovice (Továrna na stavební kování n. p.)
1950 – TOZAKOV – Factory for locks and fittings Rychnov nad Kneznou (TOvárna na ZÁmky a KOVání)
1955–1958 – part of Orlicke machine-works and smelting works n. e. Skuhrov nad Belou (Orlické strojírny a slévárny n. p.)
1958 – transfer under Branecke metal-works (Branecké železárny)
1. 1. 1969 – announcement of an independent national enterprise FAB
1971 – name changed to Orlicke metal-works n. e. (Orlické strojírny n. p.)
1. 5. 1992 – privatization and transformation to FAB a. s.
1997 – part of ASSA ABLOY lock concern
2005 – change of joint-stock company to FAB, s.r.o. (Ltd.)

Source: Luboš Čech, Security and crime, internal archives