Horváth László – H. Bathó Edit – Kaposvári Gyöngyi – Tárnoki Judit – Vadász István szerk.: Tisicum - A Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok Megyei Múzeumok Évkönyve 13. (2003)

Half a Century of the Aprítógépgyár

ERIKA KISS HALF A CENTURY OF THE APRÍTÓGÉPGYÁR Industry historical curiosities from the second half of the 20th century In 1951 and 1952 two large factories were built in Jászberény as part of the socialist industrialisation project. Aprítógépgyár started operating in 1951, in 1952 so did the Spinner and Sheeting factory later known as refrigerator factory. It was not easy to build and later on to operate factories in the traditionally agricultural Jász region. Because of its special profile, Aprítógépgyár, which was designed for manufacturing unique machines, had to deal with a lot of difficulties. The semi-centennial history of Aprítógépgyár reflects those difficulties that arose in Jászberény and the Jász area, a traditionally agricultural region without industrial traditions. Starting with personnel procurement, through the training of experts and accepting the constraints of millwork, a great number of problems had to be tackled. Socialist planned economy, the hugely bureaucratic central administration of companies through ministries, the mobilisation and political adaptation of workers, the Communist Party's interference in economy meant a variety of obstacles in the 1950's and 60's. The counterchange of managers, the productional difficulties of the factory, the pressed successes were all characteristic features of the era. Younger generations do not know all about these, and they would not know about them if we let these stories be buried in oblivion. The products of the factory, the fulfilment of various developments all show up in the story, which is part of the history of mechanical engineering now. But the leaders of Aprítógépgyár found the right way even within the borders of socialist economy; so the factory is still operating, developing and employs 700-800 workers. During the privatisation they went through a special process and as a result, the management and the workers own the factory, which had been built by their fathers' hands 50 years earlier. This special solution and the road leading up to it is presented in the essay, and the personal problems of some of the people who were determinant figures in the history of the plant during the 70's, 80's and 90's. Two of the former managers are commemorated in the study, who died not long ago and played important roles in the history of the factory. 217