Abner A.S. (Czech Republic)

ABNER A.S. is a company located in Prague, Czech Republic. The company has a long history dating back to the 19th century when it was founded as a silver workshop, producing trays, powder boxes, cigarette cases, and cans. Over time, the company expanded its production to include silver cutlery. During World War II, the production shifted to supplying aircraft components to METALBAU. After the war, the company underwent changes in ownership and was merged with other local workshops under the national administration. The silver production was gradually phased out in favor of stainless steel materials for cutlery production. In 1970, ABNER started manufacturing siphons for carbonated water and cartridges for filling these containers. In the 1980s, the company added new projects to its production line. In 1981, ABNER began a cooperation with the Yugoslavian company RADE KONČAR to produce stainless steel equipment for hospital catering, which remains a significant part of the company's program. During the socialist period, the company changed its name according to the national enterprise it was assigned to. In the 1990s, ABNER underwent privatization and transformed into ABNER s.r.o. The company expanded its original stainless steel production to include the production of fire extinguisher cartridges and trade activities related to Italian and German goods. ABNER s.r.o. successfully implemented a quality management system according to the ISO 9002/1994 standard in 1997. In 1999, ABNER transformed into ABNER a.s. and expanded its production to include the filling of siphon cartridges. In 2004, the company sold its "cartridge" division to focus on stainless steel production. ABNER invested in new laser CNC machinery to increase production capacity and efficiency. The company further expanded its product range to include custom-made stainless steel furniture, dispensing systems, and a new product line called ECO. ABNER has become an innovative leader in the Czech and Central European gastronomic market, offering new ideas and solutions to the industry. The company's offerings include transport carts with brakes for easier maneuverability in hospital areas and stable dispensing systems tailored to specific needs. In 2010, ABNER acquired Thermovision Graz and started manufacturing tablet systems under the brand names Termoline and Active Tray. ABNER became the only manufacturer of complete tablet systems in Europe. The company also collaborated with Semitool Salzburg to develop high-quality stainless steel components for the semiconductor industry. ABNER's division for fire extinguisher cartridges experienced significant growth from 2005 to 2018, becoming the world's largest producer of such cartridges, supplying the two largest players in the fire extinguisher market, UTC and Jonson Control.