Our history

1980s

Metalworking team at the United Agricultural Cooperative

As part of the local United Agricultural Cooperative (JZD Leskovec), a metalworking unit developed – bringing together a skilled group of blacksmiths, welders, and machinists who served the needs of the wider region. 

1992

Foundation of KOVAR s.r.o. 

Three partners founded KOVAR s.r.o. (Ltd.) in the rented premises of the former cooperative. Together with 34 employees from the original workshop, they began producing various steel structures for the metallurgical industry. 

1994

Independent operations and purchase of the site

The company became fully independent by purchasing the previously rented production facilities, including all equipment. Production expanded to include residential, office and exhibition containers, horse stalls, and small to mid-size steel structures.

1998

Sales department, engineering and welding certification

With a growing focus on bespoke container production, the company established its own design and sales departments to work directly with international customers. That same year, KOVAR received the DIN 18800-7 welding certification, enabling advanced structural welding operations.

1999

Water treatment units and containers for Kazakh oil fields

KOVAR began exporting tailor-made container systems globally, including a major project supplying containers for oil field operations in Kazakhstan.

2001

New welding hall

Construction of a new welding hall marked the beginning of continuous investment into our production site – upgrades that continue today to support the manufacturing of highly specialised containers. 

2004

Quality management certification

KOVAR was certified according to ČSN ISO 9001-2001. From this point, custom-engineered containers became the core of our production portfolio. 

2007

Workplace safety and environmental responsibility

We successfully implemented an Environmental Management System in accordance with ČSN EN ISO 14001, alongside a Workplace Safety Management System according to OHSAS 18001. Since then, regular recertifications have taken place at set intervals. A new hall was also built, including a state-of-the-art shot blasting booth.

2009

Company of the Year Competition

Our participation – and especially our 3rd place in the national finals of the Company of the Year competition – gave our team a strong sense of unity and motivation to keep pushing forward with the company’s growth.

2011

Flexible deliveries with our own fleet

We acquired our own tractor units, enabling us to offer more flexible container transport services. We also made substantial investments in site redevelopment and equipment upgrades.

That year, we manufactured a large number of specialised offshore containers for oil platforms operating around the globe.

2012

Responsible Company of the Year

We expanded our paint booth and installed a unique catalytic-oxidative incineration unit to reduce emissions from the coating process. In the Company of the Year competition, we placed 3rd in the Zlín Region and received the Responsible Company of the Year award.

2013

Change in legal structure and new storage building

KOVAR s.r.o. changed its legal status and a generational change in company leadership took place. We completed the construction of a modern storage and assembly hall. That same year, we ranked 3rd in the Zlín Region in the Czech Business Sharks competition.

2016

New hall with two 20-tonne cranes

A completely new, spacious hall was built between the welding and painting buildings to expand our production capacity. We also began R&D activities focused on container design, in close cooperation with customers and supported by our newly established technical department.

2017

Record containers in our 25th Anniversary Year

We celebrated 25 years of KOVAR. As part of a project for a research centre, we produced two containers with record dimensions of 18 × 4 × 4 metres.

2019

Skill development, research and testing

Ongoing professional training supports the growth and competitiveness of our team and company. We began testing fire protection solutions in an accredited laboratory and continued research and development of new container designs in collaboration with our clients.

2021

New gatehouse with flats and parking area

Despite unprecedented rises in steel prices, the worst stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, and severe material shortages, KOVAR overcame the period thanks to its core strength – custom-built steel containers.

We completed construction of a new gatehouse with accommodation and a spacious new parking area.

2022

KOVAR photovoltaic power plant

We installed a photovoltaic system with more than 1,000 solar panels and a total capacity of 464 kWp on two halls in our facility.

This was part of a broader effort to reduce energy consumption and emissions, while also improving working conditions.

2024

Czech Leader Awards

We placed 3rd nationally in the Czech Leader 2024 Competition, annual awards for Czech-owned companies. KOVAR produced several bullet-resistant containers, complete with official certification.

2025

3D engineering and new production spaces

Our design department began the transition to full 3D technical documentation.

A series of major, interconnected investments in our production facilities were carried out – from paving work areas and building a lightweight assembly hall, to extending the blasting booth and constructing a brand-new modern hall equipped with cranes.