Industry Transportation Headquarters Tel Aviv Founded 1932 | Website www.haargaz.com Revenue 319.2 million ILS (2015) Number of employees 550 (2015) | |
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Products Bus and track assembly,
Storage, Cooling and Display Systems
Building materials | ||
Ha'argaz is an Israeli cooperative founded in Tel Aviv in 1932. It is one of Israel's oldest industrial companies.
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History
Ha'argaz was founded on August 18, 1932 as a cooperative that produced crates for the citrus industry. The first factory opened on May 1, 1933 on the corner of Salomon and Gaon streets in Tel Aviv. An expert was brought to oversee production of vehicles. On September 15, 1933 another factory was opened in the Neve Shaanan neighborhood. During heavy rains in November 1938, the factory in Neve Shaanan was flooded and workers toiled for hours save the raw materials.
In 1936 a defense plant was established that produced armored and protective vehicle bodies.
During World War II the plant expanded and added many full time employees. It was decided in 1945 to convert to a company half owned by investors and half-owned by a workers cooperative.
In 1949, Ha'argaz began to manufacture jerry cans, military helmets and a variety of logistical equipment for the newly established Israeli army. It also collaborated with AMPA, becoming the exclusive import agent for Philco refrigerators from the United States. This collaboration led to the creation of Amcor, a refrigerator and electrical appliance manufacturer.
Today Ha'argaz manufacturers buses for the Egged and Dan bus companies and other private and public transportation companies in Israel. Its crate factory is the second largest in Israel.
Organization
Haargaz group combines several subsidiaries: