Ha'argaz

Ha'argaz is an Israeli cooperative founded in Tel Aviv in 1932. It is one of Israel's oldest industrial companies.

History

Bus built on Mack chassis, manufactured by Ha'argaz, 1946

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.^[1]

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:

• Ha’argaz Transportation - Development, design and manufacturing of buses. Ha'argaz builds Low entry urban coaches, low-entry urban coaches, Suburban low-entry coaches, Inter-city coaches, armored inter-city coaches, Luxury touring coaches. Coaches are built on Mercedes, DAF, MAN, Scania, and Volvo chassis.^[2]
• Ha’argaz Building Industries - based in the Ramla Industrial Zone, designs and manufacturers prefabricated buildings including mobile and modular houses, Caravans, offices, industrial buildings, schools, nurseries, classrooms, and community buildings.^[3]
• Ha’argaz Storage, Cooling and Display Systems – Providing Turnkey solutions for Storage, Refrigeration and Display systems.^[4]
• Ha’argaz Technopach Metal Industries Ltd - produces industrial civil and military packaging, including handling equipment and aviation equipment, electronic packaging for the electronics and communications industries and the high-tech industry.Advanced metal processing for the security & defense market.^[5]
• Taditel Ltd - develops and manufactures microelectronic technologies for the automotive and hi-tech industries.^[6]

See also

• Egged Israel Transport Cooperative Society Ltd
• Economy of Israel

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Haargaz buses.

External links

• Ha’argaz website
• TadItel website

Automotive industry in Israel
Automotive industry Economy of Israel Transportation in Israel
Current manufacturers	AIL Carmor Ha'argaz MDT Merkavim Plasan Sasa Rafael Soltam Systems Tomcar
Defunct manufacturers	Autocars Co. Better Place Kaiser-Ilin Industries
Components	Alliance Tire Ashot Ashkelon ERM Telematics Mobileye Raval ACS Tadir-Gan
Related topics	AutoMotor(Auto Show) Israeli Highways National Roads Company of Israel