[email protected] +359 610/52501
Request for quotation form
  • bg
  • en

Cookie settings

Your rights

Our site uses "cookies", small text files stored on your device to improve the user experience. These files are harmless and are critical to maintaining a smooth shopping experience.

The use of cookies by us is in accordance with Art. 4a of the Law on Electronic Commerce (E-Commerce) and Art. 6, paragraph 1, letter f) of the GDPR.

Prefer not to use cookies?

You can opt out by setting your browser to warn you about attempts to store cookies. Failure to do so may affect site functionality.

The privacy of your personal data is our priority, and your convenience in navigating the site is our goal.

Strictly necessary
p>We want to inform you about "strictly necessary" cookies, which are an integral part of our platform. By accessing our site, you essentially accept these cookies, as they are essential for the proper functioning of our services and are mandatory in our systems.

These essential cookies provide a secure and continuous experience by supporting essential functions and preserving the integrity of our platform's operation.

SkyPrime Platform: Provides the core functionalities you interact with directly, ensuring a reliable and efficient user journey.

SkyPrime Analytics: Protects platform stability by monitoring performance metrics and analyzing user interactions to continuously improve service quality.

These cookies do not track personal information and only serve to provide a smooth and secure online experience. Because of their essential role, they remain active to support the excellent work you expect from our platform.

Efficiency

Restricting cookies may reduce the functionality of the site. We use cookies like Google Analytics to understand visitor behavior and improve your service without capturing personal information.

Accepting these cookies helps us provide a smoother and more secure user experience.

Functionality

Disabling cookies may affect website performance. For greater clarity, we use optional cookies:

AddThis social sharing: Allows easy sharing of content on social media.

Remember me: Safely stores login details for future visits.

They enhance your experience by providing efficient navigation and personalized interactions.

Targeting

Restricting cookies may interfere with the operational efficiency of our website. We value transparency and want to inform you about some optional cookies that affect your experience:

Facebook Ads: Adapts advertising based on your preferences and interaction.

Retargeting: Re-engage interested customers with relevant content.

Glami: Enhances the shopping experience with personalized fashion content.

These cookies aim to optimize your browsing and shopping experience by providing content that matches your preferences.

БАЛКАНКАР-ЗАРЯ АД

Balkancar Zarya
A Remarkable History and an Important Role In the Forklift Manufacturing Sector

61 + Years of Balkancar ZARYA

We present a concise and chronological overview of the history of Bulgaria’s single enterprise specialized in steel wheels and rims manufacturing, outlining the key milestones and achievements of the company throughout its development. The history of Balkancar ZARYA is a story of perseverance, proven professional experience, and continuous improvement. Today, the company remains a leader in its sector, providing high-quality solutions to clients worldwide.

Thank you for being part of this journey!

Founding and Early Years (1961–1970):

Founding and Early Years (1961–1970):

Balkancar ZARYA began operations in Pavlikeni with state support and Soviet technology. The plant was established to meet the national demand for wheels and rims for all types of vehicles. The first rim was produced in the autumn of 1966.

  • October 28, 1963: The Council of Ministers issues Decree No. 787 for the construction of a State Forge-Press Plant for Rims.
  • February 28, 1964: Decree No. 49 of February 21 is published in State Gazette No. 17, establishing 14 enterprises under the Committee for Mechanical Engineering, including the State Forge-Press Plant for Rim Manufacturing in Pavlikeni.
  • March 1, 1964: The company “State Forge-Press Plant” – Pavlikeni is formed, marking the beginning of today’s “Balkancar ZARYA” JSC.
  • August 1966: First rim model 59-74 (4.00E-9) is produced for a 2-ton electric truck.
  • March 15, 1967: Renamed to Machine-Building Plant “ZARYA.” 113 people are employed. The first batch-type automotive rims (3.75R-13) enter serial production.
  • February 17, 1967: A contract is signed with French company OLLIER for comprehensive equipment for 9 production lines.
  • July 29, 1968: Groundbreaking for a new plant building. Production of rim models 6010-1 and 6012-2 (5.00S-12) begins, crucial for Bulgarian electric and forklift truck production.
  • 1970: Business relations are established with the Kremenchug plant (Ukraine), developing into productive cooperation and technology transfer.

The Golden Years (1971–1989):

The Golden Years (1971–1989):

During this period, the Machine-Building Plant “ZARYA” became integrated with the electric truck plants of the “Balkancar” State Industrial Enterprise, which peaked as one of the largest producers of lifting and transport equipment in the Eastern Bloc. In 1988, Bulgaria produced one-fifth of the world’s electric and forklift trucks, ranking first globally in per capita production (82,500 units annually).

Machine-Building Plant “ZARYA” was the sole producer and supplier of rims for all "Balkancar" branded vehicles.

  •  
  • April 2, 1971: The new building of Machine-Building Plant ZARYA is officially opened.
  • 1977–1980: R&D activities lead to the development and mastering of new wheel sizes ranging from 8 to 15 inches, along with new production lines for wheel rims.
  • 1981: Annual production capacity reaches 485,000 wheels.
  • June 1981: A department is established at the Engines and Automobiles Laboratory in Sofia (LADA), to legally certify and test the wheels produced by the plant.
  • 1981: Completion and commissioning of an expanded compressor station. Pilot operation of a powder coating facility for wheels using epoxy paint begins. New CNC lathes are installed. A water treatment plant is built.
  • April 1983: A mechanical maintenance workshop is established, with specialized teams for emergency, routine, and major repairs.
  • 1984: In its 20th anniversary year, the plant employs 23 engineers, 76 technicians, 12 specialists with higher education, and 184 professionals with mid-level education.
  •  

Transition and Challenges (1990–2000):

Transition and Challenges (1990–2000):

With the onset of the transition to a market economy, the company faced numerous challenges and changes. Despite the difficulties, Balkancar ZARYA managed to maintain its position in the market due to the high quality of its products.

  •  
  • November 25, 1993: By Order No. 125/25.11.1993 of the Council of Ministers, a sole-owner limited liability company named “Balkancar ZARYA” is established—this is the name under which it continues to operate today.
  • January 21, 1994: The company, with the state-owned “Balkancar Holding” JSC as its sole owner, is registered in court under file number 171/1994.
  • June 26, 1996: The company is transformed into a joint-stock company and registered with the Veliko Tarnovo Regional Court under file number 1029. Over 1,000 individuals become shareholders.
  • May 19, 1998: “Balkancar ZARYA,” now a joint-stock company, is listed on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange–Sofia, beginning public trading of its shares.
  •  

Modern Era and Future (2000–Present):

Modern Era and Future (2000–Present):

At the beginning of the 21st century, Balkancar ZARYA continues expanding its presence in international markets. Over the years, the company undergoes restructuring and modernization, implementing new technologies and standards. Balkancar ZARYA commits to sustainable development and corporate social responsibility, adopting eco-friendly and energy-efficient technologies while supporting local initiatives.

  • May 2005: the privatization of the plant was successfully completed, with 100% of the company’s capital becoming privately owned. The 2010+ Strategy: Moving Forward was presented, aiming to position the company as a first-class supplier of wheels and rims for leading forklift manufacturers and tire manufacturers, enjoying an excellent international reputation.
  • November 2005: the company applied for registration of its own trademark “ZARYA” / “ЗАРЯ”, as well as the word mark “Moving Forward”.
  • August 2006: obtaining the DIN EN 729-2 certificate (new EN 3834-2), as proof that the company has implemented a quality control system and has qualified personnel for carrying out welding processes and related operations.
  • March 2007:– together with the British Watts Tyres Group, we established WattsZarya, a company aimed at offering the market a complete solution – an assembled wheel and tire set for original equipment deliveries.
  • June 2007: launch of a project for the implementation of an integrated business management system, SAP “All-in-One” project.
  • September 2007: acquisition of a majority stake in the capital of Balkancar RUEN AD, a company within the structures of “Balkancar Holding”.
  • June 2009: completion of the IMS implementation with the “Go Live” stage of the SAP project.
  • October 2009: acquisition of an additional stake in Balkancar RUEN, bringing the participation in the capital (directly and indirectly) to over 96%.
  • October 2010: new capital subscribed and fully paid through the public offering of 1,081,900 new shares from the capital increase of Balkancar ZARYA.
  • February 2018: a project was launched to increase the competitive advantages and sustainability of “Balkancar ZARYA” AD through investments in energy-efficient technologies. New energy-saving production equipment and equipment for utilizing residual heat energy were acquired. An automated energy consumption monitoring system was introduced.
  • December 2018: implementation began of a project for the introduction of a pilot resource-efficient production method and product innovation at Balkancar ZARYA AD. Equipment was introduced to reduce raw material usage and improve waste management in the existing production process.
  • August 2020: the company organized a press conference to multiply the achieved results of the project for introducing a pilot resource-efficient production method and product innovation at Balkancar ZARYA AD.
  • May 2023: Balkancar ZARYA AD began the implementation of the project “Technological Modernization in the Enterprise” under Funding Agreement No. BG-RRP-3.004-1483-C01 under procedure BG-RRP-3.004 “Technological Modernization”, with financial support from the EU under Next Generation-EU through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
  • October 2023: implementation of an integrated management system in accordance with the standards ISO 9001:2015, ISO 3834-2:2021, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018.
  • March 2024: the plant celebrated its 60th anniversary as an established supplier of high-quality and reliable original equipment products. It offers a complete production range from a single trusted source, with unparalleled flexibility and flawless communication. Customer-oriented solutions in forklift manufacturing help producers meet growing challenges and achieve their sustainable development goals with confidence.
  • July 2024: Balkancar ZARYA AD completed the project “Technological Modernization in the Enterprise” under Funding Agreement No. BG-RRP-3.004-1483-C01.
  • August 2024: The company launched the implementation of a project under Agreement No. BG-RRP 3.008-0774-C01, financed under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. The project aims to introduce circular models for reducing metal waste and increasing resource efficiency in the production of steel wheels and rims.
  • March 2025: As a strategic partner of KION Group, Balkancar ZARYA AD received the prestigious OTIF95 award for outstanding delivery performance, achieving high results in the OTIF program (On Time In Full in 95%).
  • June 2025: completion of the project “Support for the Transition to a Circular Economy” under procedure BG-RRP-3.008.