Graboplan Sátorgyártó És Műszaki Konfekció Kft, Győr

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries in an effort to modernize the industrial sector, the Hungarian government instituted an ambitious program for promoting the inflow of foreign direct investment to the country. German, Austrian and Czech industrialists, among others, were invited to found factories in Hungary and were granted generous tax and other benefits. In 1903, M. Grab & Sons, a firm that had had a large factory in Lieben near Prag and considerable business interests Central Europe, applied to the mayor of Gyor for permission to establish a manufacturing plant in that city, conveniently situated halfway between the capital cities of Vienna and Budapest. The project gained support from the Ministry of Commerce and, in 1905, "M. Grab & Sons Leather-cloth, Canvas and Floor Coverings Company" commenced operations, employing 150 workers. In 1908, the second M.Grab & Sons owned company, Grabiol, was established in Gyor for producing nitrocellulose-based synthetic leather. As demand grew, the plant was enlarged and capacity increased. Later on backpacks, provision bags, raincoats and canvas tents were also added to the product line. By 1920 Grabiol employed around 300 people. In 1923, M. Grab & Sons established a textile factory in Gyor with two Hungarian venture partners. Their timing was excellent, as the demand for textile products increased greatly between the two world wars, while the production of synthetic leather and leather products stagnated and subsequently declined. After the Second World War both Grabiol and the textile factory were nationalized, but not until 1950 have they been merged to form the "Cotton Mill and Synthetic Leather Factory of Gyor. Starting in 1956 textile production grew by leaps and bounds. By 1972 production increased tenfold and the company, then known as Graboplast, employed over 3000 people.