Taurus Case Study
Company Background
Christopher Columbus was probably the first European to handle rubber. Rubber has been used by the Haitian for centuries. In 1819 Thomas Hancock discovered that latex rubber can be masticated, but unfortunately mastication deprived rubber of its elastic qualities.
Charles Goodyear has discovered vulcanization in 1839, which solved the problem and also kept rubber products from becoming tacky. Hence the commercial uses of rubber multiplied greatly. Shortly thereafter, the rise of the automobile industry at the century’s turn resulted in a tremendous increase in the demand for rubber and its principal application in the manufacture of automobile and truck tires. The production of natural rubber entails collecting the juice of the 60-80 foot high Hevea brasiliensis tree, which is now plantation grown in such tropical countries as Brazil, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Taurus Hungarian Rubber Works has been Hungary’s most important rubber producer. The first Hungarian rubber factory was established in 1882, and in 1890 it became a public company under the name Magyar Ruggyantaarugyar Rt. Because Hungary lacked a domestic producer of automobiles at the turn of the century, the company supported the creation of an automobile plant, which was ultimately located in Arad, and the formation of the Autotaxi Company in Budapest. During the interwar period, the Hungarian rubber sector declined dramatically. After the nationalization of all rubber firms after the World War II, the Hungarian government pursued a policy of extensive growth for a number of years. In 1963, Budapest’s five rubber manufacturers-PALMA, Heureka, Tauril, Emerge, and Cordatic were merged into one company called the National Rubber Company. Purchasing, cash management, and investment were centralized, and a central trade and research and development apparatus was created.
In 1973, the company changed its name to the Taurus Hungarian Rubber Works. Taurus operates four
Christopher Columbus was probably the first European to handle rubber. Rubber has been used by the Haitian for centuries. In 1819 Thomas Hancock discovered that latex rubber can be masticated, but unfortunately mastication deprived rubber of its elastic qualities.
Charles Goodyear has discovered vulcanization in 1839, which solved the problem and also kept rubber products from becoming tacky. Hence the commercial uses of rubber multiplied greatly. Shortly thereafter, the rise of the automobile industry at the century’s turn resulted in a tremendous increase in the demand for rubber and its principal application in the manufacture of automobile and truck tires. The production of natural rubber entails collecting the juice of the 60-80 foot high Hevea brasiliensis tree, which is now plantation grown in such tropical countries as Brazil, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Taurus Hungarian Rubber Works has been Hungary’s most important rubber producer. The first Hungarian rubber factory was established in 1882, and in 1890 it became a public company under the name Magyar Ruggyantaarugyar Rt. Because Hungary lacked a domestic producer of automobiles at the turn of the century, the company supported the creation of an automobile plant, which was ultimately located in Arad, and the formation of the Autotaxi Company in Budapest. During the interwar period, the Hungarian rubber sector declined dramatically. After the nationalization of all rubber firms after the World War II, the Hungarian government pursued a policy of extensive growth for a number of years. In 1963, Budapest’s five rubber manufacturers-PALMA, Heureka, Tauril, Emerge, and Cordatic were merged into one company called the National Rubber Company. Purchasing, cash management, and investment were centralized, and a central trade and research and development apparatus was created.
In 1973, the company changed its name to the Taurus Hungarian Rubber Works. Taurus operates four