;D I take that as a compliment, Woodbeef...
Zetor started the URII series in 1968, first with a four cylinder 8011 2WD and a 8045 MFWD. The Ursus tractor factory from Poland
www.ursus.com.pl had built Lanz hotbulb tractors to the year 1959. The communists again, decided that these poor lads who could'nt develope any useful on their own, should also build the Zetor "Crystal" URII (UR2 stands for "unified range" which means that this UR2 series uses common parts, 85% of parts is common for tractors from 80 to 160 hp. Zetor was the world's first with this filosofy)
The three step powershift technique of the Forterra is also adopted by Ursus.
ZTS was a heavy machinery manufacturer, they produced the well known T-72 combat tank, bulldozers etcetera under Hanomag license, and forest machinery.
The forest machinery plant is
www.ztstrstena.sk The ZTS factory had not enough work, and the Central Communist party office decided that the production of the URII, also known as Zetor Crystal, should be transferred to the ZTS plant in Martin, slovakia. In 1981, the whole production of UR2 was moved.
The state owned Motokov sales agency, selling almost everything what was built in Czech republik, was after the Velvet Revolution in 1989, a communist sales agency in a free-market economy. They had to pay Zetor a CZK 130.000.000 debt. today sold tractor were payd a year later. ZTS did'nt wanted this shit, and decided to go alone.
The restructuring agency
www.odiengroup.com was ordered to get rid of all motokov importers around the world, who did not fit in the new marketing filosofy.
However, the ZTS factory had a communist business approach, and only designed some new cabins and sheets, and a synchronisation for the transmission.
They also made the UR4 , which engine had an enlarged stroke of 120 mm to 128 mm, increasing the piston displacement from 6.8 to 7.3 litre. The transmission and back axle were a heavier variant of the UR2.
All types with an engine volume bigger than 4.5 litre are built after 1981 by ZTS, also that 14145.
Zetor started with the development of the UR3 in 1988, as a middle class tractor. It had a 4.156 four cylinder engine like still used today. It was released for production in 1991, with models 75, 85, 95, and 10540.
In 1998, Zetor introduced the trade name "forterra" on the successors of these tractors. A 11641 model was introduced with an Italian SAME engine, a temporary move to prevent losing a market share. This 11641 was never sold out of Europe, they did not wanted to mix SAME engine parts through their overseas stock, because this engine was temporary. (The Unified Range filosofy??)
HTC holding,
www.htc-holding.sk one of the first private companies in the former communist SLovakia, was started as HT computers, selling Toshiba and IBM computers. Their business was going so well, that they have now offices all over the entire world, including north america. They made so much money, that they bought all bankrupt former state owned companies they could get. Including the ZTS factory few months ago, and recently Zetor Brno.
What this means, is that the brand Zetor will be represented with tractors from 15 to 200 hp before 2008, partly on new technique (they will build a five or six speed powershift with three or four speed ranges for the UR4, i think) and partly on legendary afordable and reliable Zetor Crystal techniques. ( i hope the Crystal name will be back on those noses...)
That was quite story, heh??
I will post this story also on my site,
www.zetorworld.com The world-wide hang-out for Zetor drivers...
