ELTON hodinářská, the company behind the Czech PRIM watches, prides itself on the precision, tradition, and longevity of its products. In line with these values, it introduced a renovation program back in 2008, focusing on the restoration of selected PRIM watch models produced in Nové Město nad Metují. The program promotes a sustainable approach while honoring the brand's tradition and history.
The comprehensive renovation program is an integral part of the services offered by the company to its customers. The goal is to provide owners of Prim watches with the opportunity for either partial or complete renovation of their timepieces, both from a technical and aesthetic perspective. The program is designed for watches that are still in use but show signs of wear and tear, as well as for those that hold historical value and whose owners wish to preserve their original appearance and functionality. “Over its seventy-year history, ELTON has produced hundreds of different types of watches. It is understandable that not all can be renovated. That is why we have selected only the most popular and best-selling models for renovation,” says Renata Červenák Nývltová, the company’s CEO.
The renovation process always begins with a thorough analysis of the watch’s condition. Experienced watchmakers determine what repairs and modifications are needed. Sometimes, a simple cleaning and adjustment are sufficient, but in the case of significant damage to the case, dial, or other parts, the watch can be completely transformed into a newly manufactured stainless steel case of the Linea, Sport I, Sport II, or Diplomat 34 types. Details and an overview of models suitable for renovation can be found directly on the company’s website (Renovation PRIM Manufacture 1949). Interested customers can also seek personal advice at one of the stores in Prague (Nekázanka Street) or in Ostrava (next to OC Nová Karolina).
Watches PRIM.
There is considerable interest in the PRIM watch renovation program. “Customers appreciate the opportunity to have their watches, to which they often have a personal connection, renovated directly at the place where they were made decades ago,” explains Renata Červenák Nývltová, adding that the originality of the service is confirmed by a special certificate that customers receive with their watches. Each year, up to 200 watches undergo renovation, and these numbers continue to grow.
The renovation program significantly contributes to extending the lifespan of the watches, allowing them to serve future generations. This approach not only helps protect the environment by reducing the need for the production of new products but also helps preserve the historical and personal value that beloved “Prims” hold for their owners.
DAKO-CZ Extends the Life of Train Brakes
A similar approach to that of ELTON, though in a completely different field, is taken by DAKO-CZ from Třemošnice in Eastern Bohemia. The largest Czech manufacturer of brake systems and components for rail vehicles opened a service center in 2020, providing customers with repairs of pneumatic and hydraulic equipment. Currently, the company operates a service center in Třemošnice, as well as in Most in Northern Bohemia.
The service center in Třemošnice was established on the site of the former prototype workshop and has significantly increased the company’s capacity to provide service to its customers. DAKO-CZ equipped it with the most modern technologies to best meet the needs of its customers. It focuses on repairing most types of brake systems and components. In most cases, brake component repairs are carried out on an exchange basis, which contributes to a significant reduction in repair time for operators.
The service center in Most specializes in repairing braking equipment for freight transport.
Overall, DAKO-CZ, a.s. repairs and services all devices it manufactures or that were manufactured in the past. Given that the production of brake sets – both pneumatic and hydraulic – has increased significantly over the past twenty years, the need for refurbishments, medium and major repairs, and even minor repairs has also gradually increased. Their common denominator is the extension of the service life of brake systems and their individual components.
DAKO-CZ services both pneumatic and hydraulic systems for freight and passenger transport, locomotives, and specialized vehicles for railway maintenance. For illustration: for example, a total of 3,283 pieces of freight brake components were repaired at the service center in Most in 2023. Specifically, these were distributors, valves, load sensors, limit valves, and adjusters. In Třemošnice, 1,400 pneumatic brake units were repaired in the same year, including cylinders, as well as 65 sets of hydraulic brake units for T15 trams of the Prague Public Transport Company.
DAKO-CZ is a pioneer in the development and production of electromechanical brake systems for rail vehicles. This system uses “Brake by Wire” control, which in practice means a significant reduction in the number of components required, reducing the CO2 footprint already during the production of the system itself and subsequently in operation, as the entire system is about 30% lighter. This weight savings leads to reduced energy consumption during vehicle operation. Compared to hydraulic brake systems, this solution eliminates the use of oil as a working medium, which carries an additional carbon footprint both in the primary production and during the operation of the systems themselves, as it must be regularly replaced.
Repaired components.
Supporting products throughout their lifecycle has long been in the DNA of many manufacturing companies within the CSG group. This naturally applies to the truck manufacturer Tatra Trucks, which has a network of authorized service centers and has been supplying spare parts to customers for a long time. The company ensures the direct sale of spare parts to all countries where the truck manufacturer does not have a contractual partner, as well as for deliveries to state institutions. A similar approach to their customers is maintained by ground equipment manufacturers Excalibur Army and Tatra Defence Vehicle.
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