Paper points to cigars Replica of contemporary postcard Prewar photograph of factory and staff Prewar photograph of factory and staff Jindřich Heisler - factory founder

History of the factory

Slunap

In 1892 Jindřich Heisler and his 15 employees started producing paper cigar tips in house Nr 174 he had rented for this purpose. Because of this unique production and good sales he extended his company by adding another building – Nr 171 – and subsequent modernization. At that time the company had its own cardboard production and lithography department where 236 people were employed. Mr Heisler designed new maschines for his company. His products were patent protected and the production amounted to 130000 pcs per day. They were shipped in luxury boxes which were also produced in the factory.

…according to picture of current management of the factory, not so much has changed After Mr. Jindřich Heisler‘s death in 1912 the factory was taken over by his three sons. Dr. Robert Heisler gradually implemented production of pharmaceuticals and chemicals for technical purposes. Among others he also prepared hydrogen peroxid which was used in his brother Bedřich‘s company for production of wigs and toupees. Between 1914 and 1918 he delivered large quantities of hydrgen peroxid to hospitals and field hospitals. He continued with production of synthetic pharmaceuticals. The company had lots of subsidiaries in many Europeian countries.

Partner František Heisler employed his son Jindřich in the company. Jindřich finished his studies at the secondary school of chemistry, but he inclined more and more towards art and culture. He gained a lot of experience in his fahter‘s litography workshop in Chrast, which he later used in Prague where he and his family moved in 1936. He joined Surrealistic group and he colaborated with Štýrský and Toyen. Jindřich and Toyen often visited the factory in Chrast, where they both created lots of works of art. Among others Toyen wrote her autobigraphy here.

Before WWII Robert Heisler sold his company to Association for Chemical and Mettalurgical Produktion in Prague, he emigrated to Great Britain. Produktion of pharmaceuticals decreased and the company focused on production of packaging for pharmaceuticals.

The factory was nationalized in 1946 and became a part of East-Bohemian Papermill.

In 1994 the company was renamed to ORPA and was sold to SLUNAP company 10 years later.