Unitra

UNITRA the Association of Polish consumer electronics manufacturers was established in 1961 and lasted in its original structure until 1989. After the systemic transformation, consumer products under the Unitra brand name reappeared on the market.

Domain of activity

Although the brand operated as an association of manufacturers, it had its own R & D Department. Unitra's equipment was also fabricated for the world's leading manufacturers such as the Japanese company Sanyo. Sanyo SXM-80 column speakers can be named, among others, as the result of this cooperation. In the areas where the brand lacked an adequate technological base, it entered into cooperation with manufacturers from other countries. Radio Cassette Recorder Boombox Unitra-Sankei TCR-101 makes an example of such cooperation with the Japanese enterprise Sankei.

Unitra Warel wristwatch

Unitra Diora HiFi set

Unitra CEMI microprocessor MCY7880 (clone of the Intel 8080)

Territorial scope

Products of various manufacturers operating under the common brand name were available in all the countries of Central and Eastern Europe including Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and the Baltic States – Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia.

Significant dates

Founding

In 1961, as a result of a merger of two smaller manufacturers’ associations, one organization named the Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering Industry Association UNITRA was founded. Throughout the whole period of its operation more than 60 different enterprises were members of the Association.

Systemic changes

As a result of the political transformation in 1989, manufacturers’ associations were disbanded. Individual companies became independent and continued their activity with varying degrees of success.

Reunion

The idea of founding an association of manufacturers reappeared in the 21st century. Currently, the equipment made under the Unitra brand name is fabricated by manufacturers specializing in audio category.

List of associated manufactures

Biazet CEMAT CEMI (Semiconductor devices) CERAD CERPO Diora (Hi-Fi sets) Dolam Elmasz Elpod

Elpol Eltra Elwa Fonica (Turntables, stereo amplifiers) Lamina Unitra-Lubartów Magmor Miflex OBREP

Polam Polkolor Polfer Profel Radmor Radwar Rawar Unitra-Rzeszów Telekom

Telam Telpod Tonsil (Loudspeaker boxes) Toral Unima Unimor Unipro Unitech Unizet

Warel WZT(TV sets) Zatra Zapel Zelos Zumet ZRK (Cassette decks, stereo receivers)

Each of these establishments used the name UNITRA, along with a stylized U trademark, before its own name.

References

• Mieczysław Hutnik, Tadeusz Pachniewicz, Zarys historii polskiego przemysłu elektronicznego do 1985r, SEP, Zeszyt Historyczny nr 2, Warszawa 1994.