Tractors of the Zetor brand began to write their history in the post-war period. The first Zetor tractor, the Z 25, was "baptised" on 15 March 1946. Five months later the Chamber of Commerce and Trade of the Czechoslovak Republic issued a trademark for the Zetor brand. Tractors of the Zetor brand began to write their history in the post-war period. The first Zetor tractor, the Z 25, was "baptised" on 15 March 1946. Five months later the Chamber of Commerce and Trade of the Czechoslovak Republic issued a trademark for the Zetor brand.
The brand, like all congenial things, was born easily and simply: as the transcript of the letter "Z", used in the logo of the Brno Zbrojovka engineering plant where the first tractors were made, combined with the last two letters of the word "tractor". In 1954 the research and development base was founded for Zetor. In that period the fields welcomed, following the extremely successful Zetors 25 and 15, the more powerful Zetor 30, and in 1956 a new more robust model, the Zetor 50 Super, was born, with an engine power of 50 hp (37 kW).
In the year 1947 nearly 3,500 tractors were sold – about one third to Ireland, Poland, Denmark and Belgium.
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In the years 1947 – 1949 2,215 Zetor 15 tractors were made. This was a single-cylinder prototype of the Zetor 25. The Zetor 15 was equipped with a diesel engine with the power of 15 hp (11 kW), a six-gear transmission and maximum speed of 22 km/hr.
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František Musil continued to innovate his product. He looked for inspiration abroad. The result was a new embodiment of his tractor – the Zetor 25 K (K = cultivation).
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Musil possessed a lot of experience in designing diesel engines. The demand of the time resulted in his proposed tractor Zetor 30.
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In the course of more than two years the Zetor 25 gathered a lot of operational experience in different countries. The result of the modernization based on this experience was the Zetor 25 A.
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In February 1949 the first 10,000 tractors were sold.
MoreAfter the brand’s first decade of existence, in addition to the already popular tractors, the crawler Zetor Super P was born and first introduced at the second Czechoslovak engineering exhibition at the Brno Fair Grounds in 1956.
A couple of years later Zetor became the first in the world to apply the progressive and unique concept of using unified elements in tractor manufacture, i.e. the use of identical parts in different models for the considerable simplification of manufacture and servicing. In 1960 the company launched the Zetor 3011 - the basic model of the revolutionary unified series - UR I. Other models of this series followed – the Zetor 2011 and 4011 - where a new numerical identification of the individual models was introduced for the different modifications.
In 1960 the Super 35 tractor was modernised and renamed the Super 50. These tractors were sold as far afield as Burma, Ghana and Iraq. By 1968 more than 150,000 units had been produced.
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In the latter half of the 1950s Zetor was the first in the world to introduce the progressive and unique concept of using unified elements in tractor manufacture.
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Together with the first models of the UR I series, the year 1960 saw the introduction of the Zetormatic – a hydraulic lifting system with automatic depth control, allowing for the transfer of part of the weight of the pulled implement on the rear tractor axle and thus improve traction.
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Zetor responded to customer requirements for increased tractor power. To support the development of a stronger tractor the "Czechoslovak-Polish Tractor Research Centre" was founded in 1962 with its seat in the Zetor plant in Brno.
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In 1962 another model in this series followed – the Zetor 4011 - and in 1963 the model 2011. This was the beginning of the popular tractor portfolio offering customers selection of optional technological equipment on demand.
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On the basis of the economic policy of the political formation of the period, Czechoslovakia began to cooperate with Poland in the field of tractor manufacture.
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How to expand overseas without the risk of high costs of transport? A good solution seems to be local assembly based on licensing contracts with local manufacturers.
MoreIn that decade Zetor responded to customer requirements of higher tractor power. The assumed power was to range between 80 and 160 hp (59 – 118 kW). The tangible results of these efforts were represented by new tractors of another unified series, the UR II.
Model 8011, the first of the series, collected several prizes at home and abroad immediately after its launch. The reason was that it used a number of progressive technical solutions which were not usual at that time, and in addition its design and ergonomics of operation were also considered in its development and manufacture. From 1968 Zetor tractors with the new name of Crystal were introduced into mass production. The modern concept of the construction design of this series became a milestone in tractor innovation and attracted great attention at international agricultural exhibitions.
The demand for higher power brought about the first model of the UR II series. Mass production began in 1968. A number of new features and solutions not very common at that time placed Zetor among the leading world tractor manufacturers.
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In the years 1968 – 1974 Zetor tractors were supplied to the Japanese company Iseki. They were supplied equipped with cage wheels and a special brake system for work in the water of the rice fields. Seven years of cooperation resulted in the supply of around 4,000 tractors.
MoreOn 1 November 1976 the already world-famous Zetor brand also became the name of the company. The Zetor company continued in the development of tractors of the UR II series. In 1975 the market saw the first six-cylinder model, the 12011.
In the late seventies manufacture began to be transferred to the Slovak Heavy Machinery Plants (ZTS) in Martin, where innovated types of these tractors were manufactured under the brand ZTS with three subsequent modernisations. The UR I series was also modernised and improved. After transfer of manufacture of the UR II Crystal series to Slovakia the UR I again became the major part of the product portfolio of Zetor. The tractors were equipped with a robust and yet comfortable and safe cab, increased power at lower fuel consumption and improved transmissions with a higher gear range.
In 1980 another modernisation of the series UR I – the series “10” became available. The tractors offered higher power at lower fuel consumption and improved transmission with a wider gear range.
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In 1980 the UR II series was extended with the model 16045 turbo with four-wheel drive and power of 160 hp (118 kW).
MoreIn this development stage Zetor commenced manufacture of the series UR III, whose concept and technical parameters were in response to increased customer demand, especially for power. In 1992, shortly after the commencement of manufacture of tractors of this unified series, innovated tractors of the UR I series were launched under the commercial name Major.
In 1997 five updated models introduced another significant construction change to the UR I series. Tractors with the commercial name Super are driven by three- and four-cylinder engines within the power range of 45 to 82 hp (33 – 60 kW). In the design field rounded mudguard and cab shapes returned and the bonnet was tilted forwards for improved visibility. Further changes included improved hydraulics, a new modern design of the cab interior with ergonomic layout of the controls including side location of the gear lever, increased speed (40 km/h) and an extended offer of optional accessories.
The company had been privatised and its name changed to Zetor, a.s. (joint-stock company) on 1 July 1993, and during this period Zetor underwent many changes. In 2000 a revitalisation programme was adopted and on 22 April 2002 the Government of the Czech Republic approved the sale of the state interest in the company to HTC holding.
This company immediately started the process of financial stabilisation of the company, together with massive restructuring. At the same time the development and innovation process of the UR I continued with the main focus on fulfilment of the stricter regulations of advanced markets for environment protection. The previous models of this series were replaced in 2004 with modern UR I tractors known as the Proxima series, meeting the strained emission limits. Development of the UR III series also continued, with significant modernisation and a new launch in 1998 under the brand name Forterra.
An example of modern technology based on the traditional tractor shape of the 1950s. This in particular concerned five new models from 1997: the 3321/41, 4321/41, 5321/41, 6321/41 and 7321/41 T.
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In 1997 the Brazilian company Agrale executed a contract with Zetor for the manufacture and supply of a tractor with the power of 60 – 80 hp (44 – 59 kW).
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Development did not stop in the case of the UR III series either. The series was significantly modernised and in 1998 relaunched under the commercial name of Forterra. Unlike the current models of the UR III, the Forterra was manufactured exclusively with four-wheel drive.
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In the years 1998-1999 nearly half of the shares held by the Consolidation Bank were purchased by Motokov. Unfortunately, tractor manufacture was stopped for lack of operational capital.
MoreIn 2007 the portfolio of Zetor was extended with the Proxima Plus series, equipped with a front and rear axle for heavy loads. In late 2008 production commenced of the Proxima Power series, equipped with an interesting new development - a transmission with electro-hydraulic reverse gear selection, allowing for reverse gear shifting under load.
A new development of the Forterra series in 2010 was the model 135 with a new engine, Z 1605, with the power of 136 hp (100 kW) and a sixteen-valve cylinder head. In 2011 Zetor introduced further improvements of the Proxima, Proxima Plus and Proxima Power series. The tractors were marked with a new type ID. The main modernisation was the introduction of mechanic hydraulics with top-link load sensing. In 2012 the latest development of the product portfolio was introduced under the name Forterra HSX – the strongest and best equipped tractor. The model series Forterra and later also the Forterra HSX have, since 2011, been equipped with the HitchTronic system of automatic regulation of the rear three-point hitch.
Over the past years, the ZETOR brand has been enriched again. It won new customers, entered new markets, dealt with many challenges and succeeded in gradual extension of the product portfolio totalling in the current eight model ranges with power from 20 to 170 hp.
The ever on-going product innovation roots from the wishes of our customers. All this packed in elegant design ZETOR by Pininfarina which has been applied to all model ranges of tractors from 80 hp upwards since 2020.
