In the late 19^th c., there were two small factories 4 km east of Ruse’s center: the brick company of Todor Ivanov from Ruse, and the cement products factory of the Austrians Max Epler and Adolf Kafka. In 1893, a group of industrialists and bankers from Ruse registered their merger into the Trud JSC. 

The new factory manufactured construction bricks, Marseille roof tiles, cement mosaic products and the first fireproof industrial furnace parts. It took a decade of financial and technical problems before the Trud JSC turned into a modern factory making high-quality products.  Gold medals from industry fairs followed in a row: Liege in 1903, Milan and Bucharest in 1906, London in 1907.

The reason for its success was the long-term vision of some of its investors: Burov, Gubidelnikov, Sharankov and Tsankov. In the 50 years that followed, the Czech experts Vaclav Tranca – father and son – introduced modern technologies and total discipline.

In 1947, the industrial companies were nationalized and the Trud factory became a state-owned factory for ceramic products.  The dynamic planned economy resulted in a significant production growth; the share of fireclay products had a manifold increase. As of 1966 onwards, the factory got specialized in fireclay products only. The reconstruction and upgrading process that followed took 15 years because of insufficient funds and limited construction capacity.  The effect was the introduction of semidry forming and the construction of the largest high-temperature tunnel kiln in the Balkan Region, of annual capacity of 60,000 tons. 

The changes in the late 20^th c. found the factory in a difficult situation.  The market collapsed, while the existing equipment was inadequate for small-volume production.  The de-capitalization process kept growing.

;The company’s privatization was a challenge for its new management team.  The long-term investment plan that was adopted included rapid upgrading of the production and administration facilities, preservation of the market standing, winning new clients and growing revenues.

Major investments of more than a million levs were made even in the first three years. They were mainly focused on rehabilitation of the production equipment to ensure normal operation, and on procurement of new environment-friendly production lines.  The investment was based on interest-free funding for environment protection activities.  Diverse measures were taken for better working conditions.

The successful finalisation of such key investments has opened the investment strategy to the second and third phase oriented to upgrading the main production facilities, namely the presses and the plant premises.

Between 2005 and 2006 capital investments exceeding three million levs were made in TRUD JSC.  The good business relations with SACMI Group (Italy) resulted in the investment in two modern presses – 1000-ton and 500-ton; the investment exceeded two million levs. In addition several effective reconstruction activities were performed in the production premises, like: upgrading of the second dosing process line, a belt-transport line, an elevator, press-loading equipment, a new screw compressor, routing machines, kiln carriages, etc.

The 2008 global economic crisis slowed down the company’s growth. Nevertheless the investments and the upgrading processes did not stop.  Regardless of the unfavorable environment, joint investments were made in partnership with the INTIS Ltd. to incorporate the Intis-Trud Ltd., a joint stock company active in concrete production that has enabled much wider business positions.  The investment was a success.  The new cutting-edge concrete depot manufactures high-strength concrete of the highest class and parameters.

The rolling stock of the company was also in the investment focus.  For a period of 10 years, nearly 900,000 levs were invested in modern gas tank trucks, automobiles, trucks, vans and vehicles to transport employees. 

After three years of difficult challenges, the economic crisis had the effect of a catalyst on the largest and most urgent strategic intention: to build an advanced power-saving tunnel kiln. The flexible financial management enabled the funding for this expensive equipment that stabilized the company and took it to a completely different level.  The project started in the late 2011 with a customized purchase order to RIEDHAMMER, one of the world-leading industrial furnace producers.

The investments made in the recent decade amount to nearly 10 million levs, which have completely transformed the company.  Yet the most valuable investment for the company are its people – workers, specialists, experts, who have worked for the progress of the company and for establishing the company as a leader in the local market and a reliable partner of leading international companies through the years.  Today, TRUD JSC employs to more than 220 people, including whole families.

With constant investments in equipment, technologies and innovations the company continuously increases its capacity and expands its market positions. Positions, which keep the brand name "TRUD" as a symbol of reliability, quality and innovativeness for 120 years now.

Watch the movie about TRUD’s 120 years of history