Đuro Đaković

Background

In 1921, the company Prva jugoslavenska tvornica vagona strojeva i mostova dd Brod na Savi (First Yugoslavian wagon, machinery and bridge factory company, Brod on the Sava) was established, with 125000 shares of 400 crowns. The factory buildings were constructed by 1922. Croatian industrialist Aleksandar Ehrmann was leading in attracting foreign investment into the firm in 1923.

In 1926, the company constructed its first bridge (over the Tisza near Titel), and its first railway vehicle, and first steam boiler. In 1928 the company produced its first tram (for Belgrade). Development of the company continued in the 1930s with the factory beginning to produce vessels for the chemical industry, cranes, and powered railway vehicles.

During the Invasion of Yugoslavia of 1941 the factory was heavily damaged. Post World War II the factory employed 1330 people (1945). After reconstruction of the war damaged buildings, it was renamed Đuro Đaković Industrija šinskih vozila, industrijskih i energetskih postrojenja i čeličnih konstrukcija Slavonski Brod in 1947, after Brod born communist politician Đuro Đaković. In the 1950s the company entered into a collaboration with Babcock & Wilcox (1952), and manufactured its first diesel engine (1955). The company also manufactured railway vehicles for domestic use and for export.

The company workforce expanded from 2500 (1952) to over 4500 by 1964; by 1969 the factory had become a major boiler and steel structure manufacturer. During this period the plant began manufacturing GM-EMD locomotives under license. In the 1970s the company's interests were extended to nuclear power plant manufacturing—the company was involved in the construction of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant. Other large scale industrial construction projects included construction of Sugar and Cement factories, and an association with Belgian boiler manufacturer Wanson was formed. A company manufacturing industrial scale expansion joints was established in 1974 in association with Teddington Bellows (UK).

During the 1980s the company diversified into the production of agricultural machinery (in association with Deutz-Fahr), vending machines, seamless cylinders (e.g. gas cylinders), and began serial production of the M-84 tank in 1983. Involvement in construction of railway vehicles (including liquified gas wagons), factories, and power plants also continued. By 1986 the company employed over 16000 people.

Đuro Đaković Holding

In 1991, the company Đuro Đaković was formed by a shareholding investor who founded the Hrvatski fond za razvoj (Croatian Development Fund) and the Croatian Railways; in 1993, it became a dioničko društvo (joint stock company). During the Croatian War of Independence the company manufactured weapons for the Croatian army. In the post war period the company was involved in reconstruction projects, including the reconstruction of several steel river bridges.

The research, testing, and certification branch of the company was split in 1993 forming ĐURO ĐAKOVIĆ-Centar za istraživanje i razvoj d.o.o. (Duro Dakovic research and development centre). Several companies were divested from the group, including Đuro Đaković Kompenzatori d.o.o. (1995, expansion joints, formerly 'Đuro Đaković-Teddington'), and Đuro Đaković-Termoenergetska Postrojenja d.o.o. (1997, boiler fabrication and commissioning), Đuro Đaković – Zavarene posude d.d. (1996, welded containers, primarily for liquefied gas). The steam boiler manufacturing plant became an independent company as Kotlovi d.o.o. in 2002, it was renamed Đuro Đaković Kotlovi d.o.o. in 2004.

The construction subsidiary Đuro Đaković Montaža d.d., separate company since 1996, manufacturer and installer of power, petrochemical, and other industrial plants, steel bridges (since 2004), and oil platforms (since 2003), became a subsidiary of Bilfinger Berger in the Bilfinger Berger Power Services division in 2009.

Group structure and operations

The parent company, Đuro Đaković Grupa d.d., is listed on the Zagreb Stock Exchange. As of 31 December 2025, DD Acquisition held approximately 81.9% of its share capital, while the Republic of Croatia held approximately 17.9%.

As of 2026, the group is composed of seven subsidiaries:

Đuro Đaković Specijalna vozila d.d.

Đuro Đaković Specijalna vozila ĐĐ Specijalna vozila manufacturers armoured vehicles, including the M-84D tank, and the Patria AMV 8x8 (under contract from Patria, Finland), as well as mine clearing vehicles. The company's other main activity is the manufacture of rail freight wagons; as of 2012 the product range includes side tipping, bottom discharge, covered including curtain wall and sliding door, ISO container carrying, and tank wagons for bulk powders.