History

The gas industry has developed in the first part of the 19-th century. Initialy gas town started to be used for streets lighting. The first gas work in Bratislava was established in 1856.

In connection with the expansion of gas application it was necessary to start to measure the gas consumption by means of gas meters. The first gas meter was invented by the Englishman Samuel Clengg in 1815. It was a wet displacement meter. In 1820 John Maclam has patented the first dry gas meter and in 1843 Wiliam Richards designed a dry gasmeter with two chambers and valves. Gas meters on this principle have been using up to these days.

Gas meters production in the territory of Slovakia has started in 1922. The first gas meter was produced in the factory of the brothers Michera in Bratislava. After the World War Two the gas meter production was relocated to Považské strojárne (machine plant) and since 1952 it has been placing in Presná mechanika, n.p. Stará Turá. In 1965 the national enterprise Presná mechanika was incorporated in the industrial concern Chirana Stará Turá.

In 1992, in the process of privatization of the joint-stock company Chirana-Prema, a.s., the gas meters production was divided into an independent company named Premagas s.r.o. In 1993 the company Elster AG Mess- und Regeltechnik with its registered office in Mainz, Germany has become the majority owner of the company Premagas s.r.o. Since 2002, Elster AG (Elster Deutschland) is the sole owner of the company.
Production of water meters has started in 2005 and production of regulators in 2006.

Elster s.r.o. (new name of former company Premagas s.r.o.) is member of the Elster Group, which has its production plants in 38 countries with 9000 employees and supplies the goods to more than 115 countries all over the world.