The origin of the independent Czechoslovak Republic on 28th October 1918 necessitated the building of a modern army to assure the sovereignty of the new country. In the context of that politically-difficult situation, it was also essential to build the defence industry for the needs of its own army. The production of explosives, which is part of the defence industry, is necessary for ensuring the needs of any modern army. The fact that the production of explosives was scattered into many smaller businesses around the newly-established state, and mainly owned by foreign parties, led after many complicated discussions started already in 1919 to the decision to build up a new factory for the production of explosives.
Brief history in dates
| March 23, 1920 | Foundation Meeting of the “Czechoslovak Joint-stock Company for Explosive Materials” in Semtín |
| May 6, 1920 | Approval of preliminary conception plan of a new factory serving as the documentation for selection of suitable locality |
| December 23, 1920 | Licence Charter issued granting authorization for monopoly production of explosive materials |
| December 1920 | Purchase of land in Semtín at Pardubice |
| 1921 | Commencement of building of Departments L (production of black powder) and C (production of explosives) |
| 1922 | Production of black powder and industrial explosives started |
| 1923 | Building of Departments A (nitroglycerine), F (production of acids), E (nitrocellulose) and H (trinitrotoluene) completed |
| 1924 | Production started in department B (smokeless powders) |
| 1928 | Building started of affiliated plant Synthesia – production of inorganic compounds inevitable for production of explosives |
| 1934 | The company renamed Explosia a.s. |
| 1946 | Rise of SYNTHESIA n.p. (national enterprise) – by merging Explosia a.s. and Synthesia |
| 1948 | Rise of East Bohemian Chemical Works (VCHZ) n.p. |
| 1954 | Establishing of the “Research Institute of Industrial Chemistry” (VÚPCH) |
| 1990 | The use of name Explosia for the “Plant 05 – Special Production” of VCHZ n.p. renewed |
| 1998 | Explosia a.s. established, subsidiary company of Synthesia a.s. |
| 1999 | Rise of “Business Unit Explosia” by merging VÚPCH and Plant 05-Explosia |
| January 23rd, 2002 | Government Decree No. 89/2002 on change of Business Unit Explosia ownership structure – assignment of state proprietary rights |
| May 30th, 2002 | Property deposit of Business Unit Explosia into Explosia a.s. |
| June 1st, 2002 | Commencement of production and commercial activity of Explosia a.s., as Aliachem a.s. subsidiary |