Ultramarin
History & Heritage
Industrial Continuity: Seven Decades of Material Innovation
The history of the Ultramarin Group is not merely a timeline of dates; it is the story of Ljutomer’s industrial evolution. For over 70 years, we have transitioned through the eras of traditional construction, space-age modular design, and high-performance aerospace-grade composites.
1950 – 1971
The Foundational Era
The company was established on 19 October 1950 as Okrajne opekarne Ljutomer. Originally a pillar of the regional brickmaking industry, the firm quickly outgrew its traditional roots. In 1962, the company rebranded as IMGRAD Ljutomer, signaling a shift toward advanced industrial engineering and a commitment to building the infrastructure of a modernizing Europe.
1972
The GRP Revolution & the K67 Icon
The year 1972 marked a definitive technological pivot. IMGRAD specialized in polyester processing and advanced coating, representing the absolute technological peak of the region's industrial capacity.
It was during this era that Ljutomer became the manufacturing home of the K67 modular kiosk, designed by the visionary architect Saša J. Mächtig. Using Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) to achieve a modular, poly-functional urban structure, the K67 became a global symbol of 20th-century industrial design. Today, the K67 is preserved in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, a testament to the durability and aesthetic precision of the materials we continue to master.
1988 – 2002
Specialization in Surface Protection
In 1988, Ultramarin (then operating as a specialized unit within the IMGRAD framework) became one of the first in Central Europe to introduce industrial powder coating for aluminium with yellow chromating. This conversion process set a new regional benchmark for anti-corrosion, positioning us as the primary partner for the demanding European construction and automotive sectors.
As the demand for high-performance GRP grew, the polyester production unit was relocated in 2002 to our current state-of-the-art facility on Babinska cesta. This expansion allowed for the adoption of closed-moulding technologies like RTM and Vacuum Infusion, which define our current production standards.
2026
A Development-Oriented Global Partner
Today, Ultramarin operates as a vertically integrated development group. With facilities in Slovenia, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, we combine the wisdom of seven decades with the agility of a modern engineering firm. We are no longer just a successor to a legacy; we are the architects of the next generation of industrial composites and metallic protection.
FAQ
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Ultramarin d.o.o. is the direct technological and industrial successor to the IMGRAD Ljutomer legacy. We maintain the original manufacturing archives, the technical expertise, and the commitment to material excellence that defined IMGRAD’s peak years. We have evolved the tradition into a modern, development-focused group.
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The K67 kiosk proved that GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) is a material of permanent value, capable of withstanding decades of environmental exposure while maintaining structural integrity. That same engineering DNA, focused on durability, modularity, and high-precision moulding, is what we apply to our modern yacht components and automotive superstructures today.
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It means we are a strategic ally, not just a vendor. With regional hubs across the Balkans and Central Europe, we offer optimized logistics and a "Multi-Source" security for our clients. Whether we are developing a new carbon-fiber prototype in Slovenia or handling high-volume serial production in our subsidiaries, our clients benefit from a single, unified quality standard.