Poles That Illuminate, Charge, and Even Bloom: KOOPERATIVA vod družstvo Shows That Public Lighting Can Do Much More
March 17, 2026 / 3:41 PM
The traditional Czech manufacturer KOOPERATIVA vod družstvo demonstrates at this year’s AMPER fair that even a seemingly technical element such as a public lighting pole can bring innovation, design and new functions to modern cities.
“We are a manufacturing cooperative established back in 1969 — even before the insurance company of the same name entered the market,” says Irena Melounová with a smile. Tradition is one of the cooperative’s key pillars, along with in house development and engineering.
At stand P239, the company is presenting one of its two main product lines — steel public lighting poles. These are intended not only for municipalities but also for large industrial complexes, railway infrastructure, and highway sections. The range also includes tiltable poles for hard to reach locations and lighting towers up to 25–30 meters high.
However, this year’s eye catching novelty is a pole designed specifically to carry floral decorations. “We often see flower pots hung on poles that are not statically designed for such loads. So we decided to develop a solution with integrated holders calculated by our engineers to safely support the weight,” explains Melounová. The company is already considering a built in irrigation system for future versions.
A major strength of the cooperative is also the integration of technology directly into the pole itself. Considerable attention is drawn to the charging station solution for electric vehicles built directly into the body of the public lighting pole. “We try not to clutter public space with additional elements. Our charger, including the payment terminal, fits inside a standard diameter pole. It may look like Tetris inside, but it works,” says Melounová. This combination of electrical equipment and structural design is, according to her, what professionals at AMPER find most interesting.
The company is also involved in significant projects. One of the current realizations includes supplying components for the Light Remains Darkness art park by multidisciplinary artist Krištof Kintera near the new Dvorecký Bridge in Prague, where the company produced complex steel poles as a subcontractor for the artistic installation.
Participation at AMPER is a yearly tradition for KOOPERATIVA vod družstvo. “It’s the only fair of its kind in our country, and we see it as an important part of the year. Even though we’re close to the construction sector, poles are part of the electrical equipment of buildings, and this is where we can show what we can do,” Melounová concludes.
At their stand, the pole is not just a carrier of light — it is a symbol of technical development, collaboration with partners, and a thoughtful approach to public space.
