The tradition of glass making in Zaječar begun in 1923 when the citizens and local entrepreneurs created the Industry & Trade Cooperative, deciding to use the good geographical position and the nearby quartz sand mine of highest quality at Rgotina. The first Glass Factory in Zaječar was the only of its kind in this part of Europe, nevertheless it did not succeed in winning against the monopoly of the Czech and Belgium glass cartels and their constant pressure, so it closed down in 1930.

The second attempt of glass production begun in 1965 and the founding of the Hollow and Lighting Glass Factory, whose expansion begun in 1969 with the arrival of the new management. A definite decision to turn to Western Europe and its new technology was made, as well as to begin to produce crystal. After educating workers at West Germany, Zaječar factory begun in 1974 to produce lead crystal in automatic and semi-automatic manner, which at the time was unique in Yugoslavia.

Western design, high quality and affordable prices were the formula for success, and in the next decades most of the products were directly sold from the production lines. The crystal from Zaječar was equally known in the East as well as in the West: it was exported in both the USA and West Europe, and the USSR and East Europe. The success of the factory was stopped in early 1990s when the breakdown of the socialist system begun. After the replacement of the factory management, imposed sanctions and ban on export, wars, inflation, bombardment, isolation… the factory was finally privatized in early 2000. In this case, it unfortunately meant its definite closedown, and the history of its final years is yet to be written.