The graphic industry in the subregion of Novi Bečej consists of only one working organization, under the name Graphic Company "1st May" Novi Bečej. Its origin dates back to 1898 when the former bookseller from Novi Bečej, Giga Jovanović, alongside his bookstore, established a small printing house.
After the end of World War II, the printing house and bookstore were nationalized, and a company called State Printing House, Bookstore, and Bookbinder "1st May" was founded, later renamed to today's Printing Company "1st May" Novi Bečej. From a former craft workshop where modest craft printing and bookbinding services were provided to the local community, this company gradually transformed into an industrial enterprise through modernization of equipment and expansion of its activities. The business scope of this company includes printing books, various forms, posters, forms, and other printed materials. Additionally, the company provides bookbinding services and sells its own products, as well as office and school supplies and publications from other printing and publishing houses in our country.
With the aim of expanding the volume and range of products, larger investments in the reconstruction of old and acquisition of new equipment began in 1952. Alongside investments in modern equipment, efforts are made in the professional development and training of workers.
From 1956, when this company had a total of 22 employees, until 1976, the number of employed workers increased threefold. In 1976, there were 65 employees, which did not significantly change until 1982. In terms of gender structure, there is a significant participation of female workforce. In the qualification structure, the percentage representation of individual categories of workers is as follows:
1. With higher education - 3%
2. With secondary education - 12%
3. With lower education - 8%
4. Highly skilled workers - 6%
5. Skilled workers - 34%
6. Semi-skilled workers - 11%
7. Unskilled workers - 26%
Such a qualification structure of the workforce is not satisfactory, and, for more successful operation, there must be a gradual decrease in unskilled labor and simultaneous increase in highly skilled and skilled labor.
By gradually expanding the volume of production and product range, the Printing Company "1st May" in Novi Bečej significantly expanded its market. From the local area, it moved on to meeting the needs of a broader regional market. Currently, the most represented products in production are books, newspapers, magazines, and various forms, which are in high demand in the market. Despite intense competition and an oversized offering of graphic services in Vojvodina, this collective achieves positive economic performance through exceptional efforts.
In the concluding considerations of the industrial development of the Novi Bečej subregion, it should be emphasized that further industrialization was accepted as the main direction of economic development until 1985. Since intensive industrial development should enable the realization of goals and tasks of the overall economic development of the municipality, significant investments are planned for expanding existing capacities and opening new facilities. This primarily applies to organizations of associated labor, which are in the current production structure of the industry in the municipality the drivers of economic development and have contributed the most to the development and restructuring of the entire economy of this region in the past period. Among these organizations, the Industry of Building Ceramics "Polet" and the Factory of Equipment and Supplies "FOP" in Novi Bečej hold a dominant position, so special attention is paid to their further strengthening and development. The production of building materials within the working organization "Polet" has great social importance beyond the borders of the Novi Bečej subregion, justifying the construction of new facilities and modernization of existing ones.
Dynamic industrial development in the next period, in addition to material investments, assumes providing qualitative elements of economic activity. By introducing multiple shifts, existing and new capacities must be more fully utilized. A higher degree of mechanization, specialization, and finalization of production must be achieved. Faster adaptation of production to market demands, strengthening the process of labor and resource pooling, and faster increase in productivity, profitability, and cost-effectiveness are necessary. Accelerated construction of industrial production facilities and increased circulation of funds should enable greater accumulative and reproductive capacity of the industry and its further strengthening among other branches of the economy.
