St. Petersburg is a witching city where history paces along wide avenues, huddles in yards and wells and captivates everyone who follows after it. Salon conversations intertwine here, the roar of the revolutionary proletarian crowd, the whisper of an unbroken blockade, and memory and love for the city are circling over everything - sincere, everyone has a personal one. The first factories that once hid on the outskirts of the Petrovsky capital today have become part of urban architecture. GOZ Obukhov Plant is already counting the second century of its history, and on its example, the stages of Russia's industrialization can be traced.
Construction and start of operations
The founders of the plant, Obukhov P. M., Kudryavtsev S. G. and Putilov N. I., on May 4, 1863, entered into a contract agreement with the Maritime Ministry on the construction of a cast steel plant. The place for the future giant was determined by the village of Aleksandrovskoye on the Shlisselburg tract. Emperor Alexander II had a state interest in the enterprise and gave part of the lands of the Alexander manufactory. The goals of the production partnership were the production of new weapons for fortresses, the construction of ships and independence from foreign arms supplies.
P.M. Obukhov was the inventor of a new method for the production of cast steel, which was planned to be used at the defense enterprise under construction, and therefore the plant was named in his honor. In addition to the opportunity to innovate in the technological process, state interests demanded the rearmament of the army, which became clear after the defeat in the Crimean campaign. They built and launched the enterprise quickly, the first smelting took place on April 17, 1864. Emperor Alexander II was present at the plant on April 30 when casting a steel bar for a future eight-pound gun.
Transition period
The partnership of the founders of the plant did not own sufficient capital for the further development of the enterprise, so it was decided to take a large loan from the bank for the purchase of foreign equipment. The loan was taken under state guarantees, the Surety was the Ministry of the Sea. To control the use of funds and repay the debt, a management board and the position of plant manager were created, captain-lieutenant A. Kolokoltsov was appointed to it.
In addition to military weapons, the plant mastered the production of axles and wheels for railways, high-class surgical, locksmith, drawing instruments. Steel was supplied to England, Germany, where it was purchased with pleasure because of high quality and lower cost than at local plants. The plant safely paid off its debts and was supposed to return to private hands.
State owned
To give away a strategic and profitable enterprise was not in the interests of the state. By decree of Alexander II, the plant was transferred to state ownership, shares from the owners were redeemed. The process took place in 1886, by which time the following workshops were operating at the plant:
- Steel.
- Crucible.
- Cast iron foundry.
- Hammer.
- Cannon-finishing.
- Forge.
To ensure production processes, a laboratory, a wood dryer and a gas plant were created. The working staff consisted of the artisans of the Zlatoust steelworkers and the Ural craftsmen who worked in the blacksmith’s and weapons workshops.
GOZ Obukhov Plant (St. Petersburg), being in state ownership, had commercial freedom, did not subsidize from the treasury, but developed at its own expense. The management of the enterprise was constantly engaged in the reconstruction of the plant, purchasing new equipment of foreign production, the existing workshops expanded, new ones were built. All the time, specialists went on business trips, mastering new steelmaking technologies, getting acquainted with the latest weapons, machine tools and tools.
To expand capabilities, a testing ground was needed. For its foundation, in 1898, land was bought from the prince of Oldenburg P.G. on the right bank of the Neva. Over the following years, the plant's capacity increased. In 1904, the Aleksandrovsky Steel and Rail Plants were merged with the Obukhov Plant, and in 1905 an optical-mechanical industrial workshop was founded at the enterprise. In 1906, optical products of the NEO won the Gold Medal at the specialized World Optical Exhibition (France, Bordeaux).
By the new, 20th century, it became clear that the plant became one of the leaders in Russian industry. The number of workers amounted to about 4 thousand people, and already in 1914 the number increased to 10,266 employees, for which a lot was done to ensure a normal and full life. A church was built, consecrated in honor of the Apostle Paul, a school and a school for working children worked, medical services were provided by a hospital with an outpatient clinic, a library was working, a Consumer Society was created, and houses for families of workers were built.
For the period from 1867 to 1908, GOZ Obukhov Plant, thanks to high-quality and innovative products, has won more than 10 awards at prestigious international and domestic exhibitions. As a sign of special merits to the state railways in the supply of high-quality wheels, axles and other things, the plant was awarded the right to put the state emblem on products and signs. Since 1908, the company received the right to have its own flag. In 1913, the results of half a century of activity were summed up. By the fiftieth anniversary, the plant became one of the largest plants in Russia, gained fame abroad, successfully competed with the German company Krupp and the English company Armstrong.
After the revolution
After 1917 and until 1920, the enterprise was a mess, the situation stabilized with the advent of the director V. Serov. In connection with the Civil War, in 1918, GOZ Obukhov Plant (St. Petersburg) was cut off from orders, supplies of raw materials, workers received a calculation and were fired (12 thousand people). The decision to redesign the enterprise for the production of tracked tractors was made at the end of 1918. From the previous production process, products for railway workers remained in demand, repair of freight cars, steam locomotives, production of springs, bearings was required. For civilian purposes, the work plan provided for the manufacture of plows and parts for threshers. For the implementation of the state order for work, 4 thousand workers, engineers, technicians, and craftsmen were accepted.
The first caterpillar tractors were modernized American Holt vehicles. The first three tractors were sent to the front to transport heavy guns in 1919. At the end of the Civil War, the industry of Petrograd began to revive. In 1921, one of the largest open-hearth furnaces (5,000 tons) was introduced at the plant; tractor construction received a second wind. GOZ Obukhov plant is the enterprise that laid the foundation for the mass production of tractors.
In 1922, the plant was renamed the Petrograd State Steel Plant "Bolshevik" (the historical name was returned in 1992). In the same year the state was placed at the enterprise. order for the production of aircraft engines. The first products were released by November 7, 1923, and in 1925 aircraft with the engines of the Bolshevik plant made the flight Moscow - Beijing - Tokyo.
In subsequent years, the company produced products that were in demand in the construction of a number of industrial facilities (Magnitogorsk, Kuznetsk combines), the Moscow metro, the Volkhov power station and many others. A special pride is the manufacture of the Hammer and Sickle emblem for the first series of Kremlin stars and steel frames for Kremlin ruby stars.
In 1927, the company began to produce serial tanks MS-1 (T-18), later the division became a separate enterprise (tank factory named after Voroshilov, now OJSC Zvezda). The design team of the GOZ "Obukhov Plant" designed large-caliber artillery systems. The greatest pre-war heyday of the enterprise was achieved during the directorship of Ustinov D.F., from 1938 to 1941.
The Great Patriotic War
The war and the blockade of Leningrad, which soon began, significantly reduced the number of workers at the Obukhov plant, but the enterprise continued to produce the products needed for the front. Some workshops were mothballed, work continued in workshops focused on the release of military orders. During the war, the plant gave to the front:
- Armored and high-explosive shells (more than 20 thousand units).
- Details for jet mines of the Katyusha system (90 thousand).
- Details for machine guns "Maxim" (11 thousand).
- Mines (125 thousand).
- New artillery batteries adapted for railway platforms (30 pieces).
- The serial production of anti-tank guns has been established.
Sapper and construction tools, personal protective equipment for pilots, and sapper sleds were also produced. During the war years, the enterprise lost more than 4 thousand employees, some of them died of starvation, some at the front. The workers of the plant earned the Order of the Red Banner with heroic labor.
Peaceful time
The damage inflicted on the Obukhov plant during the war years was estimated at 60 million rubles. Restoration work began back in 1943, the main forces were sent to repair open-hearth furnaces. Since 1945, the company began reconstruction. The first post-war peace order for the production of agricultural machinery was received.
The full production cycle was restored by the end of 1948. The memory worked and this time - the management refused state subsidies, the enterprise mastered the production of popular products. It became oil pumps for the chemical industry, tubing for the subway, the rate of production of agricultural machinery increased, standard orders were carried out. In 1957, all open-hearth furnaces were automated, which increased the number of output and secured the work of steelworkers.
In 1980, the main activities of the GOZ "Obukhov Plant" were:
- Release of steel of different grades.
- Casting from steel and non-ferrous metals.
- Oversized engineering.
- Parts for nuclear power plants.
- Pumps for oil production.
- Parts for ships (Navy and civilian).
- Details for space communications.
- Ground equipment for the space industry.
- Consumer goods (irons).
- Agricultural machinery.
In the 21st century
In 2002, the enterprise became part of the Almaz-Antey Air Defense Concern, and in 2003 the plant changed its form of ownership by issuing shares and became known as OJSC GOZ Obukhov Plant (St. Petersburg). In 2004, by decision of the President of the Russian Federation, the company was included in the list of strategic enterprises of Russia. The plant manufactures civilian, industrial, and military products.
The main customers are the Ministry of Defense, law enforcement agencies. The plant supplies products to foreign countries, such as China, Vietnam, Egypt and others. At the present stage, reconstruction is being carried out in the workshops of the plant, the latest equipment is being installed, innovative technologies are being introduced. The main objective of JSC GOZ Obukhov Plant (St. Petersburg) in the coming years will be the release of high-tech products, the development of high technology, the implementation of military and civilian orders.
Engineering
Mechanical engineering is the leading direction in the plant’s activities and is taken out as a separate structural unit. The activity is ensured by the marketing department, constant updating of material and technical armaments is carried out, production workshops are equipped with modern lines and occupy large areas, the work and engineering personnel are highly qualified employees.
Joint-stock company GOZ Obukhov plant on the basis of engineering workshops lets in an extensive list of products:
- Missile launchers.
- Missile defense equipment.
- Ship missile launchers for various purposes.
- Depreciation systems for the Energia launch vehicle, the Buran spacecraft, and intercontinental ballistic missiles.
- Protective equipment for nuclear power plants.
- Machines for transportation and transportation of air defense.
- Devices for space monitoring systems.
- Machines for wood and stone processing.
- Consumer goods, simulators.
- Equipment for theaters, g. d. tunnels and more.
Design department
The experimental design bureau is rightfully the receiver of the traditions laid down by the founders of the plant back in 1865. Since 1948, OKB is a separate structural unit of the enterprise. High-tech engineering developments of the bureau, for all the years of the enterprise's existence, were implemented in the production of military and civilian products:
- Modernization of caterpillar tractors.
- Development of aircraft engines.
- Mine, artillery weapons for the Navy and the army.
- T-26 tank, flamethrower tank, self-propelled artillery mount.
- Missile defense equipment and installations.
- Launcher rocket launchers.
- Civil, industrial and commercial equipment.
Reviews
About 5 thousand employees work at the GOZ Obukhov Plant. The reviews left by employees demonstrate an assessment of a particular production site where they had to work. Positive reviews relate to stable wages, a full social package, comfortable working conditions, and the availability of tools and equipment.
Many employees liked the team, in which workdays were held, the opportunity to exchange experience and knowledge. It is noted that all workshops are repaired, well heated in winter and aired in summer. For many, the regime of secrecy in the enterprise came as a surprise. To go out and go to the defense plant Obukhov GOZ AO is possible only by name badge, and during the working day there is constant video surveillance.
Negative assessments were made to the payroll system, according to which additional funds are accrued for overtime work, exit to work on holidays and weekends. This creates an unhealthy phenomenon - everyone is constantly at work, but there is no sense in such a pastime, and bonuses are awarded for useless sitting out at the workplace. Without exception, all employees note that the data on hiring promises of high salaries, career growth, and high bonuses are not justified.
Reviews are negative and positive. A closer look makes it clear that work in certain shops does not cause any complaints either in terms of payment or in terms of conditions. The amount of salary, additional accruals also largely depends on the competence, level of qualification of the employee applying for a vacancy in the GOZ Obukhov Plant.
Address
The enterprise is located in St. Petersburg on Obukhovskaya Avenue, Building 120. There is a museum at the plant, where exhibits are presented that tell about the history of the enterprise, a collection of products and samples of military equipment are presented, and biographies of outstanding employees of the company are presented.