Izhevsk Mechanical Plant Baikal is a leading enterprise in the Russian Federation for the production of small arms and traumatic weapons. According to statistics, its share in the domestic market in a number of positions exceeds 80%. However, IMZ is engaged not only in the design and assembly of small arms. This is a diversified production of medical equipment, power tools, various devices, equipment for the oil and gas and mining sectors. The plant’s specialists have mastered the technology of precision steel casting and are able to produce high-quality metal products of complex shapes.
All for victory
1942 year. German troops are on the outskirts of Moscow. After an unsuccessful head-on assault on the capital, the Wehrmacht decides to bypass the city from the flanks. Elite units of the Guderian’s tank army, which was rapidly advancing towards Tula, the center of Russian gunsmiths, were thrown southward. The government of the USSR makes an emergency decision on the evacuation of the main capacities of the Tula arms factory, and at the same time the Podolsky mechanical plant in the deep rear - to the city of Izhevsk.
The equipment was delivered to the territory of the small Izhevsk machine-building plant. Although the premises for the deployment of full-fledged production were sorely lacking, the workers did everything possible to restart the production of much-needed military products.
Birth
July 21, 1942, by order of the State Defense Committee, Plant No. 622 was allocated from the structure of IZHMASH, subsequently renamed the Baikal Izhevsk Mechanical Plant. This production specialized mainly in the production of scarce anti-tank rifles of the Simonov (PTRS) and Degtyarev (PTRD) systems . In total, more than 130,000 units were produced.
In parallel, the assembly of old but reliable Nagan revolvers (developed back in 1895), as well as more modern Tokarev pistols developed in 1933, were carried out. By Victory Day, factory workers produced over 1.3 million small arms.
Post-war years
With the end of the war, the profile of Baikal, the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, has not changed. Here they still produced weapons. However, the emphasis shifted towards civilian products. The place of anti-tank on the machines was taken by hunting rifles and carbines. Since 1949, IMZ has become the All-Union leader in the production of weapons and equipment for hunting. The first-born were the "double-barreled shotgun" Izh-49 and the "single-barrel" design of Kazan (ZK).
In the same (1949) at the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant "Baikal" began to develop a new model of a pistol design Makarov. After a number of improvements, he went into series in 1953, becoming one of the most massive in history.
Do not forget about the athletes at the enterprise. Since 1948, sports pistols for bullet shooting have been produced here. Initially, the base was the design of Margolin. In 1978, the production of the standard Izh-35 model began, which in 1986 was replaced by a modified modification of the Izh-35M. By the way, this model is still used by many domestic shooters-athletes.
On the cutting edge of progress
The 50s were marked by a technological breakthrough in many areas of military science. The technique became more advanced and complex. Developed jet aircraft, rocket science, detection and communication systems. In service with the soldiers appeared individual means for the destruction of armored vehicles.
In 1958, the Baikal enterprise (Izhevsk Mechanical Plant) was given the task of developing high-tech products in addition to small arms. Especially the army needed a large amount of ammunition for ATGMs. In a short time, the factory workers launched the production of aviation and anti-tank missiles, guided missiles, gyroscopic control systems, and various military equipment. Thus, production has reached a new, high-tech level of development. The merits of the team did not go unnoticed. For labor achievements in strengthening the country's defense capability, the plant was awarded the Honorary Order of Lenin (1966).
Civilian products
Being a large diversified enterprise, the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant "Baikal" produced (and manufactures) various products for the civilian industry. In the 1950s and 1960s, spare parts for motorcycle equipment (including engines) and automobiles, pneumatic equipment for ore-mining enterprises were manufactured here, sophisticated precision casting technologies (mainly from steel) were mastered. In the 70-80s, the range expanded due to various electrical equipment and consumer goods.
With the beginning of Perestroika, a conversion program was launched at the plant, when part of the military output is replaced by civilian products. In the 90s, manufacturing of power tools was established. FSUE Izhevsk Mechanical Plant, among other things, is known as a developer and manufacturer of sophisticated medical equipment, occupying a leading position in the medical equipment market.
Today the factory produces:
- Pacemakers of the Baikal series.
- Programmers PROGREX.
- Electrodes are medical.
- Hand-held electric tools (from drills and jigsaws to grinders and electric saws).
- Packaging machines.
- Microelectronics based on semiconductor, thin and thick film technologies.
- Geophysical, ore-mine, oil and gas equipment.
- Car compressors.
Today
After rebranding, IMZ small arms began to be produced under the Baikal brand. Thanks to the efforts of marketers and the high quality of products, this name is known all over the world. The products of the Izhevsk Mechanical Plant Baikal comply with domestic and international standards. The annual volume of civilian weapons alone is about 750,000 items. In its workshops, design, manufacture of spare parts and assembly are carried out:
- Smoothbore guns of the MP series.
- Combined tipping guns (Express, Taiga, North, etc.).
- Rifled non-automatic rifles of the MP and OP-SKR series.
- Revolvers (MP-412).
- Self-loading pistols (Yarygin, PSM, Makarov).
- Pistols for sports shooting of MP and MTsM series.
- Service, traumatic, gas pistols.
- Airguns.
The Izhevsk Mechanical Plant "Baikal" without any stretch is one of the flagships of Russian engineering and a key defense enterprise. In addition to small arms, they create and produce high-precision automatic and guided ammunition. In 2017, large-scale programs to modernize a number of industries were approved, the priority of which are the weapons and foundry. It is planned to create a full-fledged woodworking plant. IMZ is part of the Kalashnikov state concern.