Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant (NEVZ) is one of the leading manufacturers of trunk and industrial electric locomotives in the world. According to statistics, about 80% of all passenger and freight traffic in the Russian Federation and in the former Soviet Union is carried out by locomotives manufactured in Novocherkassk, Rostov Region. The company is part of Transmashholding.
Start
The history of the Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant belongs to the period of industrialization of the USSR. In February 1932, the government approved a schedule for the construction of a steam locomotive enterprise ten kilometers from the city of Novocherkassk, near the village of Yanovo. The plant was completed in 1936 and included a production and model workshop, a foundry and a forge, an administration building and outbuildings.
As early as May 1, 1936, the first steam locomotives left the workshop. It was a series of three narrow-gauge industrial locomotives of the 159 series with a 0-4-0 wheelbase. Until 1937, factory workers produced 70 units of this type. Soon, the design department began to develop a tank engine with a triple coupling device of the 9P series for peat mining. During the German occupation, the factory in Novocherkassk was completely destroyed.
Post-war period
In 1943, after the liberation of the city, the reconstruction of production facilities began. By a decision of the Soviet government of November 6, 1946, the enterprise was transferred to the Ministry of Electrical Engineering. A new task for the Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant was the production of electric trains for the USSR and the countries of the Eastern block.
Initially, production of six-axis DC locomotives of the VL22m series was launched with the support of the Dynamo Moscow Plant and the Kolomensky Plant. The first electric locomotive was delivered to the customer on March 7, 1947. However, this model was outdated and no longer met the requirements of an ever-growing cargo flow. A new, more powerful VL8 series was developed: eight-axis, with a twin-engine power plant. The product went into a series in 1956.
Further development
In addition to the current production of DC locomotives, the Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant began developing AC electric locomotives in the 1950s. The first was the six-axis model of the class BUT (VL61). In addition to rolling stock for the main lines, several hundred industrial locomotives were also manufactured.
On the basis of the design bureau of the plant in 1958, the creation of the scientific and experimental design institute of VELNII for the design of electric locomotives followed. From that moment, the institute was responsible for the development of promising models and the creation of project documentation.
Subsequent years, production has developed dynamically. In 1992, the company was transformed into OJSC Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant. Over the past period, serial production of various locomotives has been mastered: from contact mine KN10 with a capacity of 40 kW to main freight with a capacity of 10,000 kW. In total, about 16,000 locomotives of 40 types left the production lines, including 417 traction industrial units OPE1 (manufactured since 1969).
The technical policy of the enterprise is aimed at diversification of production for the creation of both new generation locomotives and the provision of services for the repair and modernization of previously released products.
Main products
Today at Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant (TIN 6150040250) the following passenger rolling stock is manufactured:
- EP1 (M / P) - AC electric locomotive with a support-frame drive of class 2, a microprocessor control system and safety of traction rolling stock;
- EP10 - a dual-power electric locomotive with an asynchronous traction drive was developed and manufactured jointly with the Swiss company ADtranz.
In addition to passenger, the NEVZ nomenclature is represented by freight locomotives of the ES and E5K series.
Additional activities
The company manufactures import-substituting products (equipment kits for models ED4M, ET2M and others) by order of Demikhovsky and Torzhoksky car factories instead of products previously manufactured in Riga. Since 1994, overhaul of electric trains of the ER9 type has been carried out.
The company supplies railways and repair plants with spare parts for previously produced rolling stocks of all series. Mining equipment is being manufactured.
Common consumption goods
Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant is known not only for its main products - electric locomotives - but also for a wide range of consumer goods :
- washing machines "Rosinka";
- electric irons of the UT, UTM, UTP series;
- electric fan heaters “Luch”;
- electric vibrating pumps household "Kid";
- plastic products.
On the cutting edge of progress
NEVZ conducts research work together with VELNII and actively cooperates with enterprises of other countries. The plant's products successfully compete with foreign counterparts. Great hopes are laid on the ongoing reconstruction and technical re-equipment of the plant, which are based on progressive technical solutions that ensure flow-based forms of organization of production. During this period, the entire system of production management methods was improved with the widespread use of the latest technical means.
After measures for technical re-equipment, the plant has high-performance latest equipment, advanced technology, innovative insulating and electrical materials. Many years of experience in designing, our own experimental base, modern machine park and proven production technology will allow the plant to develop and manufacture high-level electric locomotives that meet modern market requirements.
Novocherkassk Electric Locomotive Plant: reviews
According to employees, NEVZ is an attractive place to work. Thanks to the assistance of Transmashholding, a lot of work was done to re-equip production capacities, due to which the working conditions improved significantly. The administration regularly indexes salaries, and incentive measures have been developed for initiative workers. Health and sports are also given attention. Among the shortcomings are incomplete capacity utilization. For this reason, in 2015, staff reductions were carried out.