The plant is one of the iconic industries of the Russian military-industrial complex working for the country's defense. The official name is Ulyanovsk Cartridge Plant Open Joint Stock Company. The main specialization is the manufacture of ammunition for various types of weapons with rifled barrels.
History reference
In the spring of 1916, the Minister of War of Russia adopted a resolution on laying the 3rd cartridge plant in the city of Simbirsk (the future Ulyanovsk cartridge plant). In the summer of 1917, the company released the first ammunition.
However, due to revolutionary upheaval, its full introduction into operation lasted until 1918. But still, the plant became the largest enterprise in the Simbirsk province.
With the outbreak of the Civil War, it became the most important plant for the Red Army. Every third cartridge made in the Soviet Republic was produced at the Simbirsk factory.
In November 1922, responding to the wishes of the proletariat of Petrograd, the plant was named after Volodarsky.
With the onset of industrialization of the USSR, in addition to the manufacture of cartridges, the plant began to produce roller bearings for agricultural machinery and machine tools.
Years of war
In 1941, with the outbreak of war, the plant stood on the rails of intensive production of cartridges for the needs of the Soviet Army. In 1943, the volume of production, compared with 1940, increased five times. The main products were ammunition for a variety of small arms, among which: Tokarev and Shpagin pistols, Sudarev, Degtyarev: DShK heavy machine guns.
For work for the front, for the development of the latest ammunition, in 1942 the enterprise was awarded an award, the Order of the Red Banner of Labor was awarded. The Stalin Prize winners - L. Koshkin, A. Zvyagin, I. Kuzmichev, made a great contribution to the success of the enterprise.
So Lev Koshkin created unique machines that can perform several operations at the same time, increasing productivity many times over. Alexander Zvyagin and Ivan Kuzmichev developed and implemented advanced technological processes in the manufacture of metal sleeves.
Andrei Sakharov, who worked at the plant during this period, developed a device for establishing the degree of core hardening, which brought significant economic advantages in the production of large-caliber cartridges.
Post war history
After the war, the Ural Cartridge Plant began to produce the necessary civilian devices for the country. So began the manufacture of machine tools - high-precision metalworking, electric motors, hoists.
The plant was among the first in the USSR to launch the production of electronic computers, namely, BESM-4M computers.
Introducing the production of the military-industrial complex, the Ulyanovsk cartridge plant, applying experience in the development of electronic computer technology, mastered the production of complex operational-tactical control systems. Thanks to its own design bureau, the plant was effectively engaged in the development and testing of new types of cartridges. For the first time in practice, automated rotor cartridge production lines have been developed and successfully put into production.
In the winter of 1982, the plant was awarded the Order of the October Revolution for high performance in the implementation of plans.
At the end of the 80s, military products began to be produced in minimal volumes. At the same time, the release of ammunition for sports and hunting purposes increased.
Since 1995, the Ulyanovsk Cartridge Plant has been participating in exhibitions, including foreign ones.
Transformation History
The plant was reorganized in 1998 at the Volgarsky Ulyanovsk Machine-Building Plant. In autumn 2002, the bankruptcy process began. At its completion, in 2004, the Ulyanovsk Cartridge Plant OJSC was formed. The main shareholder is OJSC Tula Cartridge Plant.
When the reorganization measures were completed, primarily related to technological and licensing processes, from the beginning of 2006, the plant again began to produce cartridges for rifled weapons.
Address of the Ulyanovsk Cartridge Plant: Ulyanovsk, ul. Drivers, house 1. Management of the enterprise: general director - A. A. Votyakov; the head of the military mission V. G. Vashurkin; Chairman of the Board of Directors - A. A. Soloviev.
Products
Currently, the company produces 17 types of military weapons rounds. It is the only plant in Russia that produces the entire line of large-caliber ammunition 14.5 mm. Ammunition for civilian weapons is also available, of which there are 20 varieties. It is one of the main suppliers of such cartridges to the market of Russia and abroad. The high level of production is confirmed by numerous diplomas of international specialized exhibitions.
The plant also produces high-precision lathes.
The plant constantly needs an influx of new personnel. The vacancies of the Ulyanovsk Cartridge Plant are posted on the enterprise’s website, city and regional employment services. It is noted that specialists at the plant need a variety.
From the content of the reviews about the plant, it follows that it is famous and popular in the region. Carries out work on training personnel for its industries. In its workshops, both students and students of secondary specialized institutions practice. The institute of mentoring is well developed.
Social sphere
From the moment the construction of the cartridge factory began, near the enterprise, the working village began to grow. Subsequently, it became the district of Ulyanovsk - Zavolzhsky. The first village council arose in 1920. The district itself was officially approved in January 1935, in whose composition the surrounding ones were included.
Since the winter of 1942, the Zavolzhsky district was transformed into Volodarsky, which was called so until 1958. At the same time, Ulyanovsk and the district were connected by a highway. In 1974, a trolleybus city route was launched.
Museum
The museum of the Ulyanovsk cartridge factory is free for visitors. By area, it takes up little space, only four halls. The first is dedicated to the products that the plant has produced in its history. Here you can see the models of machines and photos of the first Russian laptop.
In another room, materials are collected on the factory workers who went to the front.
In the museum, the installation of the room of a young factory family looks very moving.
The main exhibits are archival documents and materials of the factory newspaper.
A stand dedicated to academician Sakharov, who worked at the plant from 1942 to 1944, is noteworthy.
The museum has interesting information about the history of the construction of a six-meter monument symbolizing the cartridge on the factory floor.
Visitors will learn the story of A. Shorin, the creator of Soviet sound cinema, who worked from 1941, from the moment of evacuation, until his last days at the Ulyanovsk cartridge factory.
A very interesting exhibition dedicated to M. Limasov listed in the Guinness Book. He was the oldest working lathe on the planet. He worked at the enterprise for 80 years (from 1930 to 2013, until his death). He died when he was 103 years old.
The museum is open from 9.00 to 16.00, Monday is a day off.