History of the Company
The tradition of Metal Products Factory in Osowiec is over two hundred years old, which makes it one of the oldest industrial plants in Poland. The beginnings of the plant fall to the last two years of Frederic II, king of Prussia’s reign. The plants operating in metal and metallurgical industry were necessary for Prussia for both military purposes, mainly for the production of weapon and ammunition and for gaining independence in the production of various metal products and industrial tools in order to become independent from costly import.
Since the beginning, tools and metal products were the core of the Factory’s production:
agricultural tools, metal products and tools for the industry as well as other metal products.
In 1860s the Factory had been owned by Wrocław-based company Minerwa, which in 1871 was transformed into Oberschlesische Eisenbahn-Bedarfs AG corporation. From 1908 the Factory in Osowiec was owned by a powerful corporation founded in 1898 by the Caros and Hegenscheidts families. It was a joint stock company seated in Gliwice. The change was very beneficial for the plant, as it cooperatively connected it to the heavy industry of Upper Silesia.
The Factory sold a part of steel to other plants, and processed another part into metal products i.e. tools for agriculture, metal products for industry and other metal goods. The assortment of produced forged elements included e.g. shovels, spades, shares, scythes, hoes, mattocks, forks, sickles, hammers, picks, rakes, saws, axes, hatchets, trowels, railway accessories, coal scoops. The products were directed to the Silesian market as well as to Berlin, Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg, to Hungary, Austria and Czechia.
In 1926 a powerful corporation named Vereinigte Oberschlesische Huettenwerke AG was established. Since then till 1944 the factory in Osowiec constituted its part as one of specialized processing plants. Since mid-1944 the Factory was excluded from Oberhuetten corporation and transformed into an independent limited partnership.
After finishing warfare, Metal Products and Industrial Tools Plant was taken over by the Polish authorities in two stages: first, on 1 August 1945 the power plant located in the Factory was taken over. The Factory itself was taken over on 1-3 November 1945. The works on organizing the reconstruction of the Factory were carried out by a team led by Ludwik Ponz M. Sc. Eng and Mr. Mayer M.Sc. In fact, the factory buildings were not damaged during the warfare, but machines and appliances had been taken away and were lacking. As soon as in January 1946 the production of forks was launched, already in the first month reaching the amount of 5 tons of products. The production assortment was soon expanded with axes, picks and shovels. In 1947-1948 the employment in the factory amounted to over 400 people. Next to forks, axes, picks and shovels, the Factory produced hammers, hoes, rakes, choppers, scrapers, ice cutters as well as iron heaters and for scythe peening, which were in demand at the time.
In 1950-1955 the machinery was modernized. The factory became an important supplier of tools for agriculture as well as materials for construction industry and mining. In 1957 the Factory started the production of a new assortment of balls for ball-and-race mills. At the time, the employment amounted to 650 people. The Factory succeeded in export production. In 1961 the products were being sent to 20 countries. These were mainly such goods as shovels, spades, pickaxes, hammers, axes and hatchets. In 1967 the extension of power supply appliances was started.
In 1970s the following machines and appliances were bought: shears for charge cutting shop, steam-air forging hammers for A Forge, spindle press with the 160t thrust for B Forge. The replacement of coal furnaces with liquid fuel furnaces was finished, a fettling machine with dust extractor was fitted in A Forge and a facility for compressor station with compressed air system was build. Besides, a part of machinery was replaced.
Till 1975 Metal Products and Industrial Goods Factory belonged to Zjednoczenie Przemysłu Wyrobów Metalowych (Metal Products Industry Union). Then it was transferred to Kombinat Narzędzi Gospodarczych (Industrial Tools Group) with the seat in Sułkowice near Krakow. In 1982 the Industrial Tools Group was dissolved and the plants which had been incorporated became independent.
In 1987 the first modern CNC processor was set in motion in the Factory – an electro erosive wire cutting machine for the tool room and three years later a tool room milling machine was purchased.
In 1991, with the decision of the Province Head of the Opolskie Province, the ownership of the Factory was transferred to the Commune of Turawa. In the following year, the Factory was transformed into a commercial company, in which the Commune of Turawa possessed 100% share. In 1992-1994 a failed attempt of privatization by a foreign entity was carried out. After that, the Commune of Turawa again became 100% shareholder in the Factory.
In 2000 the Factory acquired an induction furnace for charge heating, a powder paint shop and - for the cost of approx. 400,000 PLN - a modern TRAFO station. Besides, used piston compressors were replaced with Keaser screw compressors.
In 2002 a decision was made to start the privatization of the Factory, and the main shareholder of the Factory became FASING S.A. Capital Group. Due to unprofitability, the production of industrial tools was ceased and at the same time a new forging bay was launched, expanding the assortment of drop forgings to 25 kilos. In the same year the Factory was granted ISO 9001:2001 Quality Management System certificate by TÜV Nord Poland.
In 2004 the Factory ceased the production of decorative elements, focusing on drop forgings manufacture.
In 2005 – 2008 new machines were purchased e.g. a shot-blasting machine, a knuckle joint press, two induction furnaces, two CNC milling centres, a screw compressor as well as new CAD/CAM software.