JSC “VBF” history
«… After completion of its construction the enterprise in Vologda will be the third by its scale among similar factories in USSR. Among the specialized factories producing ball bearings there won't be an equal to it in Europe».
(Newspaper “Pravda” of January 2, 1971)
On February 4, 1967 the USSR Council of Ministers passed the Resolution ¹102 on construction of the 23rd State Bearing Factory in Vologda for the purpose to supply components to Volzhsky Automobile Factory. This date should be considered the first milestone in the history of the future enterprise.
On February 21, 1967 was established the Directorate of GPZ-23 under construction. Fyodor Jakovlevich Fedulov was appointed Director of the future factory.
In April, 1967 the engineering technical school was opened. It still trains personnel for the factory.
On August 5, 1967 excavator took out the first bucket of ground at the site of the future GPZ-23. The construction started. A meeting dedicated to it took place.
In 1968 were established and manned the capital construction department under direction of the deputy director A.G.Trepakov, service of mechanics and power engineering (Headed by I.I.Zhavoronok), engineering office and designers’ office under direction of V.F.Nikeryasov. The workers were sent to the related enterprises for training. Manufacturing facilities, one by one, were going into operation, and the first was the shop of non-standard equipment. At the same time there was construction of a residential area (micro district), and soon the first new settlers – builders of the factory- moved into new houses.
1968-69. A number of construction departments and services, directorate of GPZ under construction, and canteen were placed in the administrative building of the factory. Repair shops started their operation. The railway track was laid to the factory.
In October 1969 was opened the factory educational facility – vocational training school ¹28. In its workshops in January 1970 was set up a field training shop. The first workers of the factory – 136 people – graduated from the vocational training school in 1971. By this time the builders and mounters of the factory had come into the final stage of works. The first group of facilities for launching at the end of the year was defined.
In October 1970 the boiler-plant started to work, and then water and electric power were delivered to the construction site. On November 25, 1970 the equipment installation process started at the second grinding shop of Northern Zone of the main building. In December 1970 the first group of facilities of the first phase was launched and bearing production began.
On January 1, 1971was signed the Order of the Ministry of the Automotive Industry about commissioning GPZ-23’s first phase in Vologda.
January 26, 1971 –official date of the first Vologda bearing output. This day is considered a starting point for products known nowadays under the trademark VBF.
Since February 1971 Vologda GPZ started regular deliveries to the car factory in Togliatti. In September 1971 was produced the first million of bearings. The factory increased production output and assortment, improving quality of bearings.
Already in 1975 13 types of GPZ-23 bearings were awarded the State Mark of Quality; 18 standard types of bearings passed the factory certification.
On March 12, 1981 the State Bearing Factory ¹23 received the first award – the Red Banner of Labor - for great production achievements in performance of the Tenth five-year period plan, for mastering and output of innovative designs of bearings for national economy.
December 26, 1993 – opening of the Bearing Factory’s Palace of Culture. In 1994 a swimming pool «Blue Lagoon» was solemnly opened in the residential area of the Bearing Factory. At that time the first competitions were held there.
In 1994 the factory management made a decision regarding introduction of a quality system at JSC «Vologda Bearing factory». In 1995an international quality management system was introduced at the factory. The system has been developing and improving all the following years.
THE FACTORY EXECUTIVES
February 21, 1967 - was established the Directorate of GPZ-23 under construction. Fyodor Yakovlevich Fedulov was appointed Director of the future factory.
January 1, 1982 - Konstantin Dmitrievich Mavromati was appointed Director of GPZ -23.
April 14, 1983 - Victor Ivanovich Sapozhnikov was appointed Director of GPZ -23.
June 10, 1996 – Alexandr Lvovich Melnikov was elected a Director of Joint Stock Company “Vologda Bearing Factory”.
August 18, 2005 – Alexei Alexandrovich Melnikov was elected a Director of JSC “VBF”.
Every year new types of products are being mastered, sales markets are being extended, equipment is being improved, and social issues are being solved. This allows JSC "VBF" to plan high rates of the further development and to keep position of the industry leader by all criteria.