Votkinsk Machine Building Plant
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| Industry | Defense |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1759 |
| Headquarters | Votkinsk, Russia |
| Parent | Moscow Institute of Thermal Technology |
| Website | vzavod |
Votkinsk Machine Building Plant (Russian: Воткинский завод) is a machine and ballistic missile production enterprise based in Votkinsk, Russia. Its production includes the RS-24 Yars intercontinental ballistic missile, Russia's most recent ICBM development, as well as the submarine-launched Bulava SLBM.
Incorporated as a Federal State Unitary Enterprise until 2010, it is now an .
The company has two separate facilities: a final assembly plant located some 12 kilometers outside of Votkinsk where missiles are assembled, and the main plant, located in downtown Votkinsk, where missile components as well as civil and consumer goods are produced.
Construction of the plant was caused by the depletion of forests near then existing mining enterprises in the Urals (mid-18th century). Fetching of firewood from afar increased the cost of iron industry. This situation could be resolved by the displacement of ore processing to those areas, where forests remained untouched. For the same reason, another plant was built in this region (Izhevsk ironworks) between 1760 and 1763.
The area was chosen for construction of Votkinsk ironworks owing to its vicinity to the major waterway (the Kama River that flows 15-20 kilometers from the present-day city of Votkinsk). The following considerations have also played a role in the choice: the presence of forests, which were the main source of fuel in this industry then, as well as geographical proximity to mining companies. Between 1754 and 1763, totally 42 private factories were built, which belonged to the gentry of the Russian Empire (including Count P.I. Shuvalov, Count M.E. Vorontsov).
In 1763, after Shuvalov's death (1762), Votkinsk and Izhevsk ironworks passed over to the State for repayment of Shuvalovs' debts, and have been state enterprises ever since.
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