YEKATERINBURG. Feb 21 (Interfax-AVN) - The local Ural optics and mechanical plant (UOMZ) registered a 217 percent growth in manufacturing military-purpose products in 2001, an official of the UOMZ public relations department said on Thursday.
At the same time, the export volume of military-purpose products grew 237 percent, the official told Interfax-Military News Agency. He quoted Director General Eduard Yalamov as saying that "it is not a one-minute increase, it is a rather stable tendency towards the growth in orders."
UOMZ is working on the modernization of its famous products, such as the GOES gyrostabilized optic-electronic system, laser range-finder and Modul-AVIA infrared imager. Several prototypes have been put up for tests.
The plant is engaged in exhibition activity that has been a success lately. In 2001, UOMZ took part in 20 international arms shows, including Aero India in Bangalore, Paris Air Show in Le Bourget and MAKS-2001 in the Moscow region. This is done to maintain a stable level of orders for the plant's military- purpose products, the official said.
UOMZ spent USD10m on modernization of production facilities in 2001 as a result of an increase in the military-purpose output, the official went on. This year, the volume of investments into the retrofitting will grow to USD15m.
In addition to its own investments into the modernization program, the plant has secured support of sponsors, including the Bank Of Moscow and Bank of Foreign Economic Activity that have granted long-term credits to the enterprise.
Last year, UOMZ held general reconstruction of the show manufacturing military-purpose products. The layout was changed, all communications replaced and a new ventilation system installed. A hermetic zone was established at the laser range- finder assembly and adjustment section to maintain cleanliness and meet the ISO-9001 standard. Only people dressed in special clothes are allowed to enter the hermetic zone, which makes it impossible for dust and dirt to get into the section.
Besides, the enterprise purchased and installed new equipment in blanking shops last year.
The main modernization task for 2002 is to introduce cutting- edge technologies of projecting and production preparations in the central design bureau, chief technologist's service and the industrial facilities, the official stressed.