March to the International Market02/01/2007 |
| Ural Optical & Mechanical Plant |
| For more than a century the Ural Optical & Mechanical Plant has occupied a leading position within the Russian survey instrument manufacturing industry. The company produces new survey instruments, improves technologies and continually raises the quality of its products. |
| By Larisa Prilepo, Ural Optical & Mechanical Plant, Russia |
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The history of the company dates back to the middle of the nineteenth century when Fyodor Schwabe established an optical instrument manufacturing works in Moscow. From its inception the firm called Schwabe could deliver almost all then known optical and survey instruments, including telescopes, microscopes and some types of level and range finder. The range of telescopes varied from elementary up to complex astronomical instruments.
Beyond the Border Today the Ural Optical & Mechanical Plant represents a group of companies based in Yekaterinburg, Russia, and is the leading manufacturer of optomechanical, optronic and survey instruments in Russia. We have our own centres for the development of instruments, for manufacturing them and for providing after-sales services; and we have agencies in several countries around the world, so that our market is certainly not limited to Russia. We export our products to over thirty countries and our partners are based on nearly all continents: Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa. Our survey instruments are produced in more than fifteen models, classed according to accuracy and each dedicated to specific types of application. An incomplete list of our survey products would include optical and electronic theodolites, laser range finders, laser levels and levelling instruments and electronic total stations.
Total Stations Parallel with the development and manufacturing of ‘classical’ optomechanical instruments we also develop modern electronic instruments. Since 1986 we have been producing electronic total stations and these have since undergone continual improvement. The development of the total station 3Ta5 is based on the experience of our own designers and on achievements by other leading companies. Over time the design has changed significantly, leading to improved reliability, automation level and applications. Development of its successor, the 4Ta5, was based on experience gained during production of the 3Ta5, while we also listened carefully to our customers. We are currently preparing production of next-generation accuracy instruments essential for use at road and building construction sites, required by municipalities and in demand by foreign experts.
Quality We have introduced IT technologies widely throughout our development, manufacturing and management processes. The project on creation of an integrated information-management system resulted, among other things, in a corporate data network linking our headquarters to its 22 branches. With this we became one of the first enterprises within the Russian defence and industrial field to introduce such information technologies. Our current business strategy focuses on the concentration of resources in well-defined directions. This allows us to be steady and at the same time react promptly to changes in the economic situation. Since in today’s competitive market quality is by far the most distinguishing factor, it is important to comply with international-standard requirements. Our quality-management system is certified to ISO 9001:2000 and includes planning, development, production and after-sales service of survey instruments. This means our quality has been recognised to be of international standard. We also received a Russian Federation Government award in 2004 for the quality of our products and services together with our highly effective methods of quality management. u |

