FŁT-Kraśnik SA - rolling bearings factory
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A Joint Stock Company, which belongs to the Treasury, with its premises located in Kraśnik, 50 km south-west of Lublin, near the eastern border of EU (European Union). The main products of the FŁT - Kraśnik are bearings and their components (products and semi - finished products after forging and pressing). Moreover, FŁT - Kraśnik manufactures grinding spindles, bearing repair kits, equipment, various tools and machines, devices, machine tools components along with the design's documentation.
[edit] History
Rolling Bearings Factory FŁT - Kraśnik S.A. was founded in 1938 as a Munition Factory number 2, as part of the Central Industrial District. Construction site was situated between the city of Kraśnik and Urzędów, in a forest, covering the area of more than 676 ha. Along with the construction of the factory, the crew was being recruited and the living area for 6 thousand people started to grow. The settlement was named as Dąbrowa Bór. At the point when war started, there were 39 living and 6 social- utility (among others: school, hospital, cinema) buildings completed.
Factory's production profile had covered the production of artillery munition (caliber 37 - 155 mm) and only the production of igniters was added before the war started.
Technical crew and qualified workshop workers were relocated from the factories in Radom, Skarżysko and Warsaw, while laborers were sourced from the local youth taken under training process.
The first general manager of Munitions Factory number 2 was P.Eng. Gutkowski, technical director - P.Eng. Gokieli.
Destructive effects of war:
After the 2nd world war began, construction work in the factory and the settlement area was terminated. On the 2nd of September, German air force damaged the rail ways along with some production workshops. The occupation of Dąbrowa Bór began on the 15th of September 1939 - the factory was taken over by German military forces. Polish crew managed to evacuate 4 batches of machines and devices in direction of Krzemieniec, before Germans arrived.
During the occupation, the most valuable equipment was taken to Germany. Everything what remained was gathered in one workshop and used as equipment for maintenance department for military vehicles. It also used to produce machine parts for Heinkel aircraft. Couple of the halls served as a storage area for contingent crop and food. Part of the factory's and settlement's surface was used as a concentration camp. The liberation of Dąbrowa Bór took place on the 27th of July 1944.
First bearings from Poland
The 15th of September 1948 is a date of Polish bearing industry's birth. As a result of the great process of industrialization of the country, by the decision of the Central authorities Metal Products Factory Kraśnik was brought to life on grounds of the factory of Central Industrial District. It was a first bearings' production facility in the history of Poland. At the same time the city was being built to provide living space for coming employees and their families. 5 years later the city was named as Kraśnik Fabryczny. On the 1st of May 1949 first batch (1000 pcs.) of 6204 was manufactured. Since then the production of rolling bearings has been constantly growing. The demand for bearings on the domestic market and opportunity to sell them abroad were in favour of building the bearing industry in Poland.
[edit] Significant events
In 1977-81 the aim of the FŁT - Kraśnik was to build Central Balls Department. 16 member crew took a journey do the Japanese Company AKS, Osaka to conduct the research and training activities. The knowledge which was gained there, was used to launch the production of balls.
2nd of January 1985 - the beginning of further administrative-organizational evolution in FŁT, which was converted to Joint Stock company from the State Company. The exclusion of single companies from the hole enterprise resulted in increasing efficiency and more effective management. Constant modernization of the stock of machines and improving the work organization gave a significant increase in effectiveness and productivity. At this moment 2700 person crew of FŁT - Kraśnik S.A. is able to manufacture the same number of bearings as 8500 persons did in the 80's.
FŁT - Kraśnik S.A. has obtained world-known customers and managed to increase the number of bearings delivered for the OEM and Tier 1 production. Products from Kraśnik have found the recipients in almost every European country, in North & South America, Asia and Africa. It was possible by introducing Quality Management System in accordance with ISO/TS and constant increase in product's quality.
12th of August 2002 - FŁT - Kraśnik S.A. sells a new-founded sub company - Rolling Elements Workshop - Kraśnik Sp. Z o.o. (which is responsible for production of rolling elements and needle bearings) to a Japanese-American company - Tsubaki-Hoover.
8th of December 2005 - FŁT - Kraśnik S.A. sells its Thermal - Electric Plant (responsible for generation of heat and electricity for the factory and the city) to Praterm Company.
In 2005 FŁT - Kraśnik introduces integrated Management System which include:
- quality system (ISO/TS 16949 and ISO 9001 certificates) - environmental management system (ISO 14001 certificate) - industrial health and safety management system (OHSAS 18001, PN-N 18001 certificates).
