JSC “Gidropress” history

The plant dates back to 1946, the first year after the war, when there was an urgent need for machine building development. Manufacturing press forging equipment turned into self developing branch. Old press manufacturing enterprises were reconstructed, new were built. Upon decision of government delegation land  plot was found for constructing the plant. It was necessary to construct  main building with machine workshops and assembly department, foundry department with capacity 2800 t of cast iron, 3860 t of steel casting and 50 t of bronze casting. It was necessary to construct forge – blank production shop producing  2000 t of forged pieces and woodshop. Besides, it was planned to build administrative buildings, boiler house, garage, canteen, community facilities.
The first hydraulic press for plastic recycling ПА -474 was confirmed by state commission 23 September 1953. This day is considered to be the starting point of the plant.  The second half of October 1954  was marked by putting in commission forge – blank production shop and moulding department of casting shops. Two houses for workers and two shops, a kindergarten placing  125 children were built in 1954. Production of cast iron  started 29 April 1955.
National industry was developing rapidly at that time, press forging equipment was in demand. It was necessary to produce more machines and to widen their assortment. So new press models were produced at the plant, including  special purpose presses.
In general there are three principal directions in press design:
Principal direction of series production is manufacturing presses for plastic.
The next direction – manufacturing gap presses with power capacity 4-250 t. for repairs and assembly works. The third direction is plate stamping press design. Products are designated to make details from metal list using method of deep drawing. Force of this equipment may be 1200. There are no enterprises in Russia manufacturing presses of such class.  Besides series production many special machines were developed by designers. Presses of later modification are units of automatic and semiautomatic action with wide range of products. They can work on their own and compose  large automatic lines. Technological department was opened. Its duties were to prepare  documents for mechanical processing of details, also foundry, forgings, thermal process. Provision of tools, projecting of tools was the function of this department.
Some of the developed projects
* installation of press housing counterbore  for plastic on set of machines during one installation process
* drilling process design and implementation of piloting press at 24 -spindle lathe
*  П 63 gag press housing final milling and housing of presses for plastic
* swirling cutting of buttress thread of cylinder press
* implementing of normalized parts processing on automated machines
New workshops  were constructed, such as assembly workshops, principal department. They were set in operation in 1963.
In the end of 70 –ies, beginning of 80 – ies workshops continued being reconstructed, their technical reequipment went on. 26 units of metal cutting equipment was bought, including the unique one  – auto lathe.
 Committee  of state property management of Orenburg region registered joint stock company “Gidropress” by decision #360 of 31.05.1993. Administration of Promyshlenny rayon of Orenburg registered  joint stock company “Gidropress” by decision #389 of 12.07.1993. Articles of incorporation were adopted on the grounds of protocol #3 of 17.05.1996.
 The nineties of the previous century were hard for the enterprise since arms cutback resulted in diminishing military orders. But the enterprise survived having kept leading position in press manufacturing.