JSC "Lytkarinsky Optical Glass Plant": history, description, products

JSC "Lytkarinsky Optical Glass Plant" is a leading Russian manufacturer of glass fiber products, optical glasses, satellite lenses, astronomical mirrors, various optical instruments. He is part of the Schwabe holding company. Over 78 years of development, production has reached the world level and enjoys well-deserved respect.

Description

Lytkarinsky Optical Glass Plant (INN 5026000300) carries out development, production, and subsequent realization:

• Glass ceramics;
• Optical, technical glasses;
• Optical fiber and products based on it;
• Devices of optical (mechanical, electronic);
• Production and technical products;
• Special purpose products.

Creature

The construction of the Lytkarinsky Optical Glass Plant began on 01.10.1933. The primary goal of the enterprise was the production of mirror reflectors of one-and-a-half meter diameter, used in projector installations. The first zenith reflectors for searchlights were manufactured in 1939.

In the USSR there were no similar technologies. Factory engineers had to develop a technical process from scratch. First, heat-resistant glass of high transparency was smelted in pot furnaces. Then, from it, billets were made, which were given a parabolic shape according to the given parameters. At the final stage, the surface was covered with a reflective coating.

Labor feat

With the outbreak of the war, the Lytkarinsky Optical Glass Plant was evacuated. However, in early 1942, the production of reflectors was partially restored at its site. In addition, the factory workers have arranged the production of observation instruments for armored vehicles and armored glass for domestic aircraft of the La-6, Yak-1, Il-2 series.

Postwar years

Since 1946, the specialization of the enterprise has changed. At LZOS began to produce products made of high-transparent glass, as well as glazing of the cabins of high-altitude aircraft. In the early 50's the production expanded due to viewing prisms for army equipment, binoculars, microscopes, photographic lenses, light filters and other civil, scientific and military products.

A new era of the Lytkarinsky Optical Glass Plant began. Director Vitaly Shestakov, appointed in 1954 personally by Ustinov, was able not only to increase the production of existing products, but also significantly expand the manufactured range. For 30 years of work, he brought the company to the category of world leaders in the field of optical instruments. Thanks to its influence, labor productivity doubled every five-year period. The city of Lytkarino, by its development, owes much to this talented leader.

On the edge of progress

The beginning of the sixties was marked by an important scientific breakthrough: the Lytkarinsky Optical Glass Plant was commissioned by the Council of Ministers to make a complex mirror blank with a diameter of 6 m. It was to be mounted on a BTA telescope. For these purposes, it was necessary, together with GOI (State Optical Institute), to develop a technology for the production of innovative material - sitalla. It has unique characteristics, in particular, the coefficient of linear expansion of it is zero. Since 1964, LZOP has been producing fiber-optic elements.

At the end of the 1960s, the demand for optical-mechanical structures in optical glass of high quality increased sharply. This was facilitated by the intensive development of the space industry, the improvement of military equipment, surveillance and control facilities. On 30.03.1970 the "Rubin" software was created, the main enterprise of which is LZOS. The newly-formed production association was instructed to speed up scientific research and to increase the production of optical glasses for various purposes. Subsequent years, "Rubin" PA built branches in the RSFSR (Belozersk), Ukrainian SSR (Feodosiya), BSSR (Lida).

Today's Day

07.06.94 the enterprise was transformed into JSC "Lytkarinsky Optical Glass Plant". Since 2011 it has become the main platform of the Competence Center for the development, production and processing of optical materials. After the collapse of the USSR, some of the deposits with raw materials required for smelting high-quality glass were found in neighboring countries. However, the plant managed to restore the old ties, part of the minerals is purchased in the far abroad.

Technological capacities of the plant allow producing all existing brands of optical glasses used in the domestic industry. No enterprise of the Russian Federation has such capabilities. For example, a six-meter mirror was produced here for the largest European telescope in the Zelenchuk Observatory. LZOS deservedly is one of the largest European manufacturers of optics.

Production

Lytkarinsky Optical Glass Plant is equipped with the latest automated equipment. Electronic computers are actively used. The collective numbers about 2000 workers. LZOS produces civilian products for scientific institutions, the Ministry of Defense, search and rescue, and security forces. Within its walls production is carried out:

• Optical fiber, optical glass;
• Mirrors used in foreign and domestic telescopes;
• Lenses for satellites, space vehicles;
• Binoculars, photographic lenses;
• Children's toys;
• Large-sized optics;
• Medical equipment.

Long-term experience and cooperation with scientific institutes allowed the production of optical colorless and colored glasses of 250 marks. A special place is occupied by science-intensive technologies for manufacturing specialized optics:

• Glass ceramic ceramic materials used in space observation satellites, telescopes, gyroscopes.
• Chalcogenide or anoxic glass.
• Laser glasses on a phosphate or silicate basis, necessary for quantum generators.
• Twister used in the sights and PNV.
• Flexible fiber harnesses, found use in endoscopes.

Products of JSC "Lytkarinsky Optical Glass Plant"

In addition to the above components, LZOS has mastered the production of finished serial products:

• Prism instruments with periscopic properties in the range 115-350 mm;
• Precise electric heated safety glasses;
• Prisms with sighting of the object;
• NK filters for television equipment, spotlights;
• Survey instruments;
• Night glasses for driving motor vehicles, helicopter pilots, scouts, security, repair, search services;
• Tank PNV;
• Devices operating under increased radiation;
• Binoculars of the night.

In total, more than 60 types of observational devices.

Technological process

In the scientific and technical complexes of LZOS, new types of glass, components and finished products are developed on their basis. At the enterprise there are 3 specialized manufactures: large-format optics, optical materials and devices.

LZOS possesses technologies and appropriate equipment for the complete assembly cycle of optical instruments. Specialists of the enterprise carry out:

• Glass melting with high optical indexes;
• Produce fiber-optic elements and blanks;
• Spray functional and protective coatings on the optics;
• Alloys are cast on the basis of brass, magnesium, aluminum;
• Collect ready instruments;
• Produce lenses of large sizes;
• Stamp rubber-technical, plastic products;
• Process metal and wood;
• Conduct electrical work.

The production is equipped with advanced testing equipment. Pride is the largest on the continent 78-meter vacuum test chamber.