Vartsila Hardware Plant Inc.

    Viktor Gennadievitch Kamelin is the Director General of Vartsila Hardware Plant Inc. and a Deputy of the Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia. Viktor Kamelin was born on April 11, 1955 in Novokuznetsk City. In 1978 he graduated from Magnitogorsk Mining and Metallurgic Institute with the diploma of metallurgy engineer. Viktor Kamelin started his professional career at Magnitogorsk Calibration Plant as an operator of the sizing mill. Then he was a foreman, master, workshop superintendent, alternate sales manager. In 1988, he moved with his family to Karelia where he headed up Vartsila Metallurgic Plant. In October, 2002, Viktor Kamelin was elected a Deputy of the Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia. For the large contribution into the achievements of the Plant, long-term and conscientious input in the societal life he was awarded a Honourary Diploma of Russia’s Metallurgy Committee. For his services to the country and large contribution into the development of metallurgy and long-standing labour, Viktor Kamelin was awarded Medal of the Order “For Services to the Homeland”.

    Our Plant is 150 years old. Over one and a half-century of its history, the Plant changed the form of ownership many times from a private company to a joint-stock company and public company, and the state belonging. First it was located on the territory of Finland, which was part of the Russian Empire, then on the territory of independent Finland, afterwards in the Soviet Union, and now in the modern Russia.
    In the mid-19th century, metallurgy started to develop at the Plant. By the mid-20th century, the Plant practiced steel-smelting (open-hearth), rolling and hardware (wire, nails, wire netting) production.
    At the end of the 1960s, due to economic and ecological factors, it was decided to develop hardware manufacturing at Vartsila Plant. And in the 1990s, the maximum output of hardware was reached at Vartsila Plant – 72,800 tons, out of which 47,200 tons was wire, 19,200 – nails, and 2,500,000 m2 - wire netting.
    In the last decade, the Plant developed new products and broadened the range of traditional hardware items. The production of hot-galvanized nails (of square and tenon section according to Scandinavian standards) opened up, equipment for manufacturing Western standard nails was purchased (including nails with wide head DIN 1160 type А,В) was purchased, equipment for manufacturing polymer-covered wire was also purchased and the production of knitted netting of various colours used for decorative fencing was set up.
    The range of manufactured wire got wider. Equipment for producing plain bars was designed and installed, machinery for producing screws and welding dies was bought. The packaging of nails was drastically modified. Instead of wooden boxes estimated for 60 kg, nails are now packed in cardboard boxes estimated for 1 to 5 kg, 10 kg, and 20 kg. The boxes are placed on euro pallets and covered by shrinkable film.
    Before 1990, the Plant delivered its production to the domestic market only. As a result of changes made at the Plant, it got an opportunity to promote its products at the Western Baltic markets. Currently, the Plant’s production is delivered to the Baltic states, Scandinavia, Western countries, and the USA.
    The last decade was rather difficult for the Plant economically. The nation-wide economic crises made the Plant’s management apply various financial and organisational schemes targeted at survival of the Plant under conditions of strict competition among Russian hardware manufacturers.
    In the long run, the management of the Plant made a decision to find a strategic partner among large metallurgic companies for technology cooperation. In April 2002, the Plant became part of a large industrial and financial group covering the territory from Kuzbass to Karelia. The members of our group are such eminent companies as Chelyabinsk and Beloretsk Metallurgic Plants, “Juzhny Kuzbass” mining company from Kemerovo Region.
    In April 2002, a strategic partnership agreement was signed between the management of the holding and the Governor of the Republic of Karelia Sergei Katanandov. And today we can firmly say that Vartsila Hardware Plant is getting to its feet. The integration into the large holding group allows the Plant in 2002 to triple the amount of the output and sales, the financial activity of the Plant has been restored - all taxes and salary are paid, the number of jobs has increased. A new image of the Company as a reliable partner is being moulded.
    The plans for 2003 are to double the output in comparison with 2002. When summing up the results of the cooperation within the strategic partnership agreement, the Governor of Karelia Sergei Katanandov pointed out that it was important to us that the situation on the border with Finland stabilised not just at Vartsila Hardware Plant but in cross-border settlement of Vartsila in general where the Hardware Plant proposes jobs to most locals and is the largest industrial enterprise in Sortavala Municipality.
    The administration of Vartsila Plant takes active part in issues related with the social sector. One of the primary tasks of the Plant’s administration is rendering assistance to pensioners of the Plant. The pensioners annually get presents for New Year, Metallurgy Day, Day of the Elderly, and for jubilees. Every year in May, funds are allocated to celebrate the V-Day. Besides, by the International Day of the Disabled assistance is rendered to the Association of the Disabled and Association of the Blind. The Plant keeps links with the municipal and village kindergartens and schools. The Plant arranges sponsorship for children’s holidays and festivals, repairs of premises, and schooling. In summer 2002, the Plant helped to equip a new teachers’ room in Vartsila high school. Vartsila village hospital gets regular aid in the form of construction materials and household goods. In addition, help is given to the local frontier guard posts. On the eve of New Year the children of the Plant’s personnel get gifts. Vartsila Hardware Plant has its own ambulatory funded by the Plant. Medical aid is delivered both to the Plant’s staff and the village community. Annually, over 5,000 people get services of the ambulatory.

Vartsila Hardware Plant Inc.
1, Zavodskaya Street, Vartsila.
Karelia, 186757
Tel./fax: +7 (81430) 3-21-42, 3-23-43, 3-23-84.

Viktor Gennadievich Kamelin
General Director, тel.: +7 (81430) 3-21-54.

Nikolay Evgenievich Sopko
Technical Director, тel.: +7 (81430) 3-22-33.

Natalia Mikhailovna Man'kovskaya
Chief Accountant, тel.: +7 (81430) 3-23-04.