100 Years Since Production Started in Drรกsov A chronicle of events, human stories and historical milestones www.semd.cz
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iemens is one of the largest companies active in electrical engineering in the Czech Republic. For 123 years, it has had a firm place in the Czech industry, being synonymous with modern and innovative technologies. With its 10,000-strong workforce, the company is among the country’s largest employers. Its technologies, products and services are used by customers in the private and the public sector, in the energy, healthcare and manufacturing industries, public infrastructure as well as in IT. In 2012, Czech companies of the Siemens Group generated CZK 32.5 billion (EUR 1.3 bn) in revenues. Exports worth one billion Czech crowns (EUR 0.86 bn) make Siemens one of the leading Czech exporters. Siemens Czech Republic is part of the global electrical engineering group, Siemens AG, which has for over 165 years stood as a symbol of cutting-edge technology, innovation, quality, reliability and international presence in industry, energy, healthcare and infrastructure solutions for towns and their environs. Siemens AG is the world’s largest provider of environmentally friendly technologies that already generate 40 % of the group’s revenues. In fiscal 2012, Siemens reported revenues of EUR 78.3 billion with a net profit of EUR 5.2 billion and employed some 370,000 people in all parts of the world. For more information about Siemens, go to www.siemens.cz and www.siemens.com.
Dear business partners, dear colleagues, We are sincerely happy that we can welcome you on the first pages of a book, which commemorates and celebrates the 100th anniversary of our plant’s foundation. The pages that follow are a clear testimony to the unusually rich and varied history of this factory. Since its foundation 100 years ago, it has seen many changes and developments under a number of different owners. However, one theme runs throughout this story – electrical engineering and, above all, electric motors and generators. It is this long tradition, together with experience, skills and production know-how handed down from generation to generation of our employees and often, indeed, from father to son, that explain why and how our factory successfully overcame every fickle twist of history and that promise to keep us fit and ready as we embark upon the next 100 years that lie ahead of us. Another celebration will soon be coming – our plant became part of the Siemens Group nearly 20 years ago. This strong international backing has opened new export opportunities while putting us face to face with the challenge of proving our worth in a strong competition with other members of the Siemens Group. We have stood our ground and the Drásov plant is now one of the key Siemens factories specialising in electric motors and generators. We mark our 100th anniversary with a step that further proves our success: we have started working on an extension of our plant in order to increase production capacity and introduce new product lines.
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We are proud to be an esteemed partner of Siemens companies in other countries and a responsible member of our community. We are thrilled by our flourishing collaboration with local secondary schools and colleges and deeply appreciate the support and understanding of the Municipality of Drásov and the Region of South Moravia. This mix of global and local partnerships is a key condition for our future success. However, there is another, equally important factor that allows us to successfully respond to our customer needs and to satisfy their standard as well as some highly specific requirements. We are talking about the family atmosphere, good personal relationships and understanding that make our factory more than just the place where we work. For most of us, the Drásov plant has a special place in our hearts. Before we conclude, we want to extend a warm thank-you to all our colleagues, former employees and local residents without whose memories, photographs and documents it would have been impossible to create this book. We are especially indebted to Josef Stibůrek, the chronicler of the municipality of Drásov, photographer Pavel Smékal, Mr Bohuslav Husák, Mrs Hana Dosedlová-Lacková and many others. Wishing many successful years to all of you, Ivo Pavelec, general manager Yuliya Monastyruk, head of BA
TOP – The factory in the 1920’s.
The year is 1913
BOTTOM – Current view of the factory with the town of Drásov
in the back ground. Local population exceeded 1,500 in 2013.
Not much remains from this year in popular memory. What was it like?
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hose alive at the time were at the threshold of the devastating World War I. Pupils and teachers reverently celebrated the awe-inspiring 83rd birthday of Franz Joseph I, the elderly monarch of Austria-Hungary, and mourned with him the 15th anniversary of the death of the beautiful Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria, better known as Sisi, who was stabbed to death with a needle file by an Italian anarchist in Geneva. The Christmas of 1913 was probably the last moment of peace and happiness for many Europeans because – as was later remarked by historians – “the dark clouds of war were already gathering at the horizon, promising nothing good to young and old alike”. The year brought a lot of exciting news. Norway introduces female suffrage. Thomas Alva Edison develops synchronisation of sound and image for film. n Famous Czech painter Mikoláš Aleš dies. n Chemist and inventor of the contact lens Otto Wichterle is born. n Nearly 40,000 people work in Siemens companies around the world. n n
And what went on in Drásov? Near Tišnov (today located in the Brno-venkov district of South Moravia), production started in a new local company. Nobody would have guessed at the time what a remarkable and long future laid in front of the factory.
Siemens Electric Machines s.r.o. Drásov History: n Ing. Beran & spol. 1913 – 1926 n Brown-Boveri & Cie 1926 – 1947 n Moravské elektrotechnické závody (MEZ) 1947 – 1993 n Siemens 1994 – present Number of employees: 760 Products: Low-voltage and high-voltage generators and asynchronous and synchronous electric motors Application: Power plants, off-shore drilling platforms, locomotives, ocean-going passenger and cargo ships 2012 revenues: EUR 72 million
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“Stará Tišnovka” railway
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“Stará Tišnovka” railway Without the Drásov railway station on the “Německý Brod – Brno” line, Ing. Beran would hardly have built its brick machine factory in the small town of Drásov. Understandably, there would be no Siemens history to talk about here either. Although the railway line no longer exists, it was of crucial importance in the first decade of the 20th century. The rich, farming region of Tišnov needed a fast and cheap way of transporting its agricultural produce. Originally, the line was to go through the nearby town of Čebín and then continue to Kuřim and Brno. The then Mayor of Drásov, František Ondráček, realized what the railway would mean for the region and
successfully lobbied for a change of plans. The newly established Drásov station welcomed its first passenger train on July 2, 1884. The railway line and the Drásov station remained in operation until 1953 when the line closed on December 20. A new, double-track line between Havlíčkův Brod and Brno was built, this time really going through Čebín. A bus service was introduced to help employees travelling to the MEZ Drásov plant. Until the end of the 20th century, the “Stará Tišnovka” railway was used as a siding for transportation of products from our factory and a local limekiln. It was definitely abandoned in 2000. All that remains is an embankment overgrown with trees and grass.
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1913 to 1923
Stepping into the unknown
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Czechoslovakia: Independent Czechoslovakia was established on October 28, 1918.
t the beginning, there was the Ing. Beran a spol. company. Although its founder and owner was born in Osek u Rokycan, he decided to start his business in Drásov. There was something crucial for his business plan here - brick yards. Drásov also had the all-important railway connection to Tišnov and Brno and, last but not least, the region offered an abundance of labour.
Europe: In 1913, Danish physicist Niels Bohr presents his theoretical description of the structure of the atom, later known as the Bohr Model. In 1922, Bohr’s achievement was recognised with the Nobel Prize for Physics.
Brick machine production started in the first half of 1913.
World: The Panama Canal was officially opened on July 15, 1914.
The machines were designed for brick yards in the vicinity as well as further afield and the company, incorporated already in 1912, operated from a 500 m2 factory.
World War I The Great War understandably had a major impact on the company’s activities and in 1914, its production saw radical changes dictated by military needs. The Factory produced artillery ammunition.
BOTTOM – Photocopy of a town chronicle
entry from this period.
1913 to 1923 – Stepping into the unknown
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... also in the news...
Siemens: In 1921, the first Junkers K 16, a small monoplane of all-metal construction for one pilot and two passengers, was produced. The airliner had a flying range of 600 km and used an engine supplied by Siemens & Halske.
View of Drásov in 1913 (hand-coloured photograph). The village had 768 inhabitants at the time.
From the local historian Josef Stibůrek, the chronicler of Drásov and for 44 years an employee of our company, is passionate about the history of both the local community and the factory. “Sadly, there are no people who would remember this period anymore and the only information we have comes from surviving documents,” he says. “It seems that production in Ing. Beran’s factory completely stopped after the war. The aftermath of the global tragedy were acutely felt even in this remote part of our country. In order to prevent further losses, Ing. Beran decided to sell the business in 1921. The new owner was MEAS Brno, a company specialising in the production of electric machines and devices, but the plant changed hands again the next year, this time being bought by Ing. Sušický. This was the first formal step towards the foundation of Brněnská elektrotechnická společnost in 1923. The Drásov facility, gradually extended to cover 800 m2, was converted into an electric motor repair shop. This was an important milestone laying down the foundation for the company’s long-term production programme. Eventually, the plant started manufacturing its own machines with output up to 25 kilowatts as well as circuit breakers and controllers. But this was only the beginning of the changes that the plant was to experience.”
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1923 to 1933
The Brown-Boveri era
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he next important milestone in the plant’s history came about in 1926. To be more precise, on January 1, 1926, the factory became part of the international electric engineering company, Brown-Boveri & Cie (BBC), founded in Baden, Switzerland, in 1891. This multinational corporation had subsidiaries all over Europe and Brown-Boveri electric motors commanded widespread respect. The fate of the Drásov plant had been closely tied to this name for a very long time. The factory changed its name to Československé závody BrownBoveri (ČBB) and became a joint stock company, with headquarters in Prague and with a German general manager, Mr Eisner. The factory steadily grew and its production programme expanded to include all types of 6,000-volt, 3,000-kilowatt asynchronous motors, all types of direct-current machines with output up to 1,000 kilowatts, all types of transformers and technology for diesel electric machines. The factory also created annealing, smelting and even cremation furnaces. TOP – A 1932 Minerva wireless.
In 1924, Siemens started its own production of electric motors, generators and other electric devices in the nearby Mohelnice plant. Seventy years later, the Czech Republic will become Siemens’ European stronghold for electric motors and generators with three plants in Mohelnice, Frenštát pod Radhoštěm and, of course, Drásov. Production:
It should come as no surprise, therefore, that a Drásov electric motor appeared in the two-axle tramway no. 31, popularly known as the “bibisák”, used on the Svinov-Klímkovice line in Ostrava from July 4, 1927.
mechanical components: Brno – Královopolská továrna na stroje a vagony, a.s.
electric equipment: Československé závody Brown-Boveri, akc. spol., Drásov
Production no.: 14,879.
Another product merits mention on these pages. The Drásov plant also produced high-quality valve radios of the “Minerva” brand.
RIGHT – Tram no. 31, photo from
a later period.
1923 to 1933 – The Brown-Boveri era
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By the way, the tram served the public until 1968.
... also in the news... Czechoslovakia: In 1924, Prof. Augustin Žáček of the Charles University describes the principle of magnetron oscillation, later used in microwave oven technology. Europe: In 1928, Scottish bacteriologist Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin. World: Refrigerators and portable hair dryers become widespread in the USA in the 1920’s. Siemens: In 1929, Siemens builds the world’s biggest hydropower plant in Ireland.
The Great Depression could be felt even in Drásov. Between 1930 and 1931, 15 % of the plant’s employees were laid off and wages were cut.
Eyewitness account
From the local chronicle In 1928, the Drásov plant employed 190 blue-collar workers and 30 white-collar workers. In the 1930’s, however, the depression forced the company to reduce the volume of its production and lower the number of its employees. By 1933, for example, the company had only 125 blue-collars and 25 white-collars. Population of the village in 1930: 1,036.
BOTTOM – View of the “gallery”, which served as a coil-winding shop
(from 1920 to 1930).
In 1929, the management decided to build an addition to the main factory building, because several shops, especially the coil-winding and testing shops, were quickly overflowing their space. The decision was based on the economic boom of the time and great hopes for the future. The entire front wall, all the way to the roof, was removed and temporarily covered with railway tarpaulins that kept the interior weatherproof and allowed people to work undisturbed. The dispatch department still had no roof and its construction was well under way when a terrible windstorm, never seen in the Tišnov area before, swept through the town. Fortunately, the day happened to be a public holiday and the workers were not on the premises. Tall trees were uprooted and the damage was unprecedented. The factory building was shaking under the heavy gusts of wind and the tarpaulins barely kept in place, making terrible noise like cannon shots. By sheer luck, the structure held fast, because otherwise, the entire coil-winding shop would have been ruined as the roof was covered with boards and cardboard. It was a very stressful few hours for all of us who were on emergency duty that night ready to try and save as much as possible. After that, the plant continued working without much disruption, but we were soon to get to 1930, the year of the Great Depression and high unemployment rates. R. Čížek, writing in the factory magazine for employees of ME Drásov Vysoké napětí, February 10, 1953.
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Snippets from Drásov history There are indications that the saint brothers Cyril and Methodius stopped in Drásov during their travels through Bohemia and Moravia. Legend has it that Drásov has been an independent, fortified town since the middle of the 13th century. The town walls apparently saved Drásov from an attack by the Hussites. About 200 years later, King George of Poděbrady gave Drásov to the Tišnov Monastery. In 1425, Drásov was chosen by Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund of Luxemburg as the base for his campaign against the Hussites. In 2008, Drásov was awarded a township status with its own seal and town crest – a bound sheaf of grain on blue with fleur-de-lys cross on the sides.
Countryside around Drásov
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1933 to 1943
Before and during the war
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he country was slowly recovering from a lengthy economic crisis and it seemed that things would be much brighter in the future. Hopes were high even in Drásov. Siemens, too, opened a number of major plants in the former Czechoslovakia to produce both heavy-current equipment for power plants, industrial companies, mines, smelting plants and electrified railways, and electric motors and generators, telephones and telephone exchanges, medical devices, railway block posts, metering devices, electrical tools and household appliances. In 1934, the Drásov plant decided to increase its stock capital to CZK 6 million. Swiss company Brown-Boveri, which still had control over Drásov, participated in the capital subscription. Four years later, in 1938, ČBB appointed its first Czech-born general manager, Ing. Antonín Navrátil from Prague, while director Wollek was to remain in Drásov until 1945. Between 1936 and 1945, the plant manufactured all types of asynchronous motors in various models with output up to 1,000 kilowatts, asynchronous generators with motors up to 3,000 kilowatts, direct-current machines up to 1,000 kilowatts, transformers, equipment for diesel-electric machines as well as electric furnaces. Over time, however, the production programme was reduced due to economic reasons.
TOP – Brown-Bovery employees. Miloš Konečný in white on the left, the 1930’s.
The plant did not have its own design department until 1938. Standard products were manufactured based on documentation provided by the parent BBC company in Baden. Sadly, the world was about to face yet another, even more destructive, armed conflict.
From the local chronicle The Drásov plant was not badly damaged during the war and was able to resume production as soon as the war ended.
Eyewitness account During the war, the factory continued to produce radios. To prevent the Protectorate’s population from listening to short-wave broadcast from London or Moscow, all households had to bring their radios to the local municipal office where they received an official confirmation that short-wave frequencies were “removed” from their wireless. However, anyone with basic electro-technical skills could fix it again. All you needed to do was to wind a bit of wire around a flypaper package, insert a 25-microfarad block inside, connect the ends of the wire to a glow lamp and an aerial and you could listen to London again. Radios with these contraptions were known as “Churchills”.
1933 to 1943 – Before and during the war
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TOP – Press shop in the 1930’s.
TOP – Miloš Konečný leading a meeting of testing shop employees, the 1940’s.
BoTTOM – View of the coil-winding shop in the 1930’s.
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1943 to 1953
Echoes of political changes
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fter the country’s liberation in 1945, there was general euphoria and optimism in Drásov. However, it was already wavering on the brink of uncertain post-revolutionary political changes, many of which had substantial implications for the life and fate of local citizens and ownership rights. The factory was put under national administration, but already in August 1946, it was returned back to the ownership of the foreign company Brown-Boveri. After tempestuous debates where many plant employees voiced their opinions, the ownership situation changed again in 1947 and national administration was reintroduced. Nationalisation of private businesses was gathering pace. The Drásov plant was fully nationalised in the same year. This fate was shared by Siemens and its 18 companies and offices in Czechoslovakia. The country now operates based on a two-year plan for 1947-1949.
Coup of February 1948 leaves no stone unturned The Drásov plant is immediately incorporated into the state-run company, Moravské elektrotechnické závody (MEZ) Olomouc. As of January 1, 1949, Drásov was joined in MEZ by factories in Nedvědice, Štěpánov and Třebíč. After the MEZ management office in Olomouc was closed in 1950, a separate state-run company MEZ Drásov was established with detached affiliates in Nedvědice, Štěpánov and Třebíč. However, the Třebíč plant went its own way in 1952.
Ironies of the time The all-present slogan “anything for the working people” had a positive effect in the form of many socially-minded programmes initiated at this time.
1943 to 1953 – Echoes of political changes
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TOP – Work in production used to be very physically demanding. Today, machines are a valuable help in our work.
Lasting partnership The town and the plant have maintained good relationships until today. In 2013, for example, 18 Siemens volunteers devoted one of their shifts to repairing a wall near the Drásov church.
Town and factory come together in a community “Setting aside the negative aspects of the 1950’s that often came to light many years later, we must recognise that the state-run company was very active in the community at this time,” says Josef Stibůrek. “To a certain extent, the community building was driven by the post-war optimism and enthusiasm of the locals, and most of all young people who volunteered in many projects and often sincerely believed in the official propaganda.
Protecting the plant during occupation As the Red Army made its way westward to Drásov at the close of World War II, one of the German officers stationed in the area received the order to destroy the Drásov plant. However, the officer used to work in the factory before the war and, having this personal link to the plant, decided to ignore the order, thus saving the factory for future generations. This proves that history is written by the heroic deeds of individuals.
Records in the local chronicle state that in 1953 and 1954, the municipal authority and the plant agreed to build a fire reservoir in the factory garden. The reservoir was used by both employees and the general public as a swimming pool, maintained entirely at the expense of the MEZ. This is only one example of the collaboration between the Drásov plant and the town that started at this time and continues to this day.
From the local chronicle Local population reached 942 in 1950.
In the 1950’s, the Drásov plant provided space on its premises for the establishment of a GP and dentist office, which services people from the entire region. In 1948, the company started building new apartments for its employees and later helped create a kindergarten and, together with the municipality, new sewers, etc.”
TOP – Official unveiling of a marker commemorating Drásov employees killed by Nazi occupiers, 1947.
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“The Drásov plant has been part of my life since my early childhood. When my Dad had some urgent work to do, he used to take me to the factory in my stroller and left me in the care of the guards at the gatehouse until he returned,” longtime employee Květoslava Bartošová remembers. “Entire families have worked here
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and the ties to factory were “inherited” generation to generation. For example, my own Father František Kašparec came to the then BrownBoveri as an apprentice in the mid1930’s and remained here until early 1970’s. As for myself, I graduated from the local secondary school in 1969 and immediately got a job in MEZ’s design department.
Other former employees include my father’s uncle Tomáš Mikšík and his son Ing. Tomáš Mikšík who worked as the head designer. His daughter-in-law Zdena used to work in the accounting department. Their son Ivoš currently works in the design department and his wife and son are members of the Siemens family, too.
There are many local families with two or three generations of MEZ and Siemens employees – the Jurek, Klepárník, Sitař, Matoušek, Podal, Habán, Zeman families, to name just a few. A true “Drásov saga” retold with a smile by Květoslava Bartošová. 19
1953 to 1963
Time measured in five-year plans
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he five-year plan was a fundamental economic concept used in the USSR and other countries of the Eastern Block. Everything in Drásov, too, had to operate according to its rules. Under the development plan, construction on a new 5,400 m2 production hall begins in 1957. The project was completed in 1961 and production started there on April 1, 1962. According to 1957 figures, MEZ’s electric motor production increased five times compared with 1948 while its workforce grew 75 % to 450 people. The company exported its electric motors even to Western (capitalist) countries. The factory had also completed its waste water treatment plant, sewer system and waterproofing shop, and renovated its canteen. The average wage of the company’s employees was CZK 1,290. As part of reorganisation of the Czech industry in April 1958, MEZ Drásov, including its affiliates in Nedvědice and Štěpánov, became part of the newly established state-run company MEZ Brno. The volume of production increased in the same year, with an emphasis on specialisation and a more selective production programme. The plant focuses on the production of asynchronous motors with output ranging from 100 to 1,000 kilowatts. In fact, the plant had a monopoly in the product category for the entire Czechoslovak industry and most importantly for the energy sector. The plant provides drives for opencast coal mining in North Bohemia, technology units for thermal power plants, irrigation pumps for the USSR (in partnership with Sigma Lutín) and technology units for nuclear power plants. The company now has its own development department and is able to deliver special, individual orders with the help of VÚES Brno. BOTTOM – Exposition of Drásov machines
In 1962, the plant had 519 employees who earned CZK 1,476 a month on average. Serious troubles The year 1962 is a milestone in the plant’s history, because its new 20,000 m2 hall finally opened for production. The old 8,000 m2 production hall now housed the machining shop, the press shop and the coil-winding shop. The waterproofing station, the testing hall and the assembly shop remained unfinished for some time and these operations had to be carried out in their old premises. However, dark clouds were gathering over Drásov…
1953 to 1963 – Time measured in five-year plans
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at the Brno Industrial Fair in 1955.
top – Work on the development of the factory’s leisure facility near the Milov pond in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands.
top – Families leaving for a vacation at the Milov pond.
From the local chronicle The year 1962 saw a peek in the country’s industrial and agricultural problems. Although a relatively small plant, MEZ Drásov contributed its share to the deepening national economic troubles by failing to meet the state’s demand for its products for crucial investment projects and exports. The national economic plan required the plant to manufacture products in the total value of CZK 62 million and yet it was still necessary to import CZK 10 million-worth of products from abroad. The Ministry of Heavy Industry favoured the local plant, but complications caused by the launch of the new hall made it impossible to deliver the full production volume as planned. Production in the first and second quarters was seriously disrupted by the need to move equipment and operations to the new premises, causing substantial stoppage of work. Furthermore, the quality of some materials, especially steel for motor shafts, deteriorated at this time and a completely new line of products of Czechoslovak design was introduced to replace old Brown-Boveri MOW and MSW motors in product sizes 12, 13 and 15.
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One of the most serious problems that made it impossible to meet the plan was insufficient labour force. Up until now, the Tišnov area had not been greatly industrialised and local people had complained about a lack of new jobs, the situation completely changed in 1962. Uranium mines opened northwest of Tišnov, a nearby paper mill expanded its operations and increased production, a new limekiln was established in Čebín and a larger workforce was needed in agriculture, too – all these factors combined to make hiring particularly difficult at this time. The plant was unable to fill all the job positions it needed despite the fact that its total workforce increased by a hundred from 483 to 582 people. As a result, the plant manufactured only CZK 51 million-worth of new products, or just 12 % more than in 1961 when it still used only its old hall. In order to improve the plant management, staff changes were deemed necessary. Director Novotný was sacked and replaced by Oldřich Šmíd, a former employee of Vývojový závod MEZ Brno. Local population reached 1,120 in 1961.
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1963 to 1973
Under Comecon rule
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ince the early 1970’s, MEZ Brno’s drive to increase productivity resulted in wider co-operation and international work sharing schemes based on bilateral agreements with the USSR. New lines of asynchronous motors for Czechoslovak thermal and nuclear power plants were developed according to the requirements of the Interelektro committee of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (Comecon). The plant was also developing built-in motors for deep-well pumps and hydraulic dredgers, electric motors for forge presses and drives for devices with very high moment of inertia. The Drásov plant rather quickly introduced the production of a licensed thermoactive high-voltage insulation system in order to secure a high quality of its high-voltage products. At this time, Drásov products can be found in virtually all areas of the Czechoslovak industry and as part of major investment projects in many countries around the world. We must also mention special motors for turbo charger systems used in the additional cooling circuit of the first Czechoslovak nuclear power plant. The first nuclear power plant (A-1) in the former Czechoslovakia was completed in Jaslovské Bohunice in 1972. It has since been decommissioned, but it laid the foundation of Czechoslovakia’s national nuclear power programme.
1963 to 1973 – Under Comecon rule
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A company priority “At this time, the plant had one of the best-financed and most widely used company libraries in the region. Its technical section was a valuable source of learning for all employees,” Josef Stibůrek remembers. “Various sports events and competitions were organised for the workforce and thanks to an arrangement with the TJ Sokol Drásov sports club, employees were able to use its sports facilities. I would also like to mention improvements in the factory catering, in terms of the kitchen equipment, the cafeteria environment and quality of the food. According to contemporary sources, 27 % of active and retired employees regularly ate in the company canteen. Later, in mid-1981, the facility was open even to employees of other local organisations.”
From the local chronicle left – Successful partnership with TJ Drásov sports club.
Local population totalled 1,096 people in 1970.
top – MEZ provided special motors for the nuclear power plant
in Jaslovské Bohunice, Slovakia. bottom – Factory fire fighting team. bottom left – Housing units for MEZ employees.
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Drásov – Holy Cross Ascension Church
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The Drรกsov church... The things you must have seen in the 100 years, the events your stone walls have witnessed! How many prayers and supplications have you heard, how many silent meditations have you sheltered? Those you so often saw in their Sunday best congregated nearby on weekdays in their overalls.
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1973 to 1983
In the name of scientific and technological progress
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fter 1975, MEZ Drásov production entered an age that put an emphasis on operational efficiency, introduction of automated process, a switch from machining to moulding and gradual replacement of manual work with advanced machines. In 1976, the plant took another step towards greater specialisation by acquiring a Micalastic licence, which increased the level of technical sophistication of its high-voltage asynchronous motors. The production programme saw several waves of innovation after 1980, resulting in a substantial reduction of the weight of products and 20–30 % drop in material consumption. The value of the plant’s production in CZK tripled compared with 1958.
top – Conventional machining tools were gradually replaced by NC machines. bottom – Coil-winding shop after the acquisition
As part of investment limits, the plant gradually added high-performance devices, including NC (numerically-controlled) machines. PRODUCTION EXPANSION BETWEEN 1970 AND 1985
Period
Production (CZK mil)
Growth index
1970
107.3
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1975
126.0
1.175
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192.2
1.525
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256.5
1.335
Development programme: Three-phase low-voltage asynchronous motors designed for ventilators, electrical pumps, compressors, etc. Type code: AF – short AG – ring Three-phase high-voltage asynchronous motors designed for various types of ventilators, crushers, pumps, compressors, conveyors, cranes and other applications. Stator coiling executed in a thermoactive system with Class F insulation. Three-phase high-voltage asynchronous motors for demanding operating conditions and for 2N energy class, designed primarily for internal consumption drives in power plants and other installations with exceptionally high voltage fluctuations (4,200–6,600 V) and frequency fluctuations (45–54 Hz). Milan Horký was appointed as plant director in 1982.
1973 to 1983 – In the name of scientific and technological progress
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of a Micalastic licence.
Work in the factory drew people from a wide area
... also in the news... Czechoslovakia: On January 1, 1973, the Czechoslovak Postal Service introduces postal codes used in automated identification of the address. The system considerably simplified and increased the speed of postal delivery.
“The MEZ Drásov workforce did not include exclusively the local people. Employees were recruited from some 20–40 municipalities of the region, from Brno to Nedědicko,” Josef Stibůrek remembers. “The plant did not provide its own shuttles, everybody had to use the public bus service and, of course, the local railway connecting Havlíčkův Brod and Brno. The trains stopped in Čebín and people had to walk from there, or wait for a bus. The biggest group was travelling from the Tišnov area, using buses to get to Drásov.”
Europe: In 1974, Hungarian inventor Ernö Rubik creates his world-famous puzzle, Rubik’s Cube. World: On July 29, 1981, Prince Charles marries Diana Spencer in London. Siemens: Between 1973 and 1981, mini computers and later microprocessors use the Sinumerik system developed by Siemens. A programming control unit is included in the central processing unit.
From the local chronicle Local population totalled 1,116 people in 1980.
bottom – Drásov employees lived in many towns and villages of the region,
including the Moravian metropolis of Brno, some 25 km southeast of Drásov.
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1983 to 1993
Dawn of deep social changes
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he events of November 17, 1989 and the subsequent Velvet Revolution swept through Drásov just like every other place in Czechoslovakia, opening the way to the toppling of the Communist regime.
By 2012, the average number of innovations suggested by each employee increased fivefold compared with 1989.
A chapter of Civic Forum is established in the factory at the beginning of December. In 1990, the Drásov plant becomes an independent business under the ZSE Group.
1989 number of innovation suggestions number of employees turnover (CZK million in contemporary prices)
According to records in the local chronicle, MEZ Drásov production reached the value of CZK 222,370,950 in 1989. Products were exported abroad according to the needs of foreign customers. Exports to western countries significantly increased compared with 1988.
innovation suggestions per employee
1,200
In 1989, the plant also produced the popular kneeling stool, a popular and highly sought-after product developed exclusively for the domestic market. (The stool was an addition to a previous line of similar products including a fruit crusher and a tube bender.)
1,000
In 1989 alone, employees submitted 40 innovation suggestions. 29 were accepted for testing and trials and 20 were eventually adopted in the production. The plant is preparing a construction site for the building of its dispatch centre.
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1,400
Did you know:
A total of 649 people worked in the plant at the time, earning on average CZK 3,270 a month.
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800 600 400 200 0
number of innovation suggestions
number of employees
turnover (CZK million in contemporary prices)
A selfless biker When executing our key orders, we needed an unusually strong wire, which was purchased, exclusively for this particular electric motor, from the Kablo factory in Kladno. During assembly, it was found that 10 kg of the wire was missing. In order to finish the job on time, one of the employees jumped on his motorbike with a backpack on his back that very night and drove the 250 km to Kladno. Fortunately, they had enough of the wire on stock and thanks to the selfless dedication of our employees, we were able to deliver the motor to the customer on time.
From the local chronicle Local population totalled 1,101 people in 1991.
top – Testing room – 1980’s and 1990’s.
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Drásov – State of the art technology
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Hands and machines in perfect harmony. Carefully co-ordinated in every detail. Step by step, new electric motors and generators are born under our roof. After they leave the gates of this plant, they will be the ambassadors of Drรกsov and Siemens. Generation to generation, Drรกsov employees hand down their experience to keep our tradition of high quality alive.
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1993 to 2003
Siemens invests in Drásov
S
iemens returned to Czechoslovakia as early as in December 1990 and quickly grew into a group of several business and service companies and production plants. As part of the privatisation programme, Siemens bought back its old electric motor plant in Mohelnice and acquired the Frenštát and Drásov factories, heavily investing into new production capacities in the process. At the end of 1994, MEZ Drásov had 533 employees. Further development 1994: Siemens buys MEZ Drásov. 1996: Drásov becomes part of the Large Drives (A&D LD) unit, handing over its low-voltage production to the Frenštát plant. 1997: Introduction of low-voltage generators. 2000: Production of low-voltage and high-voltage generators from 20 kVA to 3,000 kVA. 2001: Foundation of SEM Drásov Siemens Electric Machines s.r.o. Further development After Siemens’ arrival in Drásov, the company renovated and expanded its existing buildings with additions and superstructures on original buildings, inherited from the times of MEZ Drásov.
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top – Ever since its acquisition of the plant, Siemens opens the factory gates to the public and the families of its employees every year in early May. bottom – Exciter rotor in production.
top – Reconstruction of crane traveller in the 1990’s.
New energy From the local chronicle The biggest event of this year, and arguably of the entire history of this company, is its 100 % acquisition by Siemens. MEZ Drásov thus became a member of the Siemens Group in the Czech Republic including three plants – MEZ Mohelnice, Frenštát and Drásov. Siemens purchased all three companies from the National Property Fund for a total of CZK 1.3 billion. As of this moment, MEZ Drásov has a new official name: Siemens, s.r.o., závod Drásov. Local population totalled 1,164 in 2001.
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I clearly remember that people in the town as well as in the wider region welcomed the decision to include MEZ Drásov in the Siemens Group,” Josef Stibůrek says. “Their high expectations were soon proved to have been justified. Siemens has pushed the plant to a higher level in terms of technology, development, efficiency and wages. The employment rate of the region increased as the new owner hired more people. What has also helped to build a good relationship is the fact that on May 1 of every year, Siemens opens the gates of the factory – not only to its employees, but also to their families and the general public. The open days are very popular, attracting 1,000–2,000 people every year.”
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2003 to 2013
Siemens Electric Machines
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t the end of 2005, the company introduced a SAP system in order to provide stability and secure its development for a number of years to come. In May 2006, the new coil-winding hall opened and now produces components for our parent companies in Berlin and Nurnberg, Germany. The hall provides cutting-edge winding technologies with a high proportion of automated processes and the vacuum waterproofing technology. The management has also substantially invested in the press shop, increasing its capacity and adding a new packing technology. However, the year 2006 was important for the company in yet another way: The plant officially changed its name to
Siemens Electric Machines s.r.o. In the next period, the company also invested into other departments, including welding, assembly, machining and warehousing. The company has won several major long-term contracts with high demanding customers concerning motors and generators for ships and the mining industry. Since 2007 the plant manufactures asynchronous and synchronous electric motors in addition to low-voltage and high-voltage generators. 2008 to 2009 The first wave of the global economic crisis severally hits the Drásov plant, which focused exclusively on the shipping industry and off-shore drilling at the time. Starting in 2008, substantial amounts have been invested in development that results in a completely new line of machines. 2012 Drásov experiences one of its most successful business years ever. Growing orders, especially from the shipping and transport industries, helped us increase our volume of production by 30 %. 2013 The company expects further growth in orders. Throughout the year, the plant has been hiring new workers, adding approx. 60 employees to its workforce, including 15 in research and development. In May, the company’s 730 employees celebrated 100 years since the start of the production. Note: The Drásov plant is important not only for its employees and their families, but also for many suppliers in the region. Each year, the company buys materials, goods and services worth CZK 100–200 million from partners in the Kuřim, Tišnov and Blansko areas. right – President Václav Klaus visited the factory in June 2009.
2003 to 2013 – Siemens Electric Machines
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top – Night view of the Drásov plant. bottom – Šoumens band.
Machines for China and the Caribbean Ing. Ivo Pavelec, director and executive of Siemens Electric Machines, can remember well the 1980’s when the plant belonged to Moravské elektrotechnické závody. He joined the company immediately after his university graduation, at first working as a design engineer and eventually taking the top position in the company in 1991. In 1998, he moved on to another Siemens division and spent a year and a half managing one of its factories in Bad Neustadt an der Saale, Germany. He then returned to this country and managed the Mohelnice plant for eight years, followed by a two-year stint in the Man Diesel turbocharger plant in Velká Býteš. He finally returned to Drásov in 2008 with the task of seeing the company through the economic crisis. It is no small part thanks to him that Drásov electric motors and generators are now to be found all around the world. “Our generators for off-shore drilling platforms are sent to North Europe, primarily to Norway, as well as to China and Southeast Asia,” he says, “Together with our Berlin colleagues, we also provided equipment for the Aida tourist ship, which is currently cruising the Caribbean. We have manufactured generators for the Ocean oil drilling platform in Singapore and motors for the London flood barrier that are used to pump flood water from a depth of 80 meters. top – One of the final stages of production – inserting a rotor into a stator.
Furthermore, many locomotives in Central and Eastern Europe use our products. Whenever you see a new or a refurbished, freshly-painted diesel electric locomotive, you can be almost certain that it is driven by our generator. The most interesting project that our 16,000 m2 plant ever worked on was an order of 200 generators for giant ocean-going container ships operated by Danish company A.P. Møller-Maersk. Our commitment to quality proved crucial in this case. In the event of a serious defect or failure of a ship generator that would require substantial repair, there is only one thing that can be done – sawing the hull of the ship in two.”
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We are meeting here to proudly celebrate an important, 100-year anniversary of our company. We will always remember our past with a legacy of innovation and professional success achieved by our predecessors. Let us not forget that they had laid the foundation for our present. We want to praise all of you and we assure you that we are committed to continue on the path to success.
Dråsov – celebrate 100-year anniversary of our company
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Where can we find Drásov products today? We deliver electric motors and generators to many countries of the world
Container ships Danish shipping company A.P. Møller-Maersk has installed our generators in an entire line of its ocean-going ships. These container-carrying giants are now on the cutting edge of maritime cargo transport and A.P. Møller-Maersk, one of the biggest shipping companies in the world, currently owns some of the biggest examples of this vessel category. We are proud of our contract with a shipping company of this stature, won in a strong international competition where product quality was one of the crucial tender criteria.
Diesel electric locomotives Generators from Drásov can also be found in new and refurbished diesel electric locomotives travelling on railway routes of Central and Eastern Europe. Our generators drive the engines, provide electricity for installed devices and equipment and are a source of power for locomotive lights.
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Aida cruise liners Together with our Berlin-based colleagues from Siemens, we equipped an Aida cruise liner of the Costa Crociere S.p.A. fleet. The company currently operates eight Aida floating four-star luxury hotels and employs 5,600 people both onboard and on dry land in 25 countries. The ship we worked on is one of the most modern and environmentally friendly tourist vessels in the world.
Generator ready for dispatch Dråsov generators are at the heart of the biggest and most powerful maritime giants – both passenger ships and container ships.
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Where can we find Drásov products today? We deliver electric motors and generators to many countries of the world Off-shore drilling Our generators for off-shore drilling platforms are delivered to North Europe, primarily Norway, but we can find them as far away as China and Southeast Asia, including the Ocean platform in Singapore. These highly-specialised oil drilling technologies sit on huge steel structures anchored in the seabed and towering high above the surface of the ocean and serve as the home of the team working on the platform. The extracted crude oil is then transported to shore refineries by tankers or by pipelines. These miracles of modern technology could hardly function without generators that are crucial for the safety of the operation.
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Thames flood barrier We provided deep pumps for the unique project of a barrier that protects the City of London from tidal waves and flooding from the North Sea. The Thames flood barrier was built between 1974 and 1982. The entire structure is 520 meters long and 32 meters tall. It consists of 10 movable steel gates, nine pillars and two supports near the banks. The gates close and open depending on the situation on the river. When waters are rising, the barrier begins to close. The higher the tidal wave is, the higher the barrier rises. The river can be completely closed off within 30 minutes. The gates are controlled by a hydraulic mechanical system. Our pumps are used for pumping flood water from a depth of 80 meters.
Ship on stilts The Sea Installer is a ship developed for A2SEA and used for the installation of offshore wind turbines. The 130-meter-long ship arrives to the off-shore location selected for the turbine and rises itself up above the sea level on long hydraulic stilts. Its experienced team is then able to assemble and install a wind turbine within 24 hours. At the heart of the ship, there are six 1DC1237-8AD04-Z generators with combined output of 21 MVA, all manufactured in Drรกsov.
And many more Drรกsov generators and other products can be found in the engine rooms of wind power plants, turbines with generators and many other types of operation.
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Drรกsov machines serve customers around the world
KEY
Direct sale Indirect sale Production
Our customers include shipyards, producers of locomotives, oil drilling companies, builders of luxury yachts, producers of devices for the energy industry as well as leading research institutes.
We Drive The World
Siemens Electric Machines s.r.o. Drásov 126 664 24 Drásov Czech Republic Tel.: +420 549 426 103 Fax: +420 541 231 028