Tikhvin industrial site

1963–2000

An industrial plant was constructed in Tikhvin in the 1960s, an example of large-scale soviet projects of the time. Construction led to a substantial expansion of the town, with an influx of workers requiring the construction of new housing estates. The population of Tikhvin was expected to rise from about 20000 to ~50000 by 1970 according to the architects of the development.

In 1967 the first casting was made, starting production at the site which continued for another 30 years; in 1968 another factory was constructed at the site as a branch of the St. Petersburg Kirov Plant (Putilov factory) producing parts. In 1973 'Centrolit', the Kirov subsidiary, and Litprom were merged, becoming the Tikhvin branch of the Kirov works. In 1974 production of parts for the К-700Т tractor began.

In 1993 the entity was privatised as a closed corporation as the Transmash plant, and began production of railway parts; the Tikhvin plant produced ferrous and ferrous alloy castings, machinery, and rail transportation equipment and spare parts. In 1995 the complex employed over 22,000, a third of the Tkhvin population.

In the mid-1990s the plant was involved in the production of the prototypes of the indigenous Russian high-speed trainset "Sokol" (VSM-250), and was expected to manufacture the main series. Funding for the project was withdrawn in 2002.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union the plant was negatively affected, Reduced federal budgets and the inability to quickly change production to new products were both factors in the plants economic crisis. From 1998 to 1999 production fell by 25%; only production of rail vehicle parts was increased, jobs losses of 2000 had reduced the number of employees to 6000 in 1999; a plan to reorganise the entity's structure was not initially successful, and bankruptcy proceedings began in 2000.

Tikhvin industrial site (2001-)

In 2001 the assets of Transmash in Tikhvin were acquired by the ICT Group

Titran (2002-)

The Titran (formerly 'Transmash') plant dated to the developments in the 1960s; it was acquired by ICT Group in 2001, and renamed in 2002. The Titran entity consisted of five subsidiary companies: JSC Titran-Centrolit (ЗАО Титран-Центролит), JSC Titran-Express, JSC Titran-Medokon, (ЗАО Титран-Медекон) and JSC Titran-Hammer (ЗАО Титран-Молот) and the 'Titran Tractor Works' (ЗАО «Тихвинский тракторный завод «Титран – Вепс» or ЗАО «ТЗТМ «Титран»). Combined facilities included manufacture of rail vehicle parts, caterpillar tracks, and tractor and tractor parts, as well as casting, forging, and other metal engineering. Before privatisation the plant had supplied 60% of its output to the Kirov Plant in Leningrad.

In 2002 Титран – Вепс began production of tractors type К-700Т. Although investment was made into the enterprise, the plants economic problems continued in 2003 - turnover was only $20million compared to $750million during in the soviet period - with only 30% of the plant area actively utilised, job losses of over 800 were made from January to September; the enterprise made a significant loss in 2003 and a lack of demand for agricultural tractors caused the company to refocus on railway vehicle equipment as part of a three-year restructuring and modernisation plan - tractor production ceased in 2003.

2000 workers were laid off in June 2004, by 2005 the number of full-time employees remaining was reduced to 1000.

The Titran-Express (Титран-Экспресс) factory was restructured and modernised between 2007 and 2008, with manufacturing re-focused on rail vehicle components and caterpillar tracks. As of 2012 the factory produces tank tracks, bogies for electric trains and freight wagons, other railway vehicle components, and welded structures.

In 2016 United Wagon Company (ICT Group subsidiary) became the sole owner of Titran-Express.

Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant (2007-)

In 1994 a company was established to construct a $110million plant capable of producing 140,000t of ferrochromium and 150,000t of crushed slag per year. A referendum in 1997 in Tikhvin opposed the establishment of the plant; after acquisition by the ICT Group in 2001 of the unfinished project the company announced its intention to complete construction of the plant.

Tikhvin Ferroalloy Plant (ЗАО "Тихвинский ферросплавный завод" (ТФЗ)) began production in 2007.

In April 2008 the plant's owner Oriel Resources Ltd. was acquired by Mechel. A low world demand for ferrochromium delayed the factory's ramp up to full production with two furnaces started in 2007, and two in 2008, the company began production from concentrated chrome ore from the Mechel held Voskhod chrome processing plant (ГОКа "Восход-Хром".) in Kazakhstan in early 2009. The plant's four furnaces have a maximum power of 22.5 MW. In 2009 production was 53,900t (chromium equivalent) with a typical chromium content of 69-70% in the ferroalloys.

In 2010 it employed 720 people. The opening of the plant in contravention of the local populace's wishes remains contentious, and has been seen as an example of government colluding with big business.

In 2013 Mechel sold its ferroalloy holdings including the Tikhvin plant to Yildirim (Turkey).

Tikhvin Freight Car Building Plant (2012-)

In 2005 ICT Group president Alexander Nesis presented plans for a new rail wagon building plant at the Tikvin industrial site built to meet an expected demand for vehicles in Russia from private operators, as well as taking a share of the estimate 7000 wagon p.a. attrition rate of rail wagons on the Russian rail network.

In 2008 the Eurasian Development Bank, NOMOS Bank and Vnesheconombank agreed loans of $215, 130, and $215million respectively towards the construction of a new plant; the plant was projected to have a cost of $800 million, with a production capacity of over 10000 wagons per year within a production space of 220,000 m² (0.22 km²), and to employ 3500 people. A further $200 million (6billion roubles) was to be spent on constructing 170,000 m² (0.17 km²) of housing space for the plant's workers. The company agreed licensing arrangements for the use of a Barber type bogie developed by Standard Car Truck Company (part of Wabtec), and acquired designs from Starfire Engineering & Technologies (Kansas, USA) for hopper, bottom discharging hoppers, and flat (ISO container carrier) wagons.

In 2010 the first foundry on the site was completed, with a production capacity suitable for the production of 4000 bogies per year.

The first major order contracts were signed with Transgarant in 2010 for 150000 wagons over 4 years, and a 5-year contract with RZD subsidiary Freight Two.

The Tikhvin Freight Car Building Plant (Тихвинский вагоностроительный завод (ТВСЗ)) was formally opened by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on 2 February 2012. During the design and construction phase the capacity of the plant was increased from 10000 to 13000 wagons per year, with an increase in casting capacity from 70 to 90 thousand tonnes; the capital cost also increased by $200 million.