Chronology

1953 ".

"Lugansk accumulator’s factory" was built as the biggest alkaline accumulator factory in Europe, which produced nickel-iron and nickel-cadmium chemical sources of current for industries of motor-car construction and mines.

1960 ".

a manufacture of waterproof nickel-cadmium accumulators for communication and minerals industry was set up, also silver-zinc manufacture for defense establishment.

1970 ".

a manufacture of alkaline chemical sources of current for railways was set up, nickel-cadmium battery for aviation and missiles was actively developing.

1980 - 1990".

a manufacture of small size chemical sources of current for domestic technique was set up, series of batteries for electro transport, military function; the series of domestic lights were put into production.

1990 ".

пthe production facilities were brought to 400 millions ampere-hours in year, what formed about 23 % of all alkaline accumulators production in USSR. The factory produced a silver-zinc, nickel-cadmium and nickel-iron chemical sources of current. The biggest part of products was oriented on defense establishment. Number of workers was about 4000 ones.

1991-1996 ".

production volume and consumption of accumulator products have fallen quickly, first of all in military market. Ukrainian alkaline batteries market has been reduced gradually, foreign markets of alkaline chemical sources of current were lost. Import of alkaline accumulators was increased: from Europe and Russia.

1997 ".

the production volume was reduced to 30 millions ampere-hours. The production facilities were used no more than 8%. The factory was cut off from foreign markets, turnover means, scientific and technical basis and was on the verge of bankruptcy. Market of alkaline batteries was crowded with import products.

1999 ".

for the first time in Ukraine, experience of transferring public corporative authority to private investor was used for factory, which was in need for reorganization. A competition for corporative estate was realized among potential investors for Research-and-Production Firm "Lugansk accumulators". The "Astron-Ukraine" Corporation became the winner.

2000 ".

The Decree of Ukraine Cabinet of Ministers №1056 "About governmental support of alkaline accumulator’s production". The Ministry of industrial policy has taken obligations to solve problems about supplies for ministries and departments in accordance with established procedure. Alkaline accumulators import was taxed with 20% dues, exception was made for import from the Russian Federation.

2000-2003 ".

in process of organization the Research-and-Production Firm "Lugansk accumulators" was divided into three companies with its work assets, each was directed to produce specific models of silver-zinc, nickel-cadmium and nickel-iron accumulators. Number of workers was reduced to 2000. Manufacturing, operational and commercial companies, established on basis of the Research-and-Production Firm "Lugansk accumulators" were united in the newly created "Ukr Bat" consortium.

2003 ".

the readjustment procedure was finished. The debts of Research-and-Production Firm were either liquidated or restructured. Responsibility of the company was restored.

2004 ".

thanks to antirecessionary management, result of 1999-2004 period are the following:

• Stabilization of financial and economic showings of consortium;
• The volume of production was increased three times in comparison with 1999;
• Lost markets are restored in Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, other countries from CIS, India, China, Algeria, Libya, Vietnam, Poland, Czech and Bulgaria. The necessary prerequisites for restoring market positions were created in Syria, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq;
• Consortium enters markets of city electric transport, telecommunications, sea and river transport in Ukraine and abroad;
• Reorganization of production facilities, which permits to use more than 40% capacity of manufacture and, as consequence, significant reduction of total production cost;
• Reduction of number of employees to 1500;
• Manufacture certification according to ISO-9001-2000 system in 2004;
• Certification of products by "Ukrainian railways", Ukrainian National Institute of telecommunication; "Russian railways", "Russian sea register" and other organizations.
• Strengthening of dealership with partners in Ukraine, Russia, Czech, Kazakhstan, Algeria, Vietnam;
• Expansion of nomenclature (particularly, KL, KH series); preparation for manufacture the streamlined series of aviation nickel-cadmium batteries;
• Development of the "Ukr Bat" consortium Strategy.