On the 3rd of April 1801 the iron foundry was transferred from the Kotlin Island to Saint-Petersburg, to the 8th verst of the Peterhof highway, by the edict of Pavel I. This day is considered to be an official foundation day of the factory. At first “Treasury iron foundry” (“Kazenniy Chugunoliteyniy zavod”) – as it was called in official documents – manufactured cannonballs, and then by the middle of the 19th century the factory developed into diversified production and occupied the leading position in Russia as it concerned elaboration and new product release.

Nikolai Ivanovich Putilov – a talented engineer, scientist, and businessman – brought a world-wide fame to the factory. He redeemed the factory from the Treasury (Kazna) in 1868 and within the short period of time organized manufacturing of rails supplying all the railways in Russia. Aiming at a growth of capital which is necessary to organize manufacturing of goods wagons N. Putilov established in 1873 the first joint-stock company in the history of the factory - The association of Putilov’s factories.

Mechanisms and products manufactured within a period of two centuries are uncountable. During the years of the World War I the Kirov factory was the main supplier of the artillery armament for the entire Russian army, during the years of the Great Patriotic War it provided the Soviet Army with tanks, and during the postwar years it opened up releasing of powerful tractors for development of virgin lands. Geared-turbine units produced at the factory are installed on almost every ship belonging to the Navy and on many civil ships.

The Kirov factory has always been renowned for its high scientific and technical potential. Quite a lot of world-famous scientists and engineers were employed there: Isaak Moiseevich Zaltsman (1905-1988) – Director of the factory in 1938-1945, Zhozef Yakovlevich Kotin (1908-1979) – Head of the Design Bureau (KB) during the wartime, Manfred Antonovich Kazak (1908-1998) – Chief designer of ship steam-turbine plants, Nikolai Sergeevich Popov – Chief designer of caterpillar-wheeled vehicles and tractors. These specialists created reputation of the Kirov factory as a leader of the Russian industry. Petr Georgievich Semenenko being at the head of business (1987 – 2005) made considerable contribution towards maintenance of production potential of the factory in the 90-s.

More then two hundreds of history full of productive work allows The Kirov factory to face the future with certainty. Relying on its experience and rich traditions the factory entered XXI century having the exact strategy of further growth.

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