The heart of Inza, a small town in the Ulyanovsk region, has long been a city-forming woodworking plant. The company did not survive the economic shocks, but now Orman Manufacturing, which produces parts for furniture production, is working on its site. We tell you how the crisis became the starting point for the birth of a new business.
Getting back to the start
Summer 2022. The Inzensky Woodworking Plant (‘Inzensky DOZ’), which operated mainly for export, faced completely new conditions. Sanctions restrictions forced the company to stop working. However, a team of enthusiasts, inspired by the opportunity to preserve the traditions of production, rented one of the workshops and opened a new production facility there.
‘We understood that in the current conditions, a compact and efficient enterprise was necessary,’ the company’s management shares. – The idea was supported by a team of specialists from DOZA, who preserved the unique achievements of the plant and offered us their professionalism.
So the idea of the company was born, which within a year became an independent and very strong player in the market of furniture parts.
New challenges – new solutions
From the very beginning, Orman Manufacturing faced a number of difficulties: the building was built in 1957, the lack of spare parts and technical support for equipment that was once purchased in European countries, predicted new restrictions. Therefore, an important decision was made to build a new production facility on the territory of advanced socio-economic development (TASED) in Inza.
‘As a technical equipment, we chose equipment from China, as it turned out to be optimal in terms of price, quality and service capabilities,’ the company says. – This allowed not only to modernize production, but also to minimize manual labor.
In September 2024, the new plant installed a veneer peeling line, a mechanical processing line and equipment for the production of lamellas – the company’s main product. Now the technological process is automated to the maximum – costs and manual labor are reduced, labor productivity is increased.
Personnel guidelines
Today, the company employs more than 90 people, and the team is fully staffed. The average salary at the enterprise is 25% higher than the industry average, and employees are provided with a social package.
– We started by hiring key specialists of DOZ, and then established cooperation with the Inzen Technical School. We supervise groups of students, training young technical specialists, ‘ the HR department notes.
Comfortable conditions have been created for the team: official employment, opportunities for training and development, and a stable salary. As a result, people hold on to their jobs, and staff turnover is minimal.
Social responsibility
Today, the plant is actively involved in social projects in the region. So, in 2024, the company handed over several computers for the needs of a local hospital and equipment for the educational process to a technical school, helped educational institutions with furniture equipment, and also supported the holding of interregional autocross competitions in memory of Alexey Rogachev and Alexey Falin in Inza.
‘We believe that a successful business should be useful to society –’ the company’s management emphasizes. – That’s why we regularly participate in charity and sponsorship projects. For us, this is an opportunity to get closer to people, support those who really need help, and help with social improvement.
Looking to the future
Already at the end of 2024 – a year after its opening – the company received an award in the regional competition ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ as the best business in the field of industrial production. This only means that production is really developing very rapidly.
The company’s plans are ambitious: launching a new production complex in 2025, expanding the volume of products by 50% and creating additional jobs. However, to do this, it is necessary to solve the problem with raw materials – increase supplies from local loggers or get the opportunity to independently engage in harvesting.
In addition, the company is actively developing its export business. Participation in international exhibitions in Istanbul and Baku in 2024 with the help of the Ulyanovsk Export Support Center and the My Business center made it possible to establish contacts with new partners and enter the international market.
The company’s history is an example of how in times of crisis it is possible not only to preserve the industrial heritage, but also to create a new, competitive business that will support the region and its residents.
Source: Business Review Magazine