History

Polski Tabor Szynowy – Wagon

The history of the company is as follows

In 1920, the foundation stone was laid for the construction of the L. Zieleniewski Wagon Factory, which was part of the Polskie Fabryki Maszyn i Wagonów L. Zieleniewski S.A. concern and at the same time the joint-stock company "Wagon".
In 1921, the construction of the first hall was completed and the first wagon was installed.
In 1922, the construction of the second hall was completed and the repair of wagons began.
In the 1920s, the construction of a power plant, a locomotive shed, a sawmill and management buildings began.
On 30 November 1926, a decision was made to sell the company to the state.
In 1927, the state bought the factory, which resulted in the establishment of Warsztaty Wagonowe in Ostrów Wielkopolski.
In 1929, the enterprise was transformed into Second Class Railway Workshops, and the Railway Workshops in Skalmierzyce were added to the structure.
In 1939, the factory was taken over by the Germans.
In 1945, the plant was nationalized.
In 1950, Warsztaty Mechaniczne Kolei Państwowych nr 11were established.
In 1952, the factory was incorporated into the PKP structure, creating Zakłady Naprawcze Taboru Kolejowego "Ostrów".
In 1961, ZNTK "Ostrów" received the rights of a patron company in relation to other wagon industry plants, and the Central Design Office was established.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the construction of a heat and power plant and a metal forge began.
In 1970, the plant received the name of Powstańców Wielkopolskich, and it operated under the name Zakłady Naprawcze Taboru Kolejowego Ostrów im. Powstańców Wielkopolskich.
In 1995, the factory joined the privatization program.
In 1996, employees were enfranchised and became owners of 15% of the plant's shares.
In 1999, the name of the factory was changed to "Fabryka Wagon".
In 2004, the plant declared bankruptcy.
In the same year, the company was sold to "Antra" and the forge was transferred to Forge & Parts Sp. z o. o. Subsequently, the forge and power plant were closed down and Forge & Parts was also sold.
In 2005, the factory changed its name to "Europejskie Konsorcjum Kolejowe WAGON".
In 2006, a new company, Kuźnia Ostrów Wielkopolski Sp. z o. o., was established on the premises of the former forge, specializing in the production of metal products, parts and devices for the railway, shipbuilding and machinery industries. The company also provided turning, welding and assembly services of steel structures.
In 2010, Andrzej Świerczek became the new owner of the plant.
In 2020, Europejskie Konsorcjum Kolejowe Wagon Sp. z o. o. declared bankruptcy through liquidation.
In 2022, the Industrial Development Agency purchased an organized part of the enterprise, and the plant began operating under the name Polski Tabor Szynowy - Wagon Sp. z o. o.

In 2004, a controlled bankruptcy of the factory was announced, which caused serious complications related to the attitude of the owners. The dispute was intervened by, among others: the then Deputy Prime Minister Jerzy Hausner. Despite these difficulties, the plant continued its operations and gradually rebuilt its position on the market, thanks to constant orders from PKP Cargo. In 2005, the factory was sold to the “Antra” company from Ruda Śląska and changed its name to Europejskie Konsorcjum Kolejowe “Wagon”. In the case of the company “Forge & Parts”; no bankruptcy proceedings were carried out, and after liquidation it was sold to the “Pantra” company from Stalowa Wola. Both the former “Fabryka WAGON” and “Kuźnia Ostrów Wielkopolski” continued to produce parts, but under different names and under new companies. Various institutions and enterprises were located on the premises of the former wagon factory, such as the Center for Psychological and Psychiatric Research, the University of Entrepreneurship and Management in Łódź – a branch in Ostrów Wielkopolski, Alexander Graham Bell Polish-Canadian High School, and the Polish-Canadian Junior High School. Moreover, the Railway Treatment Center, which previously operated at the factory, was transformed into a Comprehensive Primary Health Care Treatment Center independent of the railway. In 2007, some of the factory areas were included in the subzone of the Kamienna Góra Special Economic Zone.