Fablok


Fablok is a Polish manufacturer of locomotives, based in Chrzanów. Until 1947 the official name was First Factory of Locomotives in Poland Ltd., Fablok being a widely used syllabic abbreviation of Fabryka Lokomotyw, among others as the company's telegraphic address. It is now named "BUMAR - FABLOK S.A. ". Fablok is located in the town of Chrzanów in Lesser Poland. As of 2009, Fablok no longer builds new locomotives.

History

Early years 1919-1939

Fablok was established in 1919. A year later a contract was signed with the Polish government to supply 1,200 steam locomotives within ten years to the Polish State Railways. The first locomotive was delivered on 7 April 1924.
In 1931, the first locomotive was exported to the Bulgarian State Railways. During 1935 and 1936, five electric locomotives were built under license from Metropolitan-Vickers. In 1935–1936, Fablok produced five Luxtorpedas for PKP under the guidance of engineer Klemens Stefan Sielecki. They were based on the Austro-Daimler's design, but substantially modified.
Two experimental fast steam locomotives were built in 1937. One of them had aerodynamic fairing, the other had a standard look. The idea was to test both engines in parallel to compare top speed, acceleration, coal and water consumption, etc. The Pm36-1 won a gold medal at the International Exposition of Art and Technology in 1937.

World War II 1939-1945

During World War II Fablok was a part of the Association of German Locomotives Companies. Fablok was incorporated into Henschel & Son under the name Erste Lokomotivfabrik in Polen A.G. Chrzanow and from 1941 as Oberschlesische Lokomotivwerke Krenau. Klemens Stefan Sielecki together with his colleagues from the technical bureau started hiding the technical documentation for steam, industrial diesel and electrical locomotives and moved them completely out of the plant in January 1945, since the Nazis wanted them destroyed. After Poland was liberated, this documentation proved vital for the re-construction efforts of the national railway industry, especially the diesel and electrical locomotives. This allowed Fablok to restart the production of these types.

During communism 1945-1989

The company was nationalized in 1947, and the official name changed to Fablok. Sielecki was technical director in the post-war years until 1964. After that, he was technical advisor to the board until his retirement on March 31, 1971. Under his leadership, the production was re-established for multiple types of locomotives, 12 of that type were destined for export.
Export markets for its standard-gauge passenger, fast, freight, and industrial steam locomotives were Albania, China, Hungary, India, Korea, Romania, and Vietnam. Narrow-gauge units were exported to Albania, Bulgaria, China, Romania, Soviet Union, and Yugoslavia. The last steam locomotive was produced in 1963. Fablok never produced boilers for its steam locomotives, these were supplied by Fabryka Budowy Kotłów of Sosnowiec known as Fitzner and Gamper before 1945; later also by other producers.
Production of diesel locomotives started in 1948. From the early 1960s the product range diversified into rolling stock components. In 1977, the production profile expanded into construction equipment and its name was changed into Fabryka Maszyn Budowlanych i Lokomotyw BUMAR-FABLOK. The factory was taken over by Zjednoczenie Przemyslu Maszyn Budowlanych BUMAR in Warsaw. Production included excavators with bucket capacity of 1.2 cubic metre, cranes with 25-28 ton lifting capacity, self-propelled road cranes, and hydraulic telescopic jibs.

After 1990 to present

In 1999, the company received ISO 9001 certification. The "Fablok" Employees’ Joint Stock Company was formed and registered in 2001. After first purchasing of 60% of the controlling shares of Bumar-Fablok JSC by "FABLOK" - Employees’ Joint Stock Company from the 7th State Investment Fund in 2003, the "Bumar-Fablok" Joint Stock Company ownership was transferred to the Fablok Employees’ Joint Stock Company.
On April 3, 2009, the name of the company was changed to Pierwsza Fabryka Lokomotyw w Polsce “Fablok” S.A.
on May 21st 2013, court in Kraków had announced the Bankruptcy Of the company. the wealth of Fablok was bought by Martech Plus with th Headquarters in Łaziska Górne