Explosive future Explosia

EXPLOSIVE FUTURE

Explosia, based in Semtin, Czech Republic, is a major producer of explosives and propellants with a tradition of nearly 100 years in this market. The state-owned company, globally known for its Semtex, is in better shape today than ever before. Romana Moares reports.

The predecessor of Explosia was established in 1920, in the wake of the newly-born Czechoslovakia’s need to create its own army and defence industry. Until then, production of explosives had been scattered within numerous small businesses over the whole territory of the new state and a decision was made to concentrate the capabilities in a single location.

Since then, the company’s form, scope and ownership have changed considerably – from an independent joint-stock company during the inter-war period, to a production plant within a large stateowned group and finally to its current independent status. Explosia holds an important position in the Czech explosives and propellants sectors and exports a significant amount of its production output abroad, primarily to the EU countries.

“The company, with the original name ‘Czechoslovak Joint-Stock Factory for Explosive Materials’, was established in 1920, so this year we celebrate its 95th anniversary,” says Pavel Bulant, member of the board of directors.

He further explains that the past three years have been particularly successful, following a change of management and a new direction for the company. “We have re-focused the company on export markets, tried hard to cut down costs and analysed customer feedback in the greatest of detail so that our products and services exactly match the market demands. Today’s results demonstrate that this has been the right approach.” The company today employs around 600 people.

Comprehensive portfolio

Explosia produces a wide range of certified commercial explosives for open pit blasting, explosives designed for underground blasting, special plastic explosives for military use and smokeless powders for both commercial and military use. This is in addition to a number of other products, of which we may mention modular charges for 155mm calibre weapons, 125mm sub-calibre ammunition, pyrotechnic components for ejector seats and plastic explosives.

The main product group is propellants. The company makes two basic types of powders: single base (nitrocellulose) powders and double base (nitroglycerine) powders with varying nitroglycerine content. For special applications nitroguanidine based triple base powders are also produced, used mainly for 125mm and 155mm tank ammunition.

Explosives are another major category and they are divided into further subgroupings – explosives for opencast mining, explosives for underground mining, permissible explosives and explosives for special use.

The company also offers a comprehensive range of pyrotechnic components for ejector seats designed for AERO L-39, L-59 and L-159 aircraft, especially URM rocket motors which serve to accelerate the ejector seat on catapulting, ROP rocket motors designed to release the aircraft canopy and other types of pyrotechnic products.

“All our product groups are very important for the company’s further development,” says Mr Bulant. He admits, though, that the largest group, in terms of turnover, is the explosives, with high demand existing particularly in the export markets. “The situation in the world is as it is – more and more ammunition is being produced. Therefore, the propellant group is also growing. As a result of high demand, we will soon increase production capacity for this particular product group.” The company’s plant in Semtin has extensive capacity and there is therefore no lack of space for further expansion here.

Strategic role

Explosia sells explosives and propellants to many countries in the European Union as well as the rest of the world. “Our products know no borders: they are being used on all continents. At the moment, demand is growing particularly in the Middle East, Far East, Russia and China,” says Mr Bulant.

In the past, Explosia has focused on providing comprehensive drilling and blasting services, primarily during the surface mining of aggregates. Several years ago these activities were divested into a

100 per cent owned subsidiary, FOSPOL a.s., which is now the largest provider of blasting work in the Czech Republic. After incorporating the Centre of Drilling and Blasting Works, Explosia breaks loose more than 8 million tonnes of mined rock per year – at approximately 30 locations altogether throughout the Czech Republic.

Mr Bulant concludes: “After the last three years, during which we managed to turn the business around, it is now our task to make sure that we continue to develop in the right direction. We want to demonstrate that even a 100 per cent state-owned company can be a successful, unique and dynamic business, contributing significantly to the growth of the Czech economy. In other words, a company of strategic importance for the Czech Republic.” n