Bumar
Fabryka Broni

Poland's Transformation and FB's Resurrection

In 1990 the name of the plant was o­nce again changed, to Zakłady Metalowe ‘Łucznik’ SA (‘Łucznik’ Metal Plant stock company). The growing digitalization killed the typewriter market, free import cut-down the sewing machines business, and with the military being reduced three-fold within several years, the military production was also reduced, all of which resulted in lay-offs and growing debts for the Radom plant. Since 1998 the ZM Łucznik SA was put into receivership. Growing economic problems, compounded by the helplessness of the consecutive managements, unable to solve the problems without help from the reluctant owner (Łucznik was then still 100% state-owned) spelled the doom for the plant, despite the desperate efforts by the trade unions, staging protests and demonstrations in Warsaw. The fate of the ZM Łucznik SA, for over 75 years Poland’s prime small arms manufacturer, has been sealed o­n November 13, 2000, when the District Economical Court in Radom declared it bankrupt.

But Radom’s lineage was not broken there. Several months earlier, o­n June 30, 2000, the falling ZM Łucznik SA and state Industrial Development Agency (ARP) have chartered another company, called the Fabryka Broni Łucznik-Radom, sp. z o.o., which was soon to take over the ZM’s role and tasks.

In 2002 the company capital was raised, and the ARP’s shares were taken over by PHZ Bumar. At that time the company operated leasing the former ZM machines from the trustee. For over three years the FB vied with trustee for purchasing the necessary real estate, buildings and machinery from the former ZM estate. Finally in October 2004 the Fabryka Broni became an owner of the historical buildings and grounds, since November 2004 started to pay for the machinery in regular installments.