Briefly about PZO Ltd.
Thanks to many years of experience in manufacturing optical products of the highest quality, we look into the future with optimism.
In recent years PZO has specialized in manufacturing a wide range of military products. We also offer specialized products for the civilian market.
All the time we provide optical and mechanical services, as well as service and access to spare parts for our equipment, which is used among others by the Polish Army.
PZO History
The company was founded in 1921 by a group of industrialists: Karol Hercyk (former owner of the optical-mechanical factory in St. Petersburg), Henryk Kolberg (1861-1935) – (former owner of mines in Russia), Georg Coro (Italian, former director of the Russian-French Joint Stock Company in St. Petersburg) and Kazimierz Mieszczanski (owner of a foundry of non-ferrous metals). The official name of the factory was: Fabryka Aparatów Optycznych i Precyzyjnych H. Kolberg i Ska after the name of the main shareholder.
The company was founded in 1921 by a group of industrialists: Karol Hercyk (former owner of the optical-mechanical factory in St. Petersburg), Henryk Kolberg (1861-1935) – (former owner of mines in Russia), Georg Coro (Italian, former director of the Russian-French Joint Stock Company in St. Petersburg) and Kazimierz Mieszczanski (owner of a foundry of non-ferrous metals). The official name of the factory was: Fabryka Aparatów Optycznych i Precyzyjnych H. Kolberg i Ska after the name of the main shareholder.
The company’s first headquarters were located in Warsaw at 119 Leszno Street, in the premises of K. Mieszczański’s foundry. The start-up of the factory took place in March 1922. Military orders had a decisive influence on the rapid development of the company. In 1923 a 3-storey building at 316 Grochowska Street was purchased, and PZO has been located there until now.
In 1930, due to the losses incurred in financial operations, Henryk Kolberg had to sell his shares in the company. The shares were bought by French companies: Zakłady Krauss, Zakłady OPL (Optique et Precision de la Vaolis), Zakłady Barbier, Bernard et Turenne. The factory changed its name to Polskie Zakłady Optyczne
.
At that time, the company established its trademark in the form of an arrangement of two lenses with the words PZO WARSZAWA
written on them. The production of PZO was expanding. The number of employees was increasing. The company employs the best craftsmen. The company with its products was successful both on the national and international market.
By 1980 PZO gradually transformed into a multi-plant company, manufacturing a wide range of precision and optical products. In 1995, the state-owned company Polskie Zakłady Optyczne was transformed into PZO S.A. (joint stock company), began its existence in the free-market economy as a commercial company.
Since the end of 2003 the main shareholder of PZO S.A. has been „Zachodni Fundusz Inwestycyjny NFI S.A.”. PZO S.A. implements the strategy worked out by the Management Board, in cooperation with the Company’s broad management, aiming to outline the Company’s development in the 21st century. At the same time, the process of deep restructuring is being continued. One of the stages of the restructuring was establishing in 2004 a new company PZO Ltd. to which the production of optical products for the army and armament plants in Poland and abroad was transferred.
Since 2020, PZO has been part of Pagacz Defence Group, expanding its scope of competence to include optical products.
In 2021, a gradual resumption of production of products for military purposes is planned, with simultaneous introduction of modifications adjusting the manufactured products to the contemporary requirements of domestic and foreign users.