RUMO JSC is a heavy industries company with a storied history

The then-small Felser & Co. was founded by engineers Karl Felser, William Wyre and Prof. Karl Lovice in Riga in 1874. After signing contracts with a number of companies in Germany, England, Sweden and Finland and after purchasing licenses and equipment, the company started to manufacture steam engines, refrigerating plants, economizers, various machines, equipment for breweries, creameries, distilleries and sawmills.

In 1891, the emperor-approved resolution of the Committee of Ministers dated 19 April permitted retired Maj. Gen. Baron Vasily Nolken and 1st-Guild Merchant William Wyre from Riga to establish a joint-stock company named the Society of the Riga Gray-Iron Foundry and Machine-Building Plant, previously Felser & Co. The company had seen fast development, and its worker headcount had grown from 50 to 300 by that year. The company’s turnover exceeded 544,902 rubles.

Major events of 1891:

In 1891, the emperor-approved resolution of the Committee of Ministers dated 19 April permitted retired Maj. Gen. Baron Vasily Nolken and 1st-Guild Merchant William Wyre from Riga to establish a joint-stock company named the Society of the Riga Gray-Iron Foundry and Machine-Building Plant, previously Felser & Co. The company had seen fast development, and its worker headcount had grown from 50 to 300 by that year. The company’s turnover exceeded 544,902 rubles.

By the beginning of the XXth century, the company was successfully competing with foreign and Russian manufacturers. The company’s shares were held by Russian and German banks and by a number of Russian and foreign firms. A controlling share of 56% was held by the German company Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg, MAN. Under the articles of association, the joint-stock company’s board consisted of 5-7 directors elected by the general meeting of shareholders for five to seven years.

In 1905 the company made its first diesel engine under a license from the German company MAN, which had been issued in 1903, and soon after became Russia's leading diesel engine manufacturer.

In 1914 diesel engines accounted for 40% of the company’s products. Most orders were coming from the military and Navy. Diesels and equipment were being sent to Saint-Petersburg, where submarines and ships were being built for the Russian Navy. Furthermore, the company produced steam engines and boilers, water pressure tanks, air blowing machines and compressors, metal working machinery, and specialized machines to manufacture guns and shells. The customers included the Ministries of Trade and Industry, Transport Routes, and town councils.

In view of the threat of Riga being captured by German troops and with account of the plant’s significance for the country’s defense, Felser & Co. was evacuated to Nizhny Novgorod in July 1915 following an ordinance by Nicholas II.

1918: Release of the first defense products. Repairs of the following ships from the Volga Military Flotilla stationed in Molitovsky Backwash in Nizhny Novgorod: Volgar-Dobrovolets, Roshal, Krestyanin-Tovarishch.

Renaming to Engine of the Revolution. It is with great enthusiasm that the workforce accepted the new company name as a symbol of the gains of the revolution. The plant workers took self-sacrificing effort trying to match an honor this high.

Engine of the Revolution was the Republic’s only supplier of diesel engines.

Release of the first domestic stationary airless injection diesel engine BK-38 (Ch26/34) with power output up to 140 h.p. per cylinder @ 300 rpm, which outstripped its best foreign counterparts in terms of ease of operation, dependability, weight and minimized consumption of non-ferrous metals. The engine was produced in one, two, three and four-cylinder versions.

Photo: the first airless injection engine BK-38 (Ch26/38) designed by Otto Nikolayevich Stäbler and manufactured by Engine of the Revolution.

1928 – 1935: the company starts making MAN BV56 (37.5/56), BV60 (42.5/60), BV72 (50/72) license engines. The license agreement was made by the State-Run Machinery Building Plants Assn. with MAN, Sulzer, and Deutz and effective until 1932.

Major events of 1928:

1928 – 1935: The company started manufacturing MAN licensed engines BV56 (37,5/56), BV60 (42,5/60), BV72 (50/72). The license agreement was made by the State-Run Machinery Building Plants Assn. with MAN, Sulzer, and Deutz and effective through 1932. Photo: 442.5/60 (BV60) engine.

Other events:

-1928: The company is transferred to Stankotrest (Machine-Building Trust) engaged in the manufacturing of milling machines.

Resolution I of the All-Union Diesel Conference as concerned general-purpose diesel engine building made a decision that the company would specialize in producing diesel and gas engines and arrange its own design office. The company was subordinated to the State-Run Machinery Building Plants Assn.

Creating a charcoal burning engine and gas engines running on natural gas, based on the Ch42.5/60 engine produced in the USSR under the license from MAN (German GVu Series engines) and on the airless injection Ch26/38 (BK-38) engine developed in house.

Major events of 1939:

The creation of a gas generator engine and gas engines running on natural gas, both based on the 442.5/60 engine produced in the USSR under a license from MAN (the German GVu engine series), and the proprietary 426/38 (BK-38) airless injection engine.

The gas engine was coupled with a G-2 gas generator unit consisting of a reversed-process gas generator with a cylindrical shaft lined with fireproof bricks. Air was supplied through peripheral tuyeres and through the central air duct; fire grate type: jolting; ignition: by means of natural draft through stack. The gas purification and cooling system consisted of a water-rinsed scrubber with coke packing and a dry purifier with metal and wooden chips. As fuel, the gas generator unit used small-sized firewood with a moisture content of up to 50%.

The G-2 unit’s characteristic feature was its ability to use highly moist wooden fuel, which pre-determined the unit’s operating reliability. It was for the first time that reversed-process gas generators used fuel pre-drying in the gas generator per se by way of creating a back draught at the top of the gas generator to put combustion products through the fuel hopper for the purpose of drying; excessive moisture from fuel was directed through the half-open ignition stack. Photo: Gas generator unit with a 2GCh26/38 stationary gas engine running on firewood.

The difference between two-cylinder and four-cylinder engines was significant. The cylinders of the 4GCh26/38 engine were cast in one block, and those of the 2GCh26/38 engine were cast as separate stands.

Making defense products in 1941 – 1945. Engine of the Revolution made: 1,351,688 rockets for multiple rocket launchers; 10,103 mortars; 121,870 mortar shells.

The company started producing gearboxes for T-34 tanks built at the Krasnoye Sormovo Factory.

Over 20 types of different weapons were produced by the company for the front.

1942: The company was awarded with the Order of the Red Banner of Labor

The USSR Council of Ministers made a decision to assign the mastery and production of gas-powered compressors to Engine of the Revolution as a company with adequate materiel and equipment that was already producing gas ICEs.

Major events of 1948:

The USSR Council of Ministers made a decision to assign the mastery and production of integral engine-compressors to Engine of the Revolution as a company with adequate materiel and equipment that was already producing gas ICEs.

Thereafter, Engine of the Revolution and, later, RUMO (after 1993) became the USSR and Russia's exclusive manufacturer of integral engine-compressors.

The land lease program was prolonged after the end of World War II, and Cooper-Bessemer integral engine-compressors were purchased for the Saratov-Moscow gas pipeline thereunder. Several examples were sent to Engine of the Revolution for re-engineering. In 1948, Engine of the Revolution supplied the first two GK8 integral engine-compressor for the oil industry in the town of Nebit-Dag (Uzbekistan), and the first 15 pcs of 10GKs were installed on the Saratov-Moscow gas pipeline in 1950.

Photo: the first serial 8GK integral engine-compressor consisting of a 4-stroke V8 gas engine for 300 h.p. at 350 rpm, with a 280-mm cylinder bore and 318-mm piston stroke, plus a horizontal double-action slipper-type reciprocating compressor. It ran on natural or oil gas.

The GK8 compressor series was produced until 1974.

Other events:

- The first 6423/30 engine, with a power of 450 h.p. at 1000 rpm, was made in 1948.

- In the 40s and 50s, our company used to run a Specialized Maritime Design Office staffed by highly qualified experts M.G. Stepanov (candidate of technical sciences, head of the experimental research department, subsequently: deputy chief designer), A.A. Filinov (deputy chief designer for fast-running machines), Boris Petrovich Petrov. The design office was headed by chief designer Vladimir Ivanovich Kostyuk.

- In this period, our company created a new range of diesel and gas engines for operation in integral engine-compressors.

- Under Kostyuk’s management, the fast-running engine 6-8423/30 was created for river ships and stationary applications within diesel generators.

Engine of the Revolution created the 10GK gas-powered compressor fully designed in house.

Major events of 1950:

Engine of the Revolution created its proprietary 10GK integral engine-compressor, which gave birth to a whole family of integral engine-compressors: 10GK, 10GKН, 10GKНМ, 10GKНА, 10GKНМА etc. These integral engine-compressor were produced through 2010.

Over this production period, in about 60 years, we delivered more than 1000 integral engine-compressors of this family. 10GK integral engine-compressor are still in operation at underground gas storage stations and gas processing plants.

The basic 10GK compressor consists of a 2-stroke V10 gas engine with a power of 1000 h.p. at 300 rpm, 355-mm cylinder bore, 356-mm piston stroke, plus a horizontal double-action slipper-type reciprocating compressor. It runs on natural or oil gas.

In 1952 G.K. Drushchits became the Chief Designer; he created the D-1 (6Ch36/45) engine, which replaced the obsolete Ch42.5/60, and the 6Ch 25/34 diesel engine; he was decorated with the Order of the Red Banner of Labor for the development of the ChN36/45 diesel (1965).

Major events of 1952:

In 1952, G.K. Drushchits became chief designer; he was the man behind our D-1 (6436/45) engine that replaced the obsolete 442,5/60, and the 64 25/34 diesel engine, and he was decorated with the Order of the Red Banner of Labor for the development 4Н36/45 diesels (1965). G.K. Drushchits managed the organization of the serial production of the 600 h.p. 6436/45 (D-1) diesel and the creation of its gas modification. Later, the stationary D1 engine for 600 h.p. at 375 rpm, was referred to the first-generation engines.

In parallel with the D1 engine, we were designing the 6425/34 engine for 300 h.p. at 500 rpm, and we handed its drawings over to the Pervomaisk Machine-Building Plant, where those engines were produced for a long time.

Introducing gas turbocharging for the Ch36/45 diesel.

1958: start of development of the second-generation ChN36/45 engine. Unlike the first generation, the second one was turbocharged.

Major events of 1958:

1958: the start of design of the second-generation Type 4Н36/45 engine. Unlike the first-generation engines, it was turbocharged. The following engines would be based on this one:
- G60 (6ChRN36/45) main ship diesels for 900 h.p. at 375 rpm, G70 (6ChRPN36/45) for 1200 h.p. at 375 rpm;
- G65 stationary engines for 600 h.p. at 375 rpm and G66 (64Н36/45) for 900 h.p. at 375 rpm.

G60 diesels installed at the main motorship Volgo-DON-25 built at the Oka Shipyard in Navashino Town.

In 1964, the Committee of the Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy awarded the company with a 1st Degree Diploma for the creation of the G60 ship engine.

n 1966 the company completed the testing of the G70 main ship engine designed to be installed as a main engine on large-sized cargo and passenger river ships.

Major events of 1966:

In 1966 we completed the testing of the G70 main ship engine to be installed on large-sized cargo of passenger river ships.

These engines were intended to be used on passenger ships built at shipyards in the GDR, Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and Hungary.

Photo: German-built main passenger ship Vladimir Ilyich with G7О-5 diesels.

Based on ChN36/45 engines, we designed and put in production our gas engines. We designed the G71 engine on the basis of the G66 engine.

1968 saw the start of development of the third-generation G95 (6ChRН36/40) ship diesels and stationary 5003 (6ChN36/40) diesels with a power of 2020 kW @ 550 rpm.

Major events of 1968:

In 1968 we started designing our third-generation G95 (6ChRN36/40) ship diesels and stationary 5003 (6ChN36/40) with a power of 2020 kW at 550 rpm.

Other events:

- Under the management of deputy chief designer V.A. Romanov, we started designing new automated control systems for diesels (DACS).

- In 1968 we set up a separate integral engine-compressor design department headed by chief designer A.A. Okunev.

- We mastered the manufacturing of three new types of integral engine-compressors and a standalone package compressor station.

- We renewed our product range by 70%.

- By the decision of plant manager G.I. Shcherban, we upgraded our production site, which included the construction of new shops and buildings: heat treatment and fettling shop no. 19, mechanical assembly shop no. 14 for the manufacturing and assembly of integral engine-compressors, goods shipment shop no. 20 and welding shop no. 15.

The G66 (6ChN 36/45) stationary diesel was awarded with the state Quality Mark. The G71 gas engine was developed based on this engine.

Release of the G68 (6GChN36/45) gas engine and the DG68 gas piston generator set based thereon.

The 10GKNA gas-powered compressor was awarded with the state Quality Mark.

Start of production of the G84 compound gears for maritime and fishing vessels.

Using a license from Citroën-Messian, the company launched the production of G84 compound gears for maritime and fishing vessels with hull reinforcement for ice-going.

The Engine of the Revolution Company was transformed into RUMO OJSC in the framework of the National Privatization Program. RUMO OJSC is a full-fledged legal successor of the former state-owned diesel engine manufacturing company Engine of the Revolution with respect to all of the rights and obligations of the transformed entity.

Major events of 1993:

Engine of the Revolution was transformed into RUMO OJSC in the framework of the National Privatization Program. RUMO OJSC was a full-fledged legal successor of the former state-owned diesel engine manufacturing company Engine of the Revolution with respect to all of the rights and obligations of the transformed entity.

The company name RUMO was formed by the first letters of the words RUssian MOtor. This name came up as a result of the company’s contest for the rebranding of Engine of the Revolution and underwent a full-scale linguistic assessment and an expert appraisal of advertising capacity.

Apart from RUMO, the following suggested company names reached the final stage of the contest:

-“DIZAR”;
-“FELZER”;
-“ADRO”;
-“ROSS”;
-“RUSEN”;
-“ENROS”;
-“ROSMO”.

In 1995 a license agreement was made with MAN B&W for the production of the L23/30, L28/32, L32/40 engines.

Major events of 1995:

In 1995 we signed a license agreement with MAN B&W for the production of L23/30, L28/32, L32/40 engines.

Other events:

- Start of production of NB-125 high pressure pumps for highly abrasive liquids used in cementing, repairing and drilling oil and gas wells, and 5PLN plunger pumps for oil production stimulation by pumping water into a reservoir, and for pumping highly viscous fluids including oil.

In 1998 the company started developing the new advanced gas-powered piston compressors PK-12, PK-32 Photo: the 6PK-32 piston compressor.

Major events of 1998:

In 1998 we started designing new advanced powered gas reciprocating compressors Type PK-12, PK- 32. Photo: reciprocating compressor 6PK-32.

Other events:

- We started designing a range of new-generation 22/28 four-stroke diesels to be used either as industrial diesel powering various machinery or as main ship diesels driving generators on riverine or maritime vessels as well as on navy ships.

- Start of production of UTM Series water heating boilers.

The UTM Series boilers were awarded with the Quality Mark of the Federal Agency of Construction, Housing and Utilities and put on the list of the 100 Best Products of Russia.

Start of serial deliveries of watercraft diesel gear units with ChN22/28 diesel engines.

Start of serial deliveries of standalone automated gas boiler rooms in package container versions based on the UTM Series boilers.

Major events of 2005:

Start of serial production of standalone automated gas boiler house in a package container version based on UTM Series boilers.

The boiler units include a water heating boiler with a piping system, fitted with a pump ensuring that water is pumped through the boiler when the burner is operating, a burner unit with forced air supply, equipped with an automation system ensuring that adjustment, control, parameter monitoring and emergency protections are in full compliance with Russian rules and regulations. Owing to variable-frequency control, the burners of the boiler units are extremely simple by design (no electrically actuated or mechanical adjustment controls and no end switches), compact and reliable, and are positioned with high precision.

The boiler units’ automation systems ensure that:

— the boiler units are started up and shut down automatically;
— the boiler units are started up and shut down automatically;
— information from sensors is collected and transduced;
— the boiler units shut down automatically in case of excessive heat output or relevant emergency protection signals, startup is locked and the root cause is saved;
— the actual condition of the actuators and parameters of the boiler unit are reflected in the mnemonic diagram and on the LCD of the control and protection unit.

If boiler units operate as a set, their automation systems also ensure that:

— one more boiler unit is started up automatically if the heat output of the ones already in operation is not sufficient
— one of the boiler units in operation is shut down automatically if their overall heat output is superfluous.

Vertical boiler units allow access to all assemblies and controls from the side of the face panel. For this reason, they should be placed in direct proximity to the boiler house wall, with their rear sides facing it, or in a back-to-back fashion.

At the bottom of the vertical boiler units there are pass-through supply and return water pipelines with flanges, which allows them to be unified in compact modular heating units.

Start of serial deliveries of diesel generator sets with ChN22/28 diesel engines.

RUMO OJSC started serial deliveries of 8DG22G1 gas piston generator sets.

Major events of 2007:

Start of serial production of 8DG22G1 reciprocating gas generator sets.

Other events:

- Delivery of the first diesel electric units running on biofuel to Italy.
- Delivery of the first 4RMP gas pumping unit.
- The gold and silver medals for RUMO boilers at the 35th International Contest of Innovations and Investments in Geneva.

The first gas electric power plant, equipped with 8DG22G1 gas generator sets fitted with ChN22/28 gas piston engines, was put in operation in Stroitel Village in Belgorod Oblast.

Major events of 2008:

The first gas electric power plant, equipped with 8DG22G1 gas generator sets fitted with ChN22/28 gas piston engines, was put in operation in Stroitel Village in Belgorod Oblast.

Other events:

- We held our first conference of RUMO representatives

The first batch of the new-type MKC-12 gas-powered compressors was supplied to meet the needs of the Republic of Azerbaijan’s gas industry.

Major events of 2009:

We delivered the first batch of the new MKC-12 integral engine-compressors for Azerbaijan’s gas industry.

Other events:

- We organized our activities aimed at creating fully pre-fabricated short-stroke opposite reciprocating compressors for oil and gas applications in Russia and abroad. The compressors met the up-to-date equipment modularity requirements and could be mated with different drive types: gas turbine engines, gas piston engines or electric motors.
- RUMO OJSC took part in the MVMS-2009 International Navy Show.

The Republic of Azerbaijan commissions a compressor station with new MKC-12 gas-powered compressors

Major events of 2010:

Our equipment successfully passed all commissioning and acceptance tests at the Garadag UGS compressor station run by Azerbaijan’s state-owned oil company. The compressor station is equipped with the new МКС12 integral engine-compressors.

Other events:

- RUMO OJSC took part in the most significant event of engine building the industry, which was the worldwide CIMAC 2010 Congress in Bergen. RUMO was the only participant from Russia.

A production prototype of the 6PK32 piston compressor successfully passed a set of commissioning and acceptance tests within the GPA-4RMP gas pumping unit in cooperation with United Engine-Building Corporation – Gas Turbines, JSC.

Major events of 2011:

A production prototype of the 6PK32 reciprocating compressor successfully passed a set of commissioning and acceptance tests within the GPA-4RMP gas pumping unit. That was the first completely Russian new-generation gas pumping unit for underground gas storage facilities. The gas pumping unit was designed by United Engine-Building Corporation – Gas Turbines, JSC, which had manufactured it and completed the entire set of installation supervision and startup activities. The gas pumping unit included a GTD-4RM gas turbine engine designed and manufactured by UEC NPO Saturn, JSC and a RUMO 6PK32 opposite reciprocating compressor.

Other events:

- The extended Astara compressor station (Azerbaijan) commissioned with RUMO’s 10GKNA integral engine-compressor. The station was accepted by Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliev.
- RUMO OJSC signed a memorandum of understanding with CPI (USA) regarding our joint effort to repair, upgrade and maintain imported reciprocating compressor units from any manufacturer.
- RUMO OJSC hosted an in-place meeting chaired by V.A. Markelov, deputy chairman of the board of Gazprom, A.P. Sukhov, first deputy of the Russian President’s envoy in the Privolzhsky Federal District, members of the board of Gazprom, representatives from the Government of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast and from RUMO OJSC.

The CEO of RUMO OJSC selected Mr. Andrei Gorshkov as crisis manager

The investment group of industrial companies headed by Mr. Dmitry Samorukov came to the RUMO OJSC site.

Major events of 2018:

The RUMO site was taken over by the investment group of industrial companies headed by Dmitry Vladimirovich Samorukov. The group includes Aviagazcenter LLC, Gazmashproekt LLC, NPO Gaztechnomash LLC and Anode-TC LLC, which produce equipment for the oil and gas industry.

For information:

Aviagazcenter LLC is a vendor of fully packaged gas pumping units and sets of gas pumping unit parts for for compressor stations within trunk gas pipeline systems, at oil producers and at underground gas storage facilities, with power outputs ranging from 4 to 32 MW, in package container and hangar versions.

Gazmashproekt LLC offers all types of diagnostics and expert assessments of industrial safety

NPO Gaztechnomash LLC is a research and production company based in the Zhukovski scientific research center, Moscow Oblast, and specializes in the design, development and manufacturing of power and process equipment for the oil and gas industry.

NPO Gaztechnomash LLC is a research and production company based in the Zhukovski scientific research center, Moscow Oblast, and specializes in the design, development and manufacturing of power and process equipment for the oil and gas industry.

Other events 2018:

- A new company named RUMO JSC was created on the basis of RUMO OJSC's assets. The company’s founders were RUMO-INVEST LLC and Dmitry Konstantinovich Lavrov.

The start of the project for the recovery of RUMO production capacity. For this project the company invited a Saint-Petersburg team of managers headed by CEO Oleg Bessonov. Mr. Dmitry Samorukov became the RUMO Chairman of the Board.

Major events of 2019:

A restoration project was launched at the RUMO production site. For this purpose, the company invited a management team from Saint-Petersburg headed by CEO Oleg Gennadyevich Bessonov. Dmitry Vladimirovich Samorukov became RUMO JSC’s chairman of the board.

Other events:

- A restoration project was launched in respect of our company’s utility infrastructure and production facilities. The project was implemented on a 9 ha plot of land within the boundaries of the integral engine-compressor building consisting of shops nos. 14, 15 and 20, the administration building and the adjacent area.

The company started manufacturing new types of products that it had never made before: systems and modules for 16 MW and 25 MW gas pumping units.

Major events of 2020:

We started manufacturing new products that we had never produced before: those were systems and modules for 16 and 25 MW gas pumping units. For information: a gas pumping unit is a major piece of equipment for compressor stations in a trunk gas pipeline system. A gas pumping unit is a complex and high-technology device for gas compression (pressurization) used at compressor stations in gas production, gas transport and underground gas storage.

Other events:

- We fully renovated our Welding and Preparation Shop no. 15 and Completing and Warehousing Shop no. 20 and fitted them with new high-technology equipment.

- We restored all of our utility infrastructure, our lifting equipment facilities and our major fleet of mechanical processing machine tools.

- We started restoring our main Machining Shop no. 14: we restored its thermal insulation (roofing, facades and roof lights) and constructed its interiors.

- We restored process hookups to our utility networks (electrical and gas supply). We signed direct contracts with electrical supply providers.

- RUMO JSC passed its QMS certification for compliance with the requirements of GOST R, ISO 9001-3025 and Intergazcert Voluntary Certification System.

- RUMO JSC received a Russian River Register Qualification Certificate to carry out major overhauls of ship ICEs including crankshafts.

- We restarted our activities to manufacture reciprocating compressors and internal combustion engines, as well as generator sets based thereon.

- We formalized RUMO JSC’s ownership of the integral engine-compressor production building consisting of shops nos. 14, 15 and 20 and the administration building.

A prototype of the RUMO-502 gas piston internal combustion engine successfully passed the entire set of its factory tests reaching its design parameters.

Major events of 2021:

A prototype of the RUMO-502 gas piston internal combustion engine successfully passed the entire set of its factory tests reaching its design parameters.

Other events:

- Based on new design documentation, we restored our testing rig for reciprocating internal combustion engines on diesel and gas fuel.
- RUMO JSC signed an agreement with the Russian Federation Ministry of Industry and Trade to implement a corporate competitiveness raising program.