Fablok

Fablok is a Polish manufacturer of steam (later diesel) locomotives, based in Chrzanów. Until 1947 the official name was "The First Factory of Locomotives in Poland Ltd." ( _pl. Pierwsza Fabryka Lokomotyw w Polsce Sp. Akc.), Fablok being a widely used syllabic abbreviation of "Fabryka Lokomotyw". It is now named "BUMAR - FABLOK S.A. (corporation)". Fablok is located in the town of Chrzanów in Lesser Poland.

History

Fablok was established in 1919. A year later a contract was signed with the Polish government to supply 1200 steam locomotives within ten years to the
Polish State Railways (PKP). 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 1936, Fablok produced five Luxtorpedas (fast railcars) for PKP. They were based on the Austro-Daimler's design, but substantially modified.

Two experimental fast steam locomotives were built in 1937. One of them (Pm36-1) 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.

During World War II Fablok was a part of the Association of German Locomotives Companies ( _de. Deutsche Lokomotiv-Vereinigung).

The company was nationalized in 1947, and the official name changed to Fablok. 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 Fitzner and Gamper (from 1945 "Fabryka Budowy Kotłów"; Boiler Construction Works) of Sosnowiec, later also by other producers.

Production of diesel locomotives started in 1948. From the early 1960s the product range diversified into rolling stock (rail and tram) components.

In 1977, the production profile expanded into construction equipment and its name was changed into "Fabryka Maszyn Budowlanych i Lokomotyw BUMAR-FABLOK" (Factory of Building Machinery and Locomotives BUMAR-FABLOK). The factory was taken over by "Zjednoczenie Przemyslu Maszyn Budowlanych BUMAR"(BUMAR Association of Building Machinery Industry) 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.

In 1999, the company received ISO 9001 certification.

The "Fablok" Employees’ Joint Stock Company (JSC) 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 (part of the privatization reforms) in 2003, the "Bumar-Fablok" Joint Stock Company ownership was transferred to the Fablok Employees’ Joint Stock Company.

References

* [http://www.fablok.com.pl/index.php?lang=en Official history]
* cite book
last = Pokropinski
first = Bogdan
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Polskie parowozy eksportowe
publisher = Muzeum Kolejnictwa
date = 1993
location = Warszawa
pages =
url =
doi =
id =
isbn = pl icon