Slovakia’s ZVS Opens Advanced 155 mm Artillery Ammunition Line

11 October, 2024 The opening ceremony was attended by Pavol Cahoj, Chairman of the Board of ZVS Holding, and Robert Kalinak, Minister of Defense of the Slovak Republic. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of the Slovak Republic The Slovakian company ZVS has opened a new line for the production of 155 mm artillery ammunition in the city of Snina.

CZDefence reported on this. The opening ceremony took place on October 4 with the participation of Pavol Cahoj, Chairman of the Board of ZVS Holding, and Robert Kalinak, Minister of Defense of the Slovak Republic. The new assembly line will allow ZVS Holding to significantly increase the production of large-caliber ammunition cases in the coming years.

The new production line is expected to increase the annual production of 155 mm artillery ammunition to 360,000 shells by 2026. "By opening a new production line we are responding to the continuously high demand for 155 mm artillery ammunition in particular and also to the overall difficult geopolitical situation. I am glad that we have successfully managed to successfully implement investments in production and technological facilities and thus strengthen our position on the large caliber ammunition market.

At the same time, we contribute to the fulfilment of the strategic priorities of the EU and NATO in the field of defence," said Pavol Cahoj, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ZVS holding. The cost of investments in the production expansion amounted to EUR31.5 million. In total, more than EUR80 million were invested in the ZVS plant in Snina.

A robotic manipulator on a shell production line in Snina.

Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of the Slovak Republic

Along with the workshop renovation, the new production line was outfitted with advanced robotic systems, and some production areas were fully automated. In addition to the new projectile production line, the Czechoslovak Group (CSG), which owns 50% of ZVS, has begun reconstructing the Chemko plant in Strazske. The plant will produce modular charges for large-caliber shells.

Production is scheduled to begin in 2027. The Czechoslovak Group plans to invest EUR350 million in the construction of the new production infrastructure in several stages. Slovak company VOP Novaky opened a new production line for ammunition on Friday, August 23, 2024.

The company is part of the Czechoslovak Group (CSG), one of the largest arms manufacturers in Europe.

The special equipment is capable of filling ammunition of 81 mm to 122 mm caliber with explosives.

However, at the initial stage, the new line will produce 122mm and 120mm ammunition for tanks and mortars.