VOP CZ is celebrating 80 years of operation this year as it moves into a new stage focused on Western military platform maintenance and production. The Director, Vlastimil Navrátil, explains how the company uses its long-standing repair experience as a foundation, discusses the Ministry of Defence’s influence on the company’s strategy, and shares why civilian engineering production remains part of the business.
This year marks the company’s 80th anniversary since its founding in Šenov near Nový Jičín. What milestones in the company’s history do you view as pivotal to its current position?
VOP CZ’s past is closely linked to the evolution of the Czech defence industry. The company began after World War II as a repair facility for military equipment, with servicing and maintenance as its main functions. This skill in keeping equipment operational and up to date became one of the key foundations of the company’s lasting success.
In my opinion, the transformation era after 1989 was pivotal, requiring us to reshape the company to fit an entirely new economic reality.
We incrementally forged alliances with foreign partners and ventured into civilian production. This helped us expand our product range and keep production running smoothly, even when military contracts were limited.
Equally significant have been our recent investments in upgrading production infrastructure and technology. These advancements have given VOP CZ the capabilities needed to engage in major defence modernisation projects and cross-border industrial collaboration. This year is another major milestone – we are beginning to service and build Western vehicle platforms.
As an important Ministry of Defence partner, how does VOP CZ’s relationship with the ministry impact its production activities and collaborative programme?
Cooperation with the Ministry of Defence is fundamental to the Military Repair Enterprise and has a major impact on the company’s strategic direction. The company seeks to handle all phases of military equipment lifecycle management – repairs, maintenance, upgrades, and technical support.
This mission requires meeting high benchmarks for quality, technology, and safety. Yet it also opens doors to involvement in major modernisation projects, often undertaken alongside other companies in the defence industry.
For VOP CZ, this means not only stable orders but also access to new technologies and know-how. Thanks to this, the company can gradually integrate into the supply chains of major global defence industry companies.
In addition to the defence sector, you are also involved in civilian engineering production. What new technologies do you plan to introduce in the coming years?
Civilian production enriches VOP CZ’s manufacturing portfolio and provides a pathway for technological development. Our upcoming priorities centre on deepening digitalisation and expanding automation capabilities, particularly within welding operations.
We are slowly adding more robotic work areas and smart diagnostic tools to enhance production efficiency. Additionally, we are integrating smart manufacturing principles to improve production planning and optimise capacity. We are also tracking new technological advances such as AI and modern lifecycle management. Our long-term vision is to maintain competitiveness and to develop a production environment that responds flexibly to both defence and civil-sector needs.
VOP CZ is celebrating 80 years of operation this year as it moves into a new stage focused on Western military platform maintenance and production. The Director, Vlastimil Navrátil, explains how the company uses its long-standing repair experience as a foundation, discusses the Ministry of Defence’s influence on the company’s strategy, and shares why civilian engineering production remains part of the business.
