Lesson 4 The reading module

Read the text:Vologda Machine-Building Plant (VMZ)

The plant was built in 1971 and has become one of Russia's leading manufacturers of complicated electron optics and optical-mechanical products. It specializes in production of day and night viewing sights for armored units of Russia, CIS countries, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Central Asia.

In addition to it, the plant manufactures wide angle and long-focus camera lenses, telescopic sights for hunting rifles (optical, laser and infrared), binoculars, night vision devices, telescopes and lenses. The plant's assortment under the conversion program includes over 20 articles of household appliances, agricultural and machine-building equipment. Camera lenses, binoculars, sewing machines, baking ovens are in high demand on the Russian and global market.

It may be the only enterprise in the oblast with such a wide product spectrum ranging from microelectronics to wood-working. The factory has a wide range of equipment at its disposal - mechanical, optical, assembling, precision casting, galvanic, paintwork, wiring and printed circuit board.

Fighting for its niche in a new market environment, the plant expanded its activities by opening several commercial shops. It is oriented towards producing quality equipment offering dependable performance and a long service life.

The plant has put into operation state-of-the-art equipment manufactured by WILLEMIN - MACODEL (based in Switzerland) and LEADWELL (Taiwan), a mini heat and power station, fine mechanics workshops. The employees have mastered such new technologies as exceptionally precise machining process, velocity cutting, powder paintwork and surface assembling. These technological innovations have allowed to increase the labor productivity threefold.

Production of OAO Vologda Optical and Mechanical Plant meets all the prescribed requirements of EN ISO 9001:2000 standard.

Vologda Machine-Building Plant (VMZ)

5 Klubova St., 160600, Vologda, Russia

Tel.: (8172) 722240

Fax: (8172) 258704

Originally, the joint-stock company Vologda Machine-Building Plant specialized in the production of agricultural equipment, transport vehicles for milk and foodstuffs deliveries and military hardware. The 1998 financial crisis largely affected the enterprise. The financial position of the plant became very unstable as demand for the mass-scale products it manufactured fell sharply.

To revamp production the top leadership of the plant set up special groups to work on marketing, technology, economy, finance, construction and social issues. The working groups also analyzed the demand for agricultural machinery in the Russian oblasts, including Siberia and the Far East.

The plant launched projects to develop new equipment. After a short period it began producing mini units to process milk with a capacity of 5 to 10 tons per shift. Aside from traditional products such as cheese, milk, butter and cottage cheese these shops can also produce yoghurt and milk souffle. Among the company's new products are also meat-processing shops with a capacity of 1 ton of processed meat per shift.

I. Reading Exercises:

Exercise 1. Read and memorize using a dictionary:

optical-mechanical products, camera lenses, night vision devices, enterprise, galvanic, velocity cutting, innovations, to revamp.

Exercise 2. Answer the questions:

1. What does the plant manufacture?

2. How many articles of household appliance, agricultural and machine-building equipment does the plant's assortment include?

3. Why did the financial position of the plant become unstable?

4. When did it begin producing mini units to process milk with a capacity of 5 to 10 tons per shift?

Exercise 3. Match the left part with the right:

1. It specializes in production of	a) 20 articles of household appliances, agricultural and machine-building equipment.
2. . The plant's assortment under the conversion program includes over	b) day and night viewing sights for armored units of Russia, CIS countries, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Central Asia.
3. Camera lenses, binoculars, sewing machines, baking ovens are	c) a wide range of equipment at its disposal .
4. The factory has	d) in high demand on the Russian and global market.

Exercise 4. Open brackets choosing the right words:

To revamp production the top leadership of the plant (set up /take ) special groups (to work/ to stand) on marketing, technology, economy, finance, construction and social issues. The working groups also (analyzed /specialized) the demand for agricultural machinery in the Russian oblasts,( including/working) Siberia and the Far East.

II. Speaking Exercises:

Exercise 1. Describe mini units to process milk , new technologies , meat-processing shops, Vologda Machine-Building Plant (VMZ) using the suggested words and expressions as in example:

mini units to process milk    a short period , to process , a capacity of , per shift, aside from, as cheese, milk, butter, these shops, also produce example: After a short period it began producing mini units to process milk with a capacity of 5 to 10 tons per shift. Aside from traditional products such as cheese, milk, butter and cottage cheese these shops can also produce yoghurt and milk souffle.

new technologies have mastered , precise machining process , velocity cutting , powder paintwork , surface assembling

meat-processing shops new products , also, with a capacity , of processed meat , of 1 ton , per shift.

Vologda Machine-Building Plant (VMZ) specializes , of day and night viewing sights , in production , for armored units , CIS countries , Eastern Europe .

Exercise 2. Ask questions to the given answers:

1. Question: ___________________________________________ ?

Answer: The factory has a wide range of equipment at its disposal - mechanical, optical, assembling, precision casting, galvanic, paintwork, wiring and printed circuit board.

2. Question: ___________________________________________ ?

Answer: It is oriented towards producing quality equipment offering dependable performance and a long service life.

3. Question: ___________________________________________ ?

Answer: The 1998 financial crisis largely affected the enterprise.

4. Question: ___________________________________________ ?

Answer: The working groups also analyzed the demand for agricultural machinery in the Russian oblasts, including Siberia and the Far East.

5. Question: ___________________________________________ ?

Answer: The plant launched projects to develop new equipment .