60 years in Gas Industry

1953–1965

From its establishment until 1965, the plant's activities had been closely connected with coal gas production. Workers in Rosice ensured production, overhauls, and construction of local gas facilities for the production of coal gas in Didier chamber furnaces. At the same time, the assembly department covered the entire former Czechoslovakia.

1965–1972

The period between 1965 and 1972 was marked by the gradual discontinuation and liquidation of local coal gas production furnaces. The Rosice plant had reacted to such change flexibly, and already in 1965, it acquired a licence to produce stationary pressure tanks and steel structures for halls and tubular bridges.

During this period the plant also underwent further renovation resulting in a completely new machining shop hall, a new roof above the production hall, and expansion of crane lines.

Implementation of the new production programme consisting of production and installation of "propane-butane" stations was the last big event of the 60s and 70s. These facilities were designed for the storage and evaporation of propane-butane gas and its distribution to customers that include households (urban settlements), as well as the industrial and tertiary sphere.

This production programme includes the production of pressure storage tanks and electric evaporators, including their installation and commission on the site of consumption.

1972–1989

Construction of the Družba Pipeline for transport of natural gas from the former U.S.S.R. to Western Europe commenced in 1972. Within this project the Rosice plant played the role of a supplier of auxiliary steel structures for compressor and delivery stations and pressure tanks.

The Rosice plant also produced mobile welding platforms designed for construction of the line part of the Pipeline, which was carried out by Plynostav Pardubice. During this period, work related to construction of the Pipeline took over the big part of production in Rosice.

The year 1974 brought an expansion of the production programme in terms of the production of automatic gas burners with 300 and 500 kW output. Between 1980 and 1990, the production of automatic gas burners (D 350 and D 900 innovated types), together with production of storage and evaporation stations for propane-butane, became the main production activity of the plant.

The quality of production in the Rosice plant was further supported by the fact that the D 350 gas burner developed and produced by VČP was awarded the "Grand PRIX" Golden Medal at the Pragotherm 82 Expo.

In relation to the development of burner production, the company activities were expanded by the design, installation, and service of gas boiler plants.

1989

In 1989 the Rosice plant got a modern production hall, which enabled an increased production capacity of big pressure and storage tanks.

Another historical branding milestone happened on 1 April 1991. At that time, in preparation for the privatisation of the Czechoslovakian gas industry, the Rosice plant was transformed into Východočeské plynárenské strojírny (VPS) under the state enterprise ČPP Praha.

1994

As of 1 January 1994, the Rosice plant was transformed into a corporation within the voucher privatisation. It resulted in establishment of Východočeské plynárenské strojírny, a.s.

During this time, the company's portfolio expanded with another important product. From 1994, VPS supplied LPG autogas filling stations to the domestic and Slovak markets.

1996–2000

In 1996, the company acquired another modern production hall specialising in surface finishing. The hall was equipped with an air-blasting booth, painting and drying booths, and an 8/16 t crane.

After 1996 the company reinforced its orientation of the production and supply of modern equipment for transport and storage of propane-butane (LPG). It has since then represented the fundamental production programme of VPS.

The main products are LPG storage tanks with 500-100,000 l volumes, LPG road tankers, LPG autogas filling stations, evaporation stations, and other technologies related to the utilisation of propane-butane (LPG).

2000–2013

In 1999 domestic demand was mainly saturated and, therefore, with the start of the new millennium, the company begun to increasingly focus on the European market. Within tough competition we found a demand especially for the wide assortment of storage pressure tanks for various types of media, such as LPG, ammonia, water, and air.

Road tankers for the transport of LPG and CO₂ represent important export items in the form of modern final products.

The first supplies to foreign partners were conducted in 2000-2001. VPS brand pressure tanks and road tankers were supplied to Poland (a subsidiary company, VPS Polska Sp. z o.o., was established in 2004), Germany, Austria, and Slovakia.

In 2001, a new company logo was designed for export – a blue oval symbolising a reservoir.

The sphere of export countries kept expanding in the following years. Russia was added in 2002, followed by Ukraine (2005), Belarus (2006), and many countries outside of the European Union, such as Serbia, Norway, Macedonia, Moldavia, Turkey, etc. Between 2006 and 2012 a diversified network of worksites covering the service of VPS products in the European Union countries and Ukraine was established.

2013-2019

2013 is a year of significant increase in the company's turnover. Exports of products and services already account for 95%. Since 2015, our business activities have also expanded beyond Europe, to Africa, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, where we have obtained the SASO quality certificate.

Significant investments, which took place between 2013 and 2019, were directed to the construction of new halls, the expansion of the production line to LPG storage tanks and the construction of an X-ray workplace, which increased the already very high quality of our products. The current production area is 9072 m² and consists of 9 main production halls.

In order to increase productivity, the machines were modernized and 4.0 technology was used in some workplaces. Furthermore, there was a further increase in transport capacity and thus streamlining supplies for customers. Thanks to the mentioned steps, we are gradually succeeding in consolidating our position on the market.

Present Year

This year, the construction of a new surface treatment hall and the further expansion of the production line for small tanks is planned. We also have to implement a new information system, digitization and automation in some workplaces.

In cooperation with our partners, we are expanding our portfolio with an offer for tank vehicles for the transport of LNG, including their services and the construction of LNG filling stations. As part of our renewable sources, we are preparing a solar power plant on the roof of one of the halls.