«Ust-Kamenogorsk Valve Plant» (shortly «UKAZ») is the largest enterprise in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the CIS for the production of industrial pipeline valves. Currently, the history of the company spans 50 years.

 

In the 70s of the last century, the active development of oil and gas fields in Western Siberia began. There was an urgent need to build manufacturing facilities of pipeline valves for the oil and gas industry.

Just then, in 1973, in Ust-Kamenogorsk, the construction of valve plant had begun, and in 1975 it was commissioned as "Kaztyazhpromarmatura" (later JSC "Neftegazmash"). Primarily, the shop of nonstandard equipment had been launched, which was to provide the construction of the plant with custom-made equipment. Along with the production facilities of the main building almost all vital infrastructures were commissioned as well.

First manufacturing facilities to produce 2370 pieces of stamp-welded were accepted by the Act of the State Commission on December 30, 1976.

In 1977 the plant manufactured the first gate valve with rising stem DN 1000 mm, PN 80 kgf/cm², and, in January 1978, the plant already manufactured hundredth valve for oil pipelines in Western Siberia. On November 3, 1980, the first steel was melted, becoming a milestone in the history of the plant.

By the early 90s the plant mastered serial production of 12 types of products: wedge gate valve with rising stem for oil and petroleum products, butterfly valves for water pipelines of thermal and nuclear power stations, tight valves for nuclear power plants, ball valves with heating for transportation of liquid sulfur and other products. The production of industrial refrigeration units for the food industry had been mastered as well.

Thus, by the end of the nineties, PA "Kaztyazhpromarmatura", whose number of employees reached 4,000, compared to 25 people in 1974, became one of the leading valve plants, specialized in supply of equipment for oil and gas industry.

In the early 90s, collapse of the Soviet Union, collapse of the financial and political system had a negative impact on the development of the plant.

However, due to the strong staff of the enterprise, in 1998, on the basis of "Neftegazmash", were established 3 plants, among which was "UKAZ". This was the moment of beginning of revival of «Ust-Kamenogorsk Valve Plant». The plant started to develop new products and restore former partnerships with customers.

In subsequent years, the plant mastered and launched production of valves with a wide range of nominal diameters, up to 2400 mm, operating at pressures up to 700 kgf/cm2.

Since the establishment of the plant, produced gate valves, check valves and wedge gate valves were supplied both for operating facilities of oil and gas recovery, transportation of crude oil and petroleum products, and for newly built as well: Kazakh-Chinese pipeline Atasu-Alashankou.

Since 2001 quality management system has been implemented, which complies with requirements of ISO 9001 international standard.

Since 2006, integrated management system has been implemented, which complies with requirements of international standards ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001.

In June 2023, a recertification audit of the IMS was carried out to confirm compliance with the requirements of ST RK ISO 9001-2016 (ISO 9001:2015, IDT), ST RK ISO 14001-2016 (ISO 14001:2015, IDT) and a certification audit to confirm the compliance of the occupational safety system and health protection requirements of ST RK ISO 45001-2019 (ISO 45001:2018, IDT). The integrated management system is found to comply with the requirements.