Leningradsky Metallichesky Zavod
A Saint Petersburg engineering works and major Russian manufacturer of turbines and power-generation machinery.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Leningradsky Metallichesky Zavod, commonly abbreviated as LMZ, is a long-established Russian heavy-engineering enterprise based in Saint Petersburg. Its principal business is the design and manufacture of large power-generation equipment, especially steam, hydraulic, and gas turbines used in electricity-generating stations. The plant remains on its historic site on the right bank of the Neva River, linking the modern enterprise to the industrial development of imperial Saint Petersburg and to the city’s later role as a major Soviet engineering center. LMZ was established in 1857 as a boiler works and small foundry. During its early development it expanded beyond basic metalworking into machinery for industrial and military applications. Steam turbines began to be produced at the works in 1907 under a licence for French Rateau designs. During approximately the same period, the factory also manufactured gun turrets, gun mountings, and torpedo tubes. Its naval-industrial role grew before and during the First World War: in 1912 it received an order connected with Orfey-class destroyers and entered into arrangements involving the construction of a shipyard and the licensed production of Curtis-AEG-Vulcan turbines and Vulcan-Yarrow boilers. In 1914, after Saint Petersburg was renamed Petrograd, the company adopted the name Petrograd Metal Works. At the beginning of the First World War it had four building slips and approximately 5,500 employees. The enterprise subsequently became an important part of Soviet heavy industry. Its product range developed from boilers, ship machinery, and military hardware toward large-scale equipment for electric power generation. LMZ began producing water turbines for hydroelectric stations in 1924, adding gas turbines to its portfolio from 1957. Its technologies and manufacturing capabilities were applied to thermal, hydroelectric, and other power projects across Russia and the wider Soviet industrial system. The factory received the Order of Lenin in 1945 and 1957 and the Order of the October Revolution in 1971, reflecting its perceived importance to Soviet industrial and energy policy. Since 2000, LMZ has operated as a division of the Russian Power Machines group. Within that group, it represents a specialist center for the development and production of high-capacity turbines and related power machinery. Historical production figures cited for the enterprise include roughly 2,300 power turbines with an aggregate installed capacity of about 300 million kilowatts. Approximately 700 LMZ turbines have been reported as operating at power plants in more than 80 countries, although most of the installed base is in Russia and other former Soviet republics. Internationally, the company has a substantial installed legacy but has generally occupied a smaller position than the largest global turbine manufacturers. In the 2020s, LMZ remained involved in the development of high-output turbine technology for nuclear power. As of 2021, it was developing a 1,255-megawatt low-speed turbine for the VVER-TOI nuclear-reactor design, with a stated technical path toward capacities of up to 1,800 megawatts. The company’s activities therefore span historical machinery production, turbine engineering, manufacturing, maintenance, and participation in large national energy projects. Its industrial identity is closely tied to Russian state-linked power infrastructure and to the continuing use of its original Saint Petersburg production site.
History
LMZ originated in 1857 in Saint Petersburg as a boiler works and small foundry. The enterprise developed during the expansion of Russian industrial manufacturing and retained its location on the right bank of the Neva River. Its early work included metal products and industrial machinery, while its later pre-revolutionary output expanded into naval and military equipment. The factory entered turbine production in 1907 after obtaining permission to manufacture French Rateau steam turbines. At the same time, it produced gun turrets, gun mountings, and torpedo tubes. In 1912, it received work associated with Orfey-class destroyers and made arrangements with the German firm AG Vulcan Stettin involving a shipyard and licensed turbine and boiler designs. When Saint Petersburg was renamed Petrograd in 1914, the company became known as Petrograd Metal Works. At the outbreak of the First World War, it reportedly operated four building slips and employed about 5,500 workers. Following the revolutionary and Soviet periods, LMZ became part of the industrial system supporting large-scale national infrastructure. Its focus increasingly shifted toward equipment for electric power stations. Water turbines for hydroelectric facilities were produced from 1924, and gas turbines were added from 1957. The company’s products contributed to the expansion of thermal, hydroelectric, and other power-generation capacity in the Soviet Union and later Russia. The enterprise received the Order of Lenin in 1945 and again in 1957, followed by the Order of the October Revolution in 1971. These awards reflected its role as a strategically important engineering plant. Over its operating history, LMZ produced approximately 2,300 power turbines with a combined installed capacity stated at around 300 million kilowatts. About 700 turbines were reported to be operating at hundreds of plants in more than 80 countries, although the largest concentration remained in Russia and other former Soviet states. In 2000, LMZ became a division of Power Machines, a Russian power-equipment group. Its modern role has centered on the engineering and manufacture of turbines for utility-scale generation. Industry comparisons cited for the late 2000s and early 2010s did not place LMZ among the largest global manufacturers by market share, but the company retained an important domestic installed base and specialist capabilities. A continuing area of development has been nuclear-power turbine technology. In 2021, LMZ was described as working on a 1,255-megawatt low-speed turbine for the VVER-TOI reactor design, with potential scalability to approximately 1,800 megawatts. In July 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the hacktivist group NB65 claimed to have breached LMZ’s information systems and temporarily taken over its website. The attackers alleged access to confidential business and technical material; the supplied reference presents these as claims rather than independently confirmed findings.
- 2021
Development of VVER-TOI turbine technology
[1]The company was reported to be developing a 1,255 MWe low-speed turbine for the VVER-TOI nuclear-reactor design.
- 2000
Becomes a Power Machines division
[1]LMZ became a division of the Russian Power Machines group.
- 1971
Order of the October Revolution
[1]LMZ received the Order of the October Revolution.
- 1957
Gas-turbine production begins
[1]LMZ added gas turbines to its manufacturing portfolio and received a second Order of Lenin.
- 1945
First Order of Lenin
[1]The enterprise received the Order of Lenin.
- 1924
Hydraulic-turbine production begins
[1]LMZ began producing water turbines for hydroelectric stations.
- 1914
Renamed Petrograd Metal Works
[1]The company changed its name after Saint Petersburg was renamed Petrograd.
- 1912
Expansion into naval construction and machinery
[1]The works received an order connected with Orfey-class destroyers and entered arrangements involving a shipyard and licensed turbine and boiler designs.
- 1907
Beginning of steam-turbine production
[1]LMZ began producing steam turbines under a licence for French Rateau designs.
- 1857
Founding as a boiler works and foundry
[1]The enterprise was established in Saint Petersburg as a boiler works and small foundry.
Products and positioning
A historic Russian heavy-engineering and turbine manufacturer serving utility-scale electricity generation, with particular strength in domestic and former Soviet power infrastructure.
Power-generation equipment · 1907
Steam turbines
Steam turbines are one of LMZ’s historic and continuing core product areas. Production began in 1907 under a French Rateau licence, and the technology later became part of the company’s broader role in supplying turbines for large thermal and nuclear power stations.
Hydroelectric equipment · 1924
Hydraulic turbines
LMZ has produced water turbines for hydroelectric facilities since 1924. These machines form part of the company’s long-standing contribution to hydropower projects in Russia, former Soviet states, and other international markets.
Power-generation equipment · 1957
Gas turbines
Gas turbines were added to the LMZ portfolio in 1957. They expanded the company’s ability to serve thermal and gas-fired electricity-generation projects alongside its steam and hydraulic turbine businesses.
Nuclear power equipment
VVER-TOI low-speed turbine
As of 2021, LMZ was developing a 1,255 MWe low-speed turbine for the VVER-TOI nuclear-reactor design. The reported design allowed consideration of output growth toward approximately 1,800 MWe.
Shipbuilding and military equipment
Naval machinery and armament
In its pre-revolutionary period, LMZ manufactured gun turrets, gun mountings, torpedo tubes, boilers, turbines, and other ship-related equipment. This historical product area included work connected with destroyer construction and licensed naval machinery.
Controversies
2022
NB65 alleged cyberattack during the Russian invasion of Ukraine
On July 13, 2022, NB65 claimed that it had compromised LMZ’s network, including accounts, emails, communications, contracts, financial information, and proprietary designs. The group also claimed that it had altered the company website with a Ukrainian flag and message. The supplied reference does not independently verify the extent of the intrusion or the allegations concerning internal production activity.
Brand decisions
2021
Development decision for a VVER-TOI turbineProduct launchBackground
The VVER-TOI nuclear-reactor design required a high-capacity turbine adapted to its power-generation configuration.
Action taken
LMZ pursued a 1,255 MWe low-speed turbine design, with reported potential for scaling to approximately 1,800 MWe.
Aftermath
The project reinforced LMZ’s role in domestic nuclear-power equipment development.
2000
Integration into Power MachinesM&ABackground
LMZ was incorporated into the structure of Power Machines, a Russian power-equipment group.
Action taken
The enterprise began operating as a Power Machines division while retaining its specialized turbine-manufacturing identity.
Aftermath
The integration placed LMZ within a broader Russian power-machinery portfolio.
Sources1 sources
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