Mesko, together with the companies within the Mesko Capital Group, is currently the only entity in Poland producing 155 mm ammunition. The shell production takes place at the facility in Kraśnik. The company is expanding its capabilities in this area (Expansion of Mesko’s Kraśnik Facilities).
Photo: Mesko
“The investment in the Kraśnik factory is a milestone in Mesko’s development and a response to the growing needs of the Polish Armed Forces. We are increasing our ability to deliver ammunition that is crucial for Poland’s security and for strengthening national defense at a critical moment for Europe and NATO,” emphasized Renata Gruszczyńska, President of the Management Board of Mesko.
“Kraśnik is already a key production site for 155 mm ammunition bodies. I want to strongly emphasize that we are not starting from scratch—we are not clearing forest for a new investment—but rather developing our existing technological and production potential, in order to be the only company in Poland to expand ongoing and established production. Just as importantly, we manufacture the critical components of the entire process ourselves. We are not assembling ready-made parts imported from abroad. At the same time, we are working intensively to establish the capability to produce modular charges for 155 mm ammunition at our facility in Pionki. Once this goal is achieved, they will be produced in Poland. We are currently advancing the business plan and seeking funding for this effort,” emphasized Renata Gruszczyńska, President of the Management Board of Mesko.
She adds that the modern production lines and newly acquired machinery for the Kraśnik factory will enable increased automation and efficiency, improve working conditions, and support a steady rise in employment in the Lublin region.
A Rapid Increase in Production
Mesko is steadily implementing investments aimed at increasing its production capacity for 155 mm ammunition at its factory in Kraśnik. Recently, the company has modernized equipment used for hot plastic forming, mechanical processing, and heat treatment. It has also acquired modern lathes and surfacing machines, as well as lifting equipment and control and measuring tools. Renovations were also carried out in rooms designated for surfacing machines and parts of the press plant’s production hall.
In the second half of 2024, efforts to multiply the company’s production capacity in the 155 mm caliber area were significantly intensified. Using its own funds, Mesko purchased a real estate complex from the Rolling Bearing Factory in Kraśnik, consisting of three plots with a total area of approximately 1.53 hectares. The acquired land is equipped with the necessary industrial infrastructure. The company also bought a plot of over 1 hectare from the Kraśnik municipality for warehouse space. Additional equipment purchase agreements have also been signed.
Based on the developed potential—and with financial support from the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of State Assets through the Capital Investment Fund—Mesko is implementing a project for a rapid expansion of its 155 mm shell production capacity to 150,000 units per year.
The work is progressing rapidly. Later this year, the company will begin expanding the production hall to approximately 8,000 square meters. The scope of the project also includes the modernization of existing facilities. The investment is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2027.
A Key Investment for National Security
“The investment in Kraśnik is not only about increasing our company’s production capacity, but also about genuinely strengthening the entire national defense industry. We are building technological and manufacturing independence in the area of strategic ammunition for the Polish Army, which—given the current geopolitical realities—is of key importance for national security. This project is part of a broader strategy to Polish-source the supply chain and build end-to-end production capabilities within the territory of Poland,” emphasized Krzysztof Marwicki, Member of the Management Board of Mesko.
“Thanks to this investment, Mesko is becoming the cornerstone of Poland’s capability to conduct sustained artillery operations. Weapon systems like the Krab self-propelled howitzer or the K9 Thunder require a constant and high-volume supply of ammunition, and our efforts will ensure the ability to meet that demand continuously, without relying on external suppliers. This is a concrete response to the needs of a modernizing army and a key step toward ensuring its highest level of combat readiness,” said Marcin Ożóg, Member of the Management Board of Mesko.
It is worth recalling that on March 28 of this year, the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) submitted applications to the Capital Investment Fund of the Ministry of State Assets for co-financing aimed at increasing the production capacity of 155 mm artillery ammunition. The fund was established under the Act on Financing Measures to Increase Ammunition Production Capacity.
Currently, the PGZ-Amunicja consortium is implementing a contract signed on December 22, 2023, worth 11 billion PLN, on behalf of the Armament Agency. The agreement covers the delivery of nearly 300,000 rounds of 155 mm artillery ammunition between 2024 and 2029. The contract is being carried out under the National Ammunition Reserve program.
Based on a press release