Ursus is a brand known and recognized not only in Poland, but all over the world. It is the oldest company producing engines and agricultural machinery in Europe. Its origins date back to 1893. Among the giant’s products, the C-325 light agricultural tractor, produced in 1959–1963, was particularly popular. Ursus vehicles were exported to over 50 countries. The company also tried its hand at the African market, and in recent years it has taken up challenges in the electromobility sector, including: in the field of assembly of electric buses. Currently, Ursus is waiting for a new owner. During the bankruptcy proceedings, a competition of offers is planned, which will take place on March 14, 2024. The company to be purchased includes production plants located in Dobre Miasto and Lublin and the Ursus brand trademark. The investor can quickly start new production due to the provided production facilities and conditions for conducting further research and development work.
– Ursus is a brand with 130 years of history that has achieved international success. The investor will take over, among others, production plants, trademarks and real estate – he will get everything needed to quickly start his business. It can benefit from the support of qualified staff and continue the operation of the brand, which has made enormous contributions to the Polish economy – emphasizes Paweł Głodek, Receiver of the Bankruptcy Estate.
The history of the Ursus brand
The origins of the company date back to the pre-war period, specifically in 1893, when an enterprise called Towarzystwo Udziałowe Wspólnej Fabryki Armatura was established with its headquarters at ul. Sienna 15 in Warsaw. Its founders were engineers Emil Schönfeld, Kazimierz Matecki and Ludwik Rossman, as well as entrepreneurs: Stanisław Rostkowski, Aleksander Radzikowski, Karol Strasburger and Ludwik Fijałkowski. Ludwik Rossman became the first director. The company’s products were stamped with the P7P mark – an abbreviation of “Posag 7 Panien”. This is due to the fact that the company was founded with the dowry savings of the 7 founders’ daughters. The production at that time had little in common with agricultural machines – fittings for the sugar, food and distillery industries, fire hydrants, as well as accessories for central heating and waterworks were designed and manufactured. In 1902, the shareholders decided to expand the plant and expand its product range to include combustion engines. At that time, the company was given a new name – Towarzystwo Udziałowe Wspólnej Fabryki Armatury i Motorów URSUS, and the Ursus trademark was used. The engines produced were most often shipped to the East and were very popular.
A new era in the history of the brand began in the years 1916-1918, when work began on the construction of a Polish tractor. The result of these activities was the creation of a prototype, and then serial production began in 1923. The next decades were marked by intensive development. The company reached more and more markets and expanded its offer with new models. In 1983, Ursus produced approximately 50,000. tractors per year. The company’s vehicles were sold in over 50 countries.
In 2016, the history of the Ursus factory in Warsaw came to an end. The company’s headquarters was moved to Lublin, to the former Truck Factory. At that time, the plant produced several types of tractors.
In the last few years, the company has been looking for new development paths, trying to conquer the African market. Attractive contracts were obtained, including: for the production of several thousand Polish tractors worth USD 50 billion for the Ethiopian market. Later, there were agreements covering the Tanzanian market and further agreements covering the Ethiopian markets. However, Ursus had problems on the primary market – it showed losses. Therefore, in 2021, the court announced the bankruptcy of the company, and now the brand is waiting for a new owner.
What will happen to Ursus?
– On March 14, 2024, there will be a competition of offers planned by the bankruptcy trustee – Paweł Głodek. The new owner will take over the entire company. He will receive the right to the Ursus brand trademark valued at PLN 7 million, as well as production plants in Dobre Miasto and Lublin, and real estate with an area of over 4 ha in Biedaszki Małe in the Kętrzyn commune – informs Kamil Dąbrowski, Representative of the Management Board of Intrum Sp. z o. o
The plant in Dobre Miasto is located at 21 Fabryczna Street, on a property with an area of nearly 10 ha. The estimated value of the plant is nearly PLN 43 million. Since 1946, it has been producing agricultural machinery. Currently, trailers, loaders and fertilizer spreaders are produced there. The Cutting and Pressing Department mainly includes machines responsible for obtaining shapes from basic materials. The prepared elements are sent to the machining department, where they obtain their final parameters. All details are assembled into components in the welding department. The plant also has 60 welding stations.
In the next step, in the assembly department, the products are assembled from elements made as part of previous processes. Then, in the painting department, they receive anti-corrosion protection and the final varnish coating. The plant also has departments that support production, such as a tool room and a warehouse.
The new owner can maintain the current production profile or change it. The current equipment of the plant enables the start of production, among others: container frames, agricultural machinery, weapons components, military equipment components, wind turbine components and others requiring machining.
The plant is well connected – it is located in the immediate vicinity of the provincial road No. 593 (ul. Fabryczna), approximately 1 km from the national road No. 51. The distance from Olsztyn is 27 km, 63 km from the border crossing in Bezledy, 77 km from the port terminal in Elbląg and 133 km from the container terminal in Gdańsk.
The plant in Lublin is located at 7 Frezerów Street and is situated on a plot of over 4 ha. In this case, the new owner also takes over movable assets in the form of production lines. The estimated value of the plant is over PLN 45 million. All Ursus tractors were previously produced in Lublin, and since 2013 also city buses. The plant area provides technical facilities, which include machines and equipment needed for the production of these vehicles. This department developed the “Elvi” electric delivery vehicle and the “Lublin” passenger-delivery vehicle.
Ursus is an investment worth considering
After purchasing the Ursus company, the investor can quickly start new production, with the support of qualified staff. It has production facilities and conditions for conducting further research and development work, as well as continuing innovative projects started by Ursus.
– The total value of movable property is PLN 13.8 million. They include laser cutting machines, pipe profiling machines, a plasma burner, an oxygen burner, press brakes with a table length of 4 m and 6 m, high-bay warehouse equipment enabling the storage of materials and components in standardized containers located in eight double-sided corridors – says Kamil Dąbrowski, Representative of the Management Board of Intrum Sp. z o. o
The offer competition will take place on March 14, 2024.
– The purchase of the Ursus company will be possible after participating in the tender competition. Written offers must be submitted by March 12, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. Its subject matter can only cover the entire enterprise. The starting price is PLN 124,535,881.82. Offers should be submitted to the office of the bankruptcy trustee in Warsaw, ul. Stanisława Augusta 75 lok. 47, 03-846. The condition for participation is to pay a deposit of PLN 20 million to the bank account of the URSUS bankruptcy estate by the last day of the deadline for submitting offers. Te will be opened on March 14, 2024 at 11:00 – sums up Paweł Głodek, Receiver of the Bankruptcy Estate.
Source: Intrum
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