History of LDM

LDM spol. s r. o. was founded by three owners in the mid of 1991. From the very beginning it has always been and will be focused on production of industrial valves.

Začátky LDM v pronajatých prostoráchLDM started in let premises with main activity of buying and selling control valves SRV series from the contemporary company Sigma Česká Třebová. Parallely, we have intensively worked on development of our new products that should create the basis of our future production range.

In the following year - 1992, LDM for the first time introduced itself to professional public at International trade fair in Brno and at the autumn´s Pragotherm in Prague. Here a new series of three-way, screwed valves RV 102 made of bronze along with pressure-balanced valves, that arose from the basic parts of SRV valves, premiered. In connection with electrohydraulic actuator, these valves were delivered as fail-safe action valves and they very soon became truly the most known product of LDM.

Výrobní a administrativní prostory LDM používané od roku 1993 do roku 2001At the beginning of 1993, we completed PN 16 line with flanged valves RV 103 made of grey cast iron. Further we extended the range of applicable actuators to Landis & Gyr, Sauter and Johnson Controls Int. Significant step towards company´s future stability was made by buying our own premises, their reconstruction, changing into production lines and facilities and moving into them. LDM v. o. s. Ústí nad Orlicí transforms into LDM, spol. s r. o. Česká Třebová. That is what the first development stage of LDM ends with.

The beginning of the following stage is marked with a completion of development and subsequent launching into the market a brand new series RV 210 RV 215 of control valves PN 40. The valves practically at once became the top production range and speeded up further development of the company. Such a family of new products did not elude the attention of specialists and was awarded the Golden Medal prize at International trade fair MSV´94 in Brno. As the company had about 50 employees at that time and 3 years of existence so far it was great acknowledgement of the whole team´s labour.
The year 1994 was significant also in terms of technology application in production. This year we bought first CNC machines one of which was for machining the valve bodies which was a decisive step towards achievement of standard quality level and precision of machined parts. Considerable was also a decision to start penetrating the markets abroad. In this year we founded our first subsidiary named LDM Bratislava in Slovakia.
Výrobní a administrativní prostory bývalé Sigmy Česká Třebová, sídlo LDM dnes

In the mid of 1995, the management of the company made two primary decisions that influenced the future development of LDM. The former was building a system of quality ensurance according to the international standard ISO 9001, the latter was a decision to prepare an offer for buying a part of liquidated Armaturka (Sigma) Česká Třebová. Towards the end of the year, we succeeded in buying a part of premises, machinery, complete range of production and know-how including a trade mark AČT. The range of products offered was so extended by high-pressure valves, reducing, feeding, starting and injection valves series G 40 to G 92 and safety valves with additional loading series SiZ 1508.

In the following year at the Internation Trade Fair (MSV) in Brno, we displayed our own high-pressure valves with multi-step pressure reduction PN 160, injection valves PN 400 and steam-conditioning station PN 160 serving to a simultaneous pressure and temperature reduction of steam. LDM so ranks itself among the producers of one of the most demanding valves which are used in both common and nuclear power generation applications. In 1997 LDM had more than 200 employees. The main company´s effort was focused on a constant quality improvement. We applied our knowledge and experience into PN 40 sphere and results of development of high-pressure valves and further in the mid of the year we finished the implementation of quality assurance system according to ISO 9001. The inspectors of Lloyd´s Register Quality Assurance confirmed in their final audit that the system of Quality Assurance in LDM company exceeds the requirements stipulated by ISO 9001 standard. The certificate we were awarded is an obligation to the future more than reason for satisfaction that LDM products quality is satisfactory. In the year, we also extended the family of our subsidiaries by LDM servis and representative in Poland LDM Polska. In the following year, we established new subsidiary, this time in Bulgaria under name LDM Bulgaria. Simultaneously we established two commercial-technical offices in Prague and Usti nad Labem.

In 2000 LDM introduced a brand new type of flow characteristic called LDMspline® for applications in heating and launched a new valve series called COMAR designed for air-conditioning and ventilation. Another mark of quality of our products was a start of OEM supplies to Honeywell and recertification of ISO 9001.

Certifikát ISO 9001

The year 2001 saw an establishment of another subsidiary in Germany with name LDM Vertriebs- und Produktions- GmbH - Partner der Versorgungstechnik and in the autumn a new line of control valves known as BEE line began to exist. In the year we also finished development for LDM´s first electromechanical actuator ANT with 11 mm of stroke which is designed for above-mentioned BEE line valves. First hand wheel operated shut off valves with bellows packing PN 16 and 40 were launched into the market - UV 226 R. At the end of the year LDM united its two divisions and sold the old premises (division 01).

The year 2002 saw a development of high pressure valves and new series of the valve RV 805 and 806 came to exist. A new version of "Live Loading" packing was concluded. OEM supplies to Tour & Andersson began in 2002 as well.

In 2003 we were sucessfully recertified according to ISO 9001 standard and new OEM supplies began to Siemens and ESBE companies. New series of high pressure valves RV 701 and 702 including steam-conditioning station RS 702 were launched. We reconstructed assembly hall, testing and warehousing buildings and investments were made into machinery as well.

In 2004 we continued in investments into machinery to make it comply with EU standards. Our subsidiary in Germany changed its name into LDM Armaturen GmbH with a new address. A development of new series of 3-way mixing valve RV 113 came to a close.

In 2005 LDM keeps on founding new subsidiaries with new one in Russia named OAO "LDM" based in Moscow. We implement and start a development and subsequently a production of high-sized valves (DN 200 to 400) and valves 200 line. We are continuously working on development of safety valve series PV 1509.

In 2006 our company sucessfully passes recertification acc. to ČSN EN ISO 9001:2001 and launches safety valves series PV 1509 into market along with two-way valves 200 line and brand new actuator ANT 40 with stroke of 20 and 40 mm.

LDM spol. s r. o. company, as implies from what has been said above, dignifiedly follows the tradition of industrial valves making in Česká Třebová with its roots dating back to 1909 when two men Mr. Jindra and V. Šrefl decided to found a company for such a production. From the original range of production focused on small valves designed for hot and cold water distribution did not survive much. Therefore LDM produces especially the control valves PN 16 to PN 500, DN 15 to DN 400.


LDM in dates