The factory opening
Semargl, part of Kalashnikov, opened a robotics factory at Novoorlovskaya in Russia, Kommersant reported on 4 June 2026. It will manufacture mobile transport platforms, automated storage systems and flexible cells. The report forecast that national warehouse-robot production capacity would double to 2,700 units annually.
Kommersant cited government investment above one billion roubles and a 7,700-square-metre plant. The SEZ’s 3 June notice reported commitments near one billion, 686 million spent, and 7,600 square metres overall, including 5,900 for production.
The original proposal
The SEZ's 30 August 2023 announcement described Semargl's proposed plant for automated warehouse, lifting and transport, and robotic systems. Intended applications included industrial production, warehouse logistics, retail, pharmaceutical manufacturing and food production. The proposal requested one hectare for a 5,500-square-metre building, with investment of 570 million roubles and 150 new jobs envisaged. It identified the company's own DIACON WMS software as the automation platform, noting its inclusion in Russia's register of software. Production was scheduled for the first quarter of the project's third year.
A revised building plan
On 27 December 2023, the SEZ reported that Semargl had increased the proposed building area from 5,500 to 7,000 square metres. The same notice expected production to launch in January 2026; this was the timetable published at that stage.
Construction in 2025
The SEZ's 17 June 2025 notice recorded Semargl's foundation-stone ceremony at Novoorlovskaya. A construction permit for a 7,700-square-metre facility had been obtained in late May, and building work had begun. The notice described the planned production specialisms as:
- Industrial robots.
- Automated storage systems.
- Lifting and transport systems.
Launch was scheduled for 2026. The project was being implemented under the national programme for developing production equipment and automation. Announced investment remained 570 million roubles, with 150 new jobs anticipated.
The wider zone's launch programme
In its 18 November 2025 report, Kommersant described the previous day's city-government meeting. The governor announced plans to commission eleven new SEZ production facilities in 2026. The zone's press service said these were at Novoorlovskaya, and cited Semargl's planned robotics production. The programme also covered radioelectronics, gas-turbine engines and innovative stage equipment. City-government figures put resident investment in the first half of 2025 above 15.3 billion roubles, 60% higher than a year earlier. These figures covered SEZ residents' projects, not Semargl alone.
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