About us

ZVI a.s., is the traditional Czech manufacturer of medium caliber ammunition, weapons, pyrotechnical systems, and specialized products for military aviation. It builds on more than a century of engineering and arms manufacturing in the Vsetin region. Systems and products developed and supplied by ZVI are finding their place in arsenals of the Czech Armed Forces and are being supplied to numerous countries of four continents.

The company operates two manufacturing premises - in Vsetin and Slavicin, as well as its own shooting range in Strelna, primarily focusing on production-related testing, while providing analogical services to other enterprises and manufacturing companies too.

ZVI is the only Czech-qualified supplier of 30 x 173 mm ammunition for the Czech Army’s Pandur 8x8 vehicles, and is a qualified supplier of medium caliber ammunition to several foreign Armed Forces as well. By maintaining the production capability to supply the existing weapon systems within the Czech Armed Forces, ZVI continues in the long tradition of its predecessor “Zbrojovka Vsetin”. Due to its own R&D capabilities, close co-operation with research institutes and various Czech manufacturing companies, ZVI contributes to the consolidation and self-sufficiency of the Czech defence industries. ZVI is a member of Defence and Security Industry Association of the Czech Republic and is a holder of Quality Management System certifications according to CSN EN ISO 9001 and AQAP 2110.

In August 2025, the CSG industrial holding acquired a majority stake in ZVI company.  CSG plans to invest in extensive modernization and expansion of ZVI’s production. Another priority is integrating ZVI into CSG’s export projects and embedding it further into the global defence industry supply chains. CSG also plans to invest into the development of new ammunition products and additional calibers and to place this production within ZVI’s facilities. This will result in a significant expansion of ZVI manufacturing capabilities and marks a new era of substantial growth for ZVI.

Predecessor of ZVI, named “Zbrojovka Vsetin”, was established in the 1937 year as a subsidiary of the former Zbrojovka Brno. The main task was the production of machine-guns and ammunition for the Czechoslovak army.

During the 2nd World War the whole concern of Zbrojovka was integrated into the German war industry. A new production facility for machine guns with an initial capacity of 420 units per year reached within a few months a capacity of 4 800 units per year. Further along the war the cannon FF20, machine-gun MG151, AAA machine-gun cannons "FLAK" and other types of weapons and ammunition were manufactured. Also, several series of the light machine-gun ZB30 model 27 were produced – the famous weapon that was developed yet before the war in Zbrojovka Brno and was later also manufactured in England and Canada under the license name BREN. The most typical product within the German occupation was the aircraft cannon MG 131 in caliber 13 mm, whereof e.g. in 1944 year an incredible quantity of 42 837 units was manufactured.

After the 1945 year the ammunition of various calibers, machine-gun Gorjunov caliber 7.62 mm, tank gun P 27, bazooka T 21, aircraft gun NR 23, two-barreled antiaircraft gun PLDVK 30 mm, bracket weapon ZH 59 caliber 12.7 mm, universal machine-gun UK 59 caliber 7.62 mm, as well as modified UK 68 caliber 7.62 mm NATO were gradually being manufactured.

In the 1950 year Zbrojovka Vsetin became an independent company. As a result, a necessity to introduce new production programs aroused, in order to utilize the capacity of already existing technology. Attention focused to the textile industry which became the decisive production program of Zbrojovka Vsetin in the following years. Production of great-diameter knitting machines and later also the production of hydraulic and pneumatic jet looms were gradually transferred to Zbrojovka Vsetin.

Manufacturing and developing the textile machinery soon proved to be a production program with excellent prospects. Production and engineering accuracy gained in the previous years within the military production was successfully utilized in these new projects. Together with the application of the revolutionary invention of pneumatic exchange woof at weaving, the textile machinery program led to a great success in the global scale. As much as 7 500 employees were employed at Zbrojovka Vsetin in that period, and textile machines were exported to 60 countries of the whole world.

After the 1989 year, in the context of political and social changes in the country, four independent successor companies came into existence: ZBROJOVKA VSETIN INDET a.s. with production program of electric and nonelectric detonators and initiators, TRUSTFIN a.s. which was engaged mainly in the production of air weaving machines and great-diameter knitting machines, STIM ZET a.s. manufacturing cutting tools, and ZBROJOVKA VSETIN a.s. focusing on production of weapons and ammunition, complemented with an engineering production.

In the 2000 year Zbrojovka Vsetin a.s. was renamed to ZVI a.s. The company, with its inheritance of production with high added value, and many special skills kept within its staff, gained in the year 2004 its new strength and stability thanks to a new strategic partner, and became a member of MPI Group of Companies.

As of August 29, 2025, ZVI a.s. gained a new strong majority owner and became a member of the Czechoslovak Group (CSG).