A billion
drills.
One story.
From February 1957, when the first drills were made in Vilnius, to our plant in Raseiniai today. Lithuanian precision trusted in aviation, the automotive industry and watchmaking in more than 20 countries.
Production began in Vilnius in February. In the first year, 275 people made 110,588 drills.
Drills made between 1957 and 2003. A billion is not a metaphor – it is the production record.
People working at the plant in 1965. The workforce tripled in just five years.
Machines and automatic lines of our own design – built in-house by the plant in 1979.
We first made drills this fine in 1968, when we opened our micro-drill workshop. A quarter of a millimetre, with no compromise on precision.
Countries where our drills are at work. About 70% of what we make is exported.
Seven decades.
The same precision.
We started as the Vilnius Drill Plant in the city's Naujamiestis district. We grew to more than two thousand people, came through a change of eras, and today continue our work in Raseiniai.
- 1957
The beginning in Vilnius
In February the Vilnius Drill Plant starts production. The first products are long twist drills with cylindrical shanks; taper-shank drills follow the same year.
- 1960–1965
The great expansion
The workforce grows from 731 to 2,278. New products and processes are introduced and production is automated.
- 1966–1968
From the longest to the finest
Long special drills go into production in 1966, and in 1968 a micro-drill workshop opens for Ø 0.25–1.55 mm.
- 1979
Machines of our own
The plant designs and builds more than 40 original machines, automatic and semi-automatic lines of its own design.
- 1981–1989
Precision for industry and electronics
Specialisation in HSS and HSSCo twist drills Ø 0.35–45 mm, screw drills and solid carbide micro-drills Ø 0.4–2.0 mm for printed circuit boards. In 1988 single-flute cutters for light metals and plastics are added.
- 1996
AB Grąžtai
On 6 March AB Grąžtai, a joint-stock company, is founded as the successor to the state-owned plant.
- 2002
ISO 9001
A quality management system certified to ISO 9001 is introduced.
- 2003
One billion
Since 1957, the plant has made 1,000,000,000 drills.
- 2006
Product of the Year
The company receives the silver medal of Lithuania's Product of the Year.
- 2007
Raseiniai
Construction of a heat-treatment workshop begins in Raseiniai, and the first stages of production – blank cutting and heat treatment – move there.
- 2014
Online shop
The online shop opens with around 1,000 different drills and tools in one place.
- 2016
All production in Raseiniai
7 May is the last working day at the Vilnius plant. From then on, all production takes place in Raseiniai.
- 2018
Hex shank
New hex-shank drills made of cobalt steel with a special titanium nitride coating.
- 2023–2025
Solar power
With EU support, the plant installs a 200 kW solar power station producing about 175,000 kWh of electricity a year.
- Today
The story continues
Drills Ø 0.30–76.00 mm to DIN 338, DIN 339, DIN 340, DIN 341, DIN 345 and DIN 1869, special drills made to customers' drawings, and exports to more than 20 countries.
A task
from the space industry.
In drill making, precision is measured in microns – and reputation in the jobs others turn down. One of the proudest pages in our history is an order from a spaceflight company: a drill that no one else would take on.
Jobs like that call for experience and for tools we build ourselves. As early as 1968 we were making drills just 0.25 mm in diameter; in 1979 we designed and built more than 40 machines and automatic lines of our own; and we still harden our steel in our own heat-treatment workshop. When the right tool does not exist, we make it – from the drawing to the final grind.
It was not the only order of its kind. Our drills are used by aircraft, automotive and machine-tool manufacturers, and we make special-purpose drills to customers' drawings – for the jobs where no standard tool exists.
Made entirely
by our own hands.
From hardening to grinding, every drill is born in our own plant.
- 01
Our own machines
As early as 1979 the plant designed and built more than 40 original machines and automatic lines. That engineering independence is still our foundation.
- 02
Our own heat treatment
Top-grade HSS and HSSCo steel is hardened in our own heat-treatment workshop in Raseiniai.
- 03
From Ø 0.30 to Ø 76 mm
Standard drills with cylindrical and taper shanks to DIN 338, DIN 339, DIN 340, DIN 341, DIN 345 and DIN 1869.
- 04
Made to your drawing
Special-purpose drills and single-flute cutters for aluminium and PVC – when a standard tool is not enough.
- 05
Proven quality
ISO 9001 quality management since 2002, and the silver medal of Lithuania's Product of the Year in 2006.
Drilling where
precision matters.
From watches to aircraft – Lithuanian drills work where there is no room for error.
Industries
Main markets
About 70% of our production is exported to more than 20 countries. In Lithuania we have supplied the largest retail chains for more than 20 years.
From Vilnius
to Raseiniai.
Naujamiestis
The Vilnius Drill Plant on T. Ševčenkos street. The first drills were made here – and a billion more after them. 7 May 2016 was the last working day in Vilnius.
The plant today
Construction of a heat-treatment workshop began in Raseiniai in 2007, and since 2016 all production has been here. The plant also runs its own solar power station.
Collection point and office
Naugarduko g. 102, Vilnius – collect your order here and talk to us about special requirements.
Let's write the next chapter
together.
A special drill to your drawing, a wholesale order or a long-term partnership – tell us about your task.
Get in touch ↗