This time in the column I SHARE GGG HISTORY we talk to the operator-tuner Herbertas Romeika

Herbertas, you joined the GGG team in 2007 and have been an operator-tuner for 13 years. You will probably agree that this position is very dynamic. Is there room for creativity?

Of course, the work is very dynamic. There is always room for creativity. I had had a lot of learners, each of whom came up with something new to speed up the work.

How the company has been changing over 13 years of your work? You are a loyal employee of the GGG Company. What motivates you the most?

In 13 years, the company has changed beyond recognition in a good way. Under the leadership of the current CEO Aleksandras Nikonovas, GGG has become a modern company where I work very willingly.
Management style is democratic and a very friendly collaborative atmosphere exists in the workplace. We feel that we are needed for the company and society.

You maintain more than one of the equipment unit of bullet production. What are these devices/ or machines and what functions do they perform?

Bullets are made on a cold stamping press. In order to have a commercial appearance, they must be treated (polished, ironed, dried) on a special bullet polisher.

How do you measure the results of your work?

The results of the work are good if the ready-made bullets meet NATO standards and we can fulfil the orders we receive.

Let’s talk about the process of bullet production. It starts, as you mentioned, at the cold stamping press. How many operations does it perform? What blanks are needed to make bullets with this machine? What are the basic tools you need?

The bulletting machine performs 14 interrelated operations in a single stroke. This is the most complex device in the company. Its tuning it requires to provide multiple moves forward, just like in chess. The bullet is made of two or three blanks of tombac caps, lead, and steel cores. The cap is stretched to the required size, cores are inserted, the ends are clamped, rolled, bullets are calibrated, grooved and finally calibrated again.
GGG produces military bullets for M80 and SS109 NATO ammunition, 147 g FMJ, 55 g FMJ and 62 g FMJ bullets for civilian ammunition. Bullets for the civilian market are used for target shooting, but we follow measurements that meet NATO standards. Various devices are used to determine the total length of the bullet, the thickness of the shell wall and its deviation, the shape of the spike, the shape of the sleek ring, the location of the bullet groove, and the diameter. The concentricity of the bullet point and sleek ring and finally the outer diameter of the bullet are also determined. All measurements are documented. Each measurement has its own tolerance range that must be strictly adhered to. The final ballistic check-up takes place at our shooting range. Only bullets that meet all quality requirements may be used.

What qualities should a person working in your job have?

When working, you need to concentrate, be careful, think logically and, of course, dedicate yourself to work. I often think about work, about its successful moments or problems when I am at home, too.

Herbertas, imagine you have the opportunity to test yourself in another field of activities. What would your choice be?

I have worked all my life in military fields. Therefore, I think if health permitted, I would be a soldier.

The reader would be interested to hear what you like to do in your free time.

I have a lot of cultural hobbies. I participated in amateur theatre, danced, sang and played in an ethnographic ensemble. Later, I learned to paint impressionistic style paintings. I also grow flowers, spices, vegetables, berry bushes, and so on. My latest hobby is taking photos and sharing them on Facebook. I like to make photos of architecture, flowers, and landscapes.

What hobby would you choose if you had no time or money constrains?

I would create a park based on Claude Monet paintings. Of course, I’m doing what I can now, too. I grow flowers and spread their seeds in the surroundings of Kaunas. It’s a lot of fun when they bloom.

There are so many beautiful epigrams about success. How would you describe success?

Become happy in yourself and then everything around you will unfold successfully.

And finally, if you had to give a short message to a news portal describing the company's activities, how would it sound?

GGG works for our freedom and yours!