This time in the column I SHARE GGG HISTORY we have talked with Tomas Cesaitis, the engineer tester.

Tomas, let’s move on to the past when you had to choose a profession. Was it a serious challenge for you, or a dream came true?

I was always interested in exact sciences and succeeded. Growing up, the desire for technical subjects did not fade, so my studies were related to that. I think my profession chose itself.

What were the first steps in your professional career, and when did you join the GGG team? What position did you hold?

After graduating, in 2007 I joined the GGG team at the quality laboratory as a technical tester. That was my first job by specialty.

Today you have worked in the quality department as a test engineer. Probably a lot of people would ask, so what do you test, Tomas?

I do exactly what my job title implies. Nothing is hidden here. I test the manufactured products and solve the problems related to the performance of tests and/or the obtained results. There is nothing to hide. Part of tests are related to weapons, ammunition, and shooting. And who would not like it?

You take part in all three levels of cartridge quality testing – before the cartridge assembly operation, in the direct monitoring of collected cartridges, and in batch acceptance tests. Which of the following verification levels requires the most time?

All tests are equally important. However, the final batch acceptance tests is the most time consuming.

Ballistic and mechanical cartridge inspection. Could you tell us more about this?

Mechanical cartridge inspection is the process when the cartridge tightness and the pulling force are checked. Then, powder and bullets are weighted. There are interesting problems related to this. For example, does the viscosity of the lacquer affect the tightness of the cartridge; how the bullet velocity differs if the neck of the case is varnished or unvarnished? How much does the bullet pulling force affect its trajectory during the shot? But here are tricks...

The company has two equipped outdoor shooting ranges. The first one 580 meters (1902 feet and 10.6 inches) and the second indoor 50 meters (164 feet and 0.5 inches) long. What is the purpose of these?

Both shooting ranges are under the roof. One shooting range we call the short (50 m). It is subjected to functional tests. In other words, we watch how produced cartridge works with the weapon. The other shooting range we call the long (580 m). In the latter, ballistic tests of cartridge and penetration tests are performed. We also measure scatter, bullet speed, and trajectory.

You have the collection of cartridges and its components which are deformed during the shot. Each exhibit has a very clear reason for deformation. Could you name the most unexpected deformation reason?

Firstly, I would like to mention that coming of all the exhibits is not the cause of any incidents. Thus far, no unpleasant incidents happened in the lab, and we work in a way that obviates the possibility of this happening. The most interesting and statistically unexpected exhibit is the cartridge case shot through it. There seems to be something like this here, if not the way it occurs. During the functional tests, leaked case during the shot time bounded to the edge of the firing hole and entered to the fire zone. At that time, another shot was taken. The latter, before not yet descended on the ground, got right in the middle. It's the same thing as tossing a 5 cent coin of into the air and trying to shoot it.

What personal qualities should one have dreaming of working as a test engineer at the Giraites Ginkluotes Gamykla?

It has to consist of a teaspoon of curiosity; a pinch of logical thinking; a couple of glasses of exact scientific knowledge; a bit of stubbornness mixed with the ability to plan. Everything we cover with a layer of “I like what I do” and get something (lasagne, or maybe a guacamole), what, I think adding a little practice would suit for this workplace.

You are a devoted fisherman and probably like to boast of catches. What is the biggest fish you have caught?

I love fishing, but it is a bit pushed aside right now. I do not like to brag about catches, strange as it may seem. I prefer stories related to those catches, such as in the late fall undressing all the fishing gear with one hand and jumping into the cold water to pick up a 68 cm long asp on a very steep coast. Fishing is a good time for me. Then emotions are in the fight with the fish. The catches are not very important. They usually go back to the water.

Tomas, if you were given a TV broadcast and offered to host a show in your own format. What would be this show about?

In general, I would hardly volunteer for such an adventure. However, if I had to, I would choose something like Golden Mind or Who and Why.

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

I would say concise and simple. GGG is a small calibre ammunition factory. The good do not need bragging, and for the bad it will not help.