BelOMO

BelOMA (Belarus Optical & Mechanical Association; Belarusian: Беларускае оптыка-механічнае аб'яднанне, Bielaruskaye optyka-miehanichnaye ab'yadnannie; Russian: BelOMO or Belorusskoe Optiko-Mechanichesckoye Obyedinenie - Беломо or Белорусское оптико-механическое объединение) is the leading optoelectronic device producer in Belarus, founded in 1954 as the Minsk Mechanical Factory. The main factory opened in Minsk 1957 and was named after the Soviet physicist Sergey Ivanovich Vavilov (1891–1951). At first, BelOMA made photographic equipment and lens-making machinery for state use. It now manufactures a wide range of products, including military and consumer optical products. During the 1980s it produced the Agat-18 and Agat-18K half-frame 35mm cameras, still popular among Lomographic photographers. A joint venture with German optics maker Zeiss was begun in 1995 and ended 2023/24. The firm produces lenses and optical elements for microscopes and other optical equipment with ISO 9001 certification. MMZ—BelOMA factory estimates its global market share in optical sights, rangefinders and NVDs at 2-3%, with 10% of Russian market and 80% of local market. The factory also produces gas meters, car units, infra-red emitters, juicers and other civil products.