Business news

6 Nov 2019

Belarusian BelAZ commissions new line to paint parts of haul trucks

ZHODINO, 6 November (BelTA) – The Belarusian automobile engineering company BelAZ commissioned a new line for pretreating and painting parts and components of mining vehicles with the carrying capacity of 90-450 tonnes in Zhodino, Minsk Oblast, BelTA has learned.

Chairman of the Supervisory Board of OAO BelAZ, Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich noted that the projects BelAZ implements represent an example of integrated modernization, which includes both technical retooling and efforts to improve living and working standards of the company’s employees.

The investment project to commission the new painting line cost Br35 million. It is part of a large-scale modernization program. Mikhail Myasnikovich pointed out that the company had managed to commission the new line using its own profits without taking out loans.

Thanks to modernization BelAZ will create 300 new jobs and improve working standards for 700 people (modern workstations, meals, and so on). “It is an improvement of the competitive ability of BelAZ and a gift for the people,” Mikhail Myasnikovich stressed.

Apart from that, the company’s development helps resolve many social issues and build homes for the company’s employees. Plans have been made to start building two 72-apartment residential houses for BelAZ employees this year. “The creation of proper living standards, the resolution of housing problems, and the creation of high-performance jobs will ultimately produce a synergetic effect for boosting the competitive ability of the company,” the head of the upper chamber of the Belarusian parliament believes.

Mikhail Myasnikovich also noted that today investments are channeled not only in the Zhodino-based automobile plant but in other enterprises of the holding company as well. The modernization of Slutsk Lifting-and-Conveying Equipment Plant is virtually over. Money is being poured into OAO Kuzlitmash (KLM Presses) and OAO Mogilev Carriage Works. A new project is about to be launched in Orsha.

The newly commissioned high-tech painting line occupies an area of 5,200m2. The total length of the conveyor belt is 1.5km. The new line will help improve the quality of BelAZ products, extend their service life up to 7-10 years, and reduce the environmental footprint. Modern technologies allow frugally using paints and varnishes. The company expects the new line to save €1.3 million per annum.

Equipment for the new painting line was supplied by an Italian company, which had already cooperated with BelAZ.

BelAZ constantly modernizes manufacturing facilities and expands the lineup of products. A major investment project is being implemented to create new manufacturing space, increase the output and sales of haul trucks with the carrying capacity of 90-450 tonnes. The total volume of investments is estimated at $280 million. As part of the project BelAZ has already acquired 541 units of new equipment and upgraded 183 units of current equipment.

Headquartered in Zhodino, Minsk Oblast, the public joint-stock company (OAO) BelAZ is the managing company of the holding company BelAZ. BelAZ is the world's leading manufacturer of haul trucks with a large carrying capacity and an extremely large carrying capacity. BelAZ occupies about 30% of the world’s market of haul trucks with an extremely large carrying capacity. BelAZ products are exported to more than 80 countries. The company also makes the world’s largest truck with the carrying capacity of 450 tonnes.