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These projects aimed to launch the production of car tires with the rim diameter of up to 20 inches at the mass market tires plant and to carry out the renovation of the plant that makes large tires. Modern hi-tech equipment of leading world manufacturers with a high level of automation has been purchased and installed. As a result, the plants’ productivity and the quality of products have increased, maintenance costs have been reduced, and the working conditions have improved.

“We can say that these projects have breathed a new life into our major production facilities,” the director general said. “We have expanded the range of tires at the mass market tires plant. As of today, it offers tires with the rim diameter of up to 17 inches. Previously we did not produce tires with the rim diameter of more than 16 inches. We are planning to make tires with the rim diameter of 18 inches, 19 inches and 20 inches. Plans have been made to complete all tests and launch the batch production in mid-2016. It is worth saying that the technologies used at this enterprise are a true tire manufacturing breakthrough. Therefore, we can say for sure that our products are as good as foreign analogues.”

The second project was aimed at expanding the lineup and raising the output of wide-section agricultural radial tires with a low contact pressure factor for self-moving energy-packed Belarusian and imported equipment. “One of the main objectives was to supply Minsk Tractor Works with Belarusian tires. Today we have necessary equipment; our specialists have designed a lineup of tires which can substitute many foreign analogues. Some of them have been already delivered to MTZ,” Alexei Yakovlev said.

In his words, thanks to these investment projects Belshina has launched the production of cutting-edge ties. “Our products sell well on traditional markets; besides, we are vigorously penetrating new markets, including those in distant countries. Apart from that, we have designed an additional lineup of tires for Belarusian and foreign vehicles. These products are popular with our customers because of their good quality and price,” the director general stressed.

Belshina is implementing one more large-scale investment project to launch the production of solid metal radial tires with the rim diameter of up to 63 inches at the giant tires plant as part of the Belshina’s development program designed to run till 2020. This will enable the enterprise to expand the range and boost the output of tires for BelAZ heavy dump trucks with the capacity of 90-360 tonnes and foreign-made vehicles.

The Belarusian tire factory was founded in 1972. It was converted into the public joint-stock company (OAO) Belshina in 2002. Belshina is one of Europe’s top tire makers. The company offers over 350 standard sizes and models of tires. It trades with 63 countries. The main domestic consumers include Belarus’ largest enterprises such as BelAZ, MAZ, MTZ, MZKT, Gomselmash, and Amkodor. OAO Belshina comprises a factory that makes large tires, a mass market tires factory, a giant tires factory, and a machining factory that provides the core process with equipment and tools.