Belarus Prime Minister made familiar with Belshina’s investment projects

BOBRUISK, 16 August (BelTA) – Prime Minister of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich was made familiar with the progress in implementing investment projects by the Belarusian tire manufacturer OAO Belshina as part of a working trip to Mogilev Oblast and Gomel Oblast on 16 August, BelTA has learned.

The Belarusian head of government visited the company’s popular tires factory and the super giant tires factory. Mikhail Myasnikovich drew attention to the progress in modernizing the manufacturing facilities, the implementation of the most promising projects, and the manufacturing of merchandise that enjoys demand in Belarus and abroad.

The Bobruisk-based company Belshina buys cutting-edge high-performance equipment that allows manufacturing top quality tires. The company aims to secure its standing on the global market.

Starting the production of full metal cord tires with a radial design and a rim diameter of 57 inches and 63 inches is the most ambitious project. It will contribute to a larger product choice and an increased output of tires for BelAZ mine dump trucks with the carrying capacity of 220-360 tonnes as well as for vehicles of some foreign manufacturers. The cost of the project is close to €254.9 million, including €215.1 million spent on equipment. The project will be implemented in two stages in 2013-2017 and will allow manufacturing 8,190 tires per annum. All the matters regarding the project’s funding are taken care of.

OAO Belshina Deputy Director General for Quality Oleg Kurakin told BelTA, there are only three internationally recognized tire manufacturers – Michelin, Bridgestone, and Goodyear. “Today it is a superbusiness. Our company, the American company Titan and some Chinese manufacturers are working to reach that standard of merchandise,” said the executive. He was convinced that such tires are the pinnacle of tire making.

Mikhail Myasnikovich praised manufacturing standards of OAO Belshina. He drew attention to the fact that the modernization of manufacturing facilities will definitely reduce the number of workers required. According to Belshina Director General Nikolai Chirun, the company prides itself on automating as much as possible for the sake of ruling out the influence of the human factor on manufacturing. Once the investment projects are implemented, the company will need 33% fewer workers, nevertheless, no massive layoffs are expected. Instead the company will regulate personnel numbers by retiring workers.

OAO Belshina will need Br292.3 billion for implementing the main investment projects in 2013 in line with the program designed to guide the company’s development till 2020. In January-June 2013 Belshina spent Br217.5 billion in fixed-capital investments. Over Br674 billion was spent in 2010-2012.

In view of the renovation of the national car park and the wider use of tires with the rim diameter of 16-20 inches OAO Belshina is working on a project to make tires for cars, crossovers, and SUVs with the rim diameter of up to 20 inches and a reduced profile of the tire itself. The company plans to turn out 1.4 million tires per annum.

Apart from that, the popular tires factory is supposed to set up a division to manufacture full metal cord tires for trucks with the rim diameter of 17.5-24 inches and a completely new model lineup. The new division is supposed to make 400,000 tires per annum. The popular tires factory will use rubber mixtures made with Intermix-type new-generation equipment.

Belshina was founded in 1972. It re-emerged as a public joint-stock company OAO Belshina in 2002 in the course of denationalization and privatization of state property. The company comprises three tire factories that make giant tires, popular tires, and super giant tires in addition to a mechanical factory and a repair division.

As of 1 August 2013 OAO Belshina had over 12,000 personnel. Their salaries averaged Br6.6 million in June.

As of 1 January 2013 Belshina’s manufacturing capacity was as large as 6.6 million tires per annum. In January-July 2013 the company turned out over 3.2 million tires. The company exports about 60% of the output.