— Today, when almost every Belarusian family has a car, and the country’s economy is dynamically developing and improving, Belshina probably has no problems with sales?
— Yes. Belshina has installed modern equipment with the level of automation up to 95%. This allows us to produce high-quality products that meet modern market requirements. In addition to supplying individuals, we are one of the leading suppliers of tires for manufacturers of motor vehicles, road-building and agricultural machinery of our country. Among our main customers are BelAZ, MAZ, MTZ, Gomselmash, Rostselmash, St. Petersburg Tractor Plant and others. We are constantly cooperating with them, developing tires with demanded characteristics for them, including customized tires. 60% of Belshina’s products are supplied to Russia, and our customers also include Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Iran and Pakistan. Africa is considered as a promising long-haul segment. At the same time, we are working on options to increase sales to counterparties from Egypt, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
— What investment projects are being implemented at your enterprise? Tell us about them. What will their realization bring to life?
— We are completing the implementation of the investment project for the creation of industrial tires of radial design with a seating diameter of 25-29 inches for dump trucks, loaders and bulldozers. Three stages of the project have already been implemented, resulting in the production of 16 new models of industrial tires. The delivery and installation of vulcanizing equipment is being completed, which will make it possible to reach the planned capacity of 19.8 thousand pieces of tires worth more than 33 million dollars a year.
The investment project to increase the capacity of the passenger stream of the mass tire plant can also be attributed to the promising ones. The sum of investments under the project this year and next year will amount to 19.3 million dollars. We plan to produce 400 thousand pieces per year, which will give an increase in revenue of 14.1 million dollars. At the same time other projects are being realized, which will strengthen the economy of both the enterprise and our country.
Belshina is actively carrying out activities on the introduction of robotic complexes at various technological processes, which will get rid of the human factor and increase labor productivity. In the summer it is planned to introduce in the workshop of raw material preparation a robotic complex for removal of rubber kip with further packing into containers.
— What has been done at the enterprise in terms of import substitution over the last three years?
— In order to fulfill the state program on import substitution, over the last three years Belshina specialists have developed and mastered 66 new tire models. Recently, taking into account the developed development strategy, we have been developing a new generation of low-profile passenger car tires with a 17-20 inch seat diameter, developing a line of premium passenger car, light truck and truck tires with improved technical characteristics, creating a line of passenger car tires designed for electric vehicles, developing a new class of passenger tires for four-wheel drive off-road vehicles, ULTRA FLEX low-pressure tires for the agricultural sector.
By the way, last year our new passenger tire with all-season tread pattern of Artmotion All Seasons line became the winner in the competition among manufacturers of industrial products «Leaders of Industry of the Republic of Belarus-2024» in the nomination «Product of the Year» in the category «Discovery of the Year».
— What is being done to compete effectively with other manufacturers of similar products?
— Today we have to work in conditions of huge competition, when it is necessary to stay up to date. Taking into account the market requirements and the latest achievements of the tire industry, specialists of technological and design services of the enterprise are constantly working on updating and expanding the range of products, improving their quality.
Thus, over the last five years more than 120 new models of popular tires have been put into serial production.
Our flagship brands are summer and winter variants of tires of Artmotion, Artmotion HP, AstartA SUV lines of demanded tire sizes. The product portfolio also includes a line of all-season tires under the brand Artmotіon All Seasons. Our products are used for agricultural and logging machinery, and there are offers for vehicles used in off-road conditions.
An innovative product is a cargo industrial tire with a 25-29 inch seat diameter under the Forcerra Industry brand. Recently we have offered the market a new line of premium passenger tires Artmotion PREMlUM. The main idea of this brand is preservation and popularization of national traditions of the Republic of Belarus.
Belarusian graphic elements: ornaments, symbols, runes, amulets, made in an asymmetrical manner, are used in the design of the sidewall of the premium tires. Unique nano-mixtures, developed using the proprietary GREEN Magic technology, give the tires good traction and traction properties on dry and wet roads, as well as reduce rolling resistance, which allows to significantly save on fuel.
Nelly Zigulya
Photo from the company’s archive
