Power of inventive zeal

New developments for the agro-industrial complex have become the main driving force for the advancement of Bobruiskselmash

Three years ago, farmers were pleasantly surprised by a multi-purpose seeder of Bobruiskselmash production, which works equally effectively on both low-power and energy-intensive tractors. Now Bobruiskselmash, specialising in the production of agricultural machinery and equipment, is testing a new cultivator — it has already passed 600 hectares without breakdowns. Such innovations ensure economic growth, which, accordingly, is reflected in the salaries of employees: over the past five years, it has quadrupled. 

Dmitry Baranenko, mechanical assembly fitter. Photo courtesy of Bobruiskselmash 

Complex equals interesting 

A small team by today’s standards — over 140 people — copes with production tasks at the enterprise. Almost all of them are from working dynasties. Following in the footsteps of his parents, Dmitry Baranenko, a mechanical assembly fitter, came to the plant, “My mother worked as an engineer, my father — as a driver. With a break for the army service, I have been working here for 10 years already, now in the position of foreman. It is important to organise the work and establish the process. There are a lot of orders, deadlines cannot be missed — everyone feels personal responsibility. The management encourages hard work and initiative on the ground. The salary is satisfactory: the average for the company is more than Br2,600. If desired, it can be almost doubled — due to working on Saturdays and extended working hours.”
The young specialist noted that with each passing year, the machinery assembled in the workshops of Bobruiskselmash is becoming more complex, which makes the work even more interesting. The 2023 novelty — a seeder with a 9.6-metre span, compatible with all tractors ranging from 150 to 350 horsepower — remains a firm favourite with farmers. The prototype covers up to 90 hectares in a day — 30 more than the standard six-metre unit. This year alone, Mogilev Region took 24 of these units, and Vitebsk Region has recently acquired 23.
“Farms do not have a 100 percent provision of energy-intensive tractors, while the BELARUS 1523 tractor is not being used to its full potential. The solution was found in creating a multi-purpose unit,” explained Dmitry Baranenko. “The first such seeder appeared in Chausy District and operated flawlessly for two and a half seasons, which equates to 28,000 hectares of ploughed land. Its standard equivalent cultivates approximately three thousand hectares during the spring and autumn seasons.”
Aleksei Gudochnikov, a fitter at Bobruiskselmash, also chose a working path. According to him, he wanted a profession that would be both beneficial to society and provide for his family, “I have been working at the plant for almost ten years, having joined as a trainee fitter in mechanical assembly after college. I am involved in various stages of assembly — from individual components to finished machinery. It is rewarding to see the fruits of my labour, to know that such significant machines are made, in part, by my hands. Also, there is always the opportunity to develop here — it all depends on the individual’s aspiration.”

Creating from scratch

At the plant, they are already thinking about the next version of the machine, because a new machine lasts five years, at best, before competitors redesign it. Lead design engineer Mikhail Shkrabov knows better than anyone that in order to develop, you have to create. He has come up with several dozen new models, for which he was awarded the Person of the Year in Mogilev Region title in 2022. At 70, he still sets the tone in domestic mechanical engineering, “Our developments are picked up in Belarus and beyond. This is not surprising, because they are premised on life: before Bobruiskselmash, I worked for 20 years as a chief engineer in agriculture, so I know everything about tillage. Previously, I took existing mechanisms as a basis and improved them, but now I create everything from scratch — there are no analogues in this interpretation in the world. Today, the power of inventive zeal is no less than at the beginning of my career. I love my job and I am glad to contribute to the success of the enterprise.”

Investing in the future

A series of consistent and timely decisions, made under the leadership of Andrei Bondarchuk, the head of the enterprise since 2017, helped Bobruiskselmash reach its current level. The most important step was the focus on developing soil cultivation equipment. Collapse could not be allowed, and the new director had a personal interest in this matter, “My mother and sister worked at this plant, and I also dedicated more than 30 years to it. I started as a turner immediately after technical school, then grew to become an economist, head of supply department and deputy director. It was difficult to collect everything bit by bit, but already in 2019 we reached a minimal profit, and a year later the situation stabilised.”
Since then, Bobruiskselmash has grown in terms of industrial production output almost four times in actual prices — from Br5.9m to Br21m. Now the enterprise is actively investing in its development: last year, they modernised the boiler room with their own resources, and this year they have purchased four new CNC machines. 

TO THE POINT

Soil cultivation disc units, harrows, tractor semi-trailers, forage harvesting equipment — out of 40 items, there are about 15 main positions. In 2012, the enterprise became part of the Bobruiskagromash Holding, but it did not lose its economic independence: it independently earns money for salaries, modernisation and current needs. Products are supplied to several dozen countries — from the CIS to the African continent. Ploughs, ridgers, machines for planting and harvesting cassava — African potatoes — are popular in far-abroad countries. Orders are scheduled in advance, and export growth compared to last year has amounted to more than 260 percent.

bobruiskagromach.com

By Yulia Podolskaya