History of the Company
from 1944 to the present day ...

Fierce fighting against Nazis was still continued in the summer of 1944 when people started creating anew the national economy the war had destroyed. The only enterprise to fulfil the first orders in the liberated town of Baranovichi were the engine repair shops that later grew into Baranovichi Automobile Units Plant, a modern mechanical engineering manufacturer.

Men who had been at the front line or in guerrilla regiments who returned home came to the plant to get a vocation. They married and got homes, and every further development at the enterprise became their personal life.

Those were people with exceptional character, men of the old stock who treasured the Plant's brand as their own asset. They did work themselves and brought their children to the enterprise where those were taught not only the engineering profession but highest honesty and responsible approach.

On August 9, 1944, following Resolution No.197 of the BSSR's National Economic Council (SNH BSSR) dated April 28, 1944, the head of Baranovichi region land department under the Narkomzem of the BSSR issued the order to establish Baranovichi Automobile Units Plant (order No.21 dd. 9.08.1944).

It was the starting point in the manufacture history of our Plant. The same order appointed the first director who was Mikhail Fedeneev.

Extremely hard tasks were in store for the small team. They were to organize an expeditious construction of the plant.

The task was to erect the main manufacturing building, the plant's hostel, a house for 4 families, the power station, and the cast shop by November 1945.

Alongside with the construction works the Plant's structure was being established and organized. On September 8, 1945 the Quality Control Department was set up. Technical arrangements for manufacture accompanied the construction process. In May 1945 the Plant completed the preproduction stage and introduced the technology of aluminium piston cast.

The Plant's general profile during its infancy (1944-45) may be characterized as follows: repairing automobile and tractor engines up to 4 pieces per month and manufacturing spare parts, with the total number of 159 employees as to the end of 1945.

In the following years of 1946-50 the plant's primary task was to increase the number of vehicle engines repaired. To this end its engineers had to develop and introduce basic technologies of repairing engines and spare parts; we needed to equip the plant with necessary manufacturing equipment.

In line with setting the production we had to solve the problems of training personnel.

In those years the plant was strengthened with experienced managers. On October 30, 1948 an experienced engineer, Konstantin Anikeychick, whose name is inseparable from the history of the plant's construction and growth from a small workshop into respectable enterprise of the 60s was appointed as the plant's director. K. Anikeychick was the plant's director for over 16 years and took charge of its Personnel and Vocational Training department after retirement.

The number of engines repaired during the 5 post-war years was 140 pieces per year. The number of employees grew to 198.

During this period the enterprise finally introduced the method of production by units and special benches for engine repair that become later a model for the unit flow-line method in repairing engines both for the Republic's engine repair works and the country on the whole.

The plant then repaired engines for tractors HTZ, U-2, DT-54, and KD-35.

At the end of 1951 we started manufacturing couplings С-11 for seeders. The fast and forced methods of metal cutting were introduced at the plant.

However, we faced great difficulties when it came to further large-scale implementation of new methods as the machining facilities were obsolete; we lacked hard metal tooling.

To solve these technical problems, a development engineering division was organized, more specialists were sent to study experience at other enterprises.

Since 1953 the plant started repairs of GAZ-51 lorries. By 1959 we introduced a complete overhaul of automobiles GAZ-51, ZIS-5, ZIS-120, the number of engines repaired amounted to 2500 per year, and up to 1000 GAZ-51 lorries.

In 1959 the plant became specialized in manufacturing automobile assemblies. In January 1960 it was renamed into the Automobile units plant.

The first products adopted were:

• hydraulic lift jacks, capacity 12 ton (1956);
• lever shock absorbers for MAZ-210 (1956);
• steering gears for truck for MAZ-200 (1961);
• power pulleys for tractor Belarus (1961);
• hydraulic lift jacks, capacity 25 ton (1961);
• worm screws, steering box cases and steering shafts for tractor Belarus (1962);
• steering boxes for MAZ-500 truck (1964);
• telescopic shock absorbers for MAZ-500 (1964).

In 1965 the plant's director was appointed Nikolay (Petrovich) Grishechkin (1965-1984).

During those years there continued construction of new plant's facilities. We built and commissioned two engineering shops, No.1 and No.2, and a new compressor station. New production stations were introduced: "Lift Jack", "Shock Absorber-200", "Steering-200", "Power Pulley", "Shock Absorber-500", thermogalvanic division, and tool grinding station, chemical, metallographic and measuring laboratories.

The plant introduced into production imported advanced techniques: gas carburation, nickel plating, copper coating and zinc plating, moulding, and part and assembly painting.

The plant's team is constantly striving for better production quality, greater fail-proof and longer life of its products; we search for ways to decrease metal consumption and rationalize the part and assembly design.

Since June 2, 1960 the enterprise has been named the Baranovichi Automobile Units Plant.

In 1970 the plant manufactured 48 production purpose products and one article of consumer goods - portable disc cutters.

The work preparation by the plant's engineering service allowed introducing: automated line for grinding damper piston rod; hardening and tempering machine of continuous operation SKZA-4/7 for component heat treatment. These were followed by telescopic shock absorbers assembly conveyor; steering box general assembly conveyor; emulsifier for centralized supply of production stations, etc. Pit cementation furnaces at the thermal station were modernized for natural gas supply.

All this enabled the plant to reach the following key production figures in 1975:

• lever shock absorbers - 498000 pc/year
• steering boxes - 70300 pc/year
• lift jacks with capacity 12т - 174400 pc/year
• shock absorbers 500А - 221437 pc/year

The group of consumer goods was supplemented by one more product - a car jack stand.

In the year 1975 PO BelavtoMAZ was organized, and our plant became its member. It is another milestone in the plant's history.

"… The pretty good reputation enjoyed by powerful MAZes that are produced at Minsk Automobile Plant, by KrAZes from Kremenchug, and Ural trucks has a direct relation to our Plant: these automobiles are operated with steering boxes that are manufactured here. Their smooth motion is provided by shock absorbers from Baranovichi. Everybody knows the comfortable Ikarus bus from Hungary. It employs telescopic shock absorbers produced in Baranovichi. ("Znamya Communisma", 1975).

The Plant's supply of units and assemblies to the MAZ plant required improved technical and economic characteristics from our products; the Plant therefore maintains active cooperation with a number of scientific and research institutes.

It resulted in introducing ceramic-metal parts, metal saving sections, press welded shock-absorber heads, advanced processes of galvanic plating, etc.

In 1978 we introduced a complex products quality management system (KSUP) which enabled us to decide the issues of improving quality of our products with due consideration of customers' requests. Share of products with the State Quality Mark amounts to 53.1%.

We should specially note our links with BelavtoMAZ that account for over a quarter of a century already; they have had an experience in engineering automobiles of a new generation that is really invaluable.

This explains why strict requirements that European standards apply to MAZ are, at the same time, requirements to our enterprise that supplies its assembly line with more than 130 denominations of products. These give us an impetus to increase our engineering potential and analyze situation on the market; they, moreover, require flexibility in our production management, introduction of advanced machinery and processes which ensures the plant its financial solvency.

In 1981 our plant started manufacture of steering boxes 540 for automobiles of the BelAZ family.

With the years passing we increased the output in the entire production range, enlarged it with new products manufactured. We employed new automated lines, specialized machines, advanced processes; there came enlarged manufacturing buildings. Our plant grew into a big machine engineering enterprise specialized mainly in automobile units and components for heavy trucks.

In 1984 the plant was headed by Anatoly Kalenikov. He has been director till July 2010.

In the 1980s the plant successfully introduced new products: clutch valves for MAZ and KAZ trucks, longitudinal and transverse control arms for MAZ trucks, silent blocks for cars, shock absorbers for buses, hydraulic cylinders SZhK for MTZ, hydraulic lift jacks with capacity 25 ton for BelAZ trucks, hitches for Moskvich and Zhiguly cars, axle beams with hubs and trailer locks for cars, furniture hinges, etc.

The 1980s and 1990s of the twentieth century were marked with construction and commissioning of some production facilities crucial for the plant. In 1985 we opened our company shop with the floorspace of 1182 m2, a shipping department (now the production station of torque members) of the area of 517 m2, in 1987 - the press department (1996 m2). The year of 1988 marked the end of constructing our machine assembly shop where telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers were produced, of the total area of 7.3 thousand m2. It was equipped with new highly efficient machinery and advanced technologies which enabled us to organize smooth production and timely dispatch of shock absorbers to customers.

In 1989 we put into operation a gas boiler house with the total area of 560 m2, one block of the waste disposal plant (313 m2), and a manufacturing division of 25 ton-force lift jacks, with the area of 1247 m2.

These arrangements allowed increasing the plant's production capacity considerably.

Strict requirements were applied to quality of our products. To increase the responsibility for the output we introduced in 1988 the system of state acceptance testing at the plant; it was in existence as long as till 1990.

In the difficult times of the crisis at the end of the 80's and the beginning of the 90's, the plant ensured continuous stable operation no matter how grave were the conditions of transfer to market economy. It knew no lengthy work stoppages or wholesale redundancy; no manufacture line was closed down, though political crisis and "shock therapy" badly hit the plant's economy. They resulted in broken economic links between former Soviet republics, regions and even enterprises.

The economic links got broken; the national economy experienced general imbalance; Russia who was our principal metal supplier introduced open ex-factory prices. All these factors led to decrease of output, including consumer goods. As customers were unable to pay we could not raise sales. Still more difficult was the situation with supplies - a month to a quarter advance payment was a general requirement.

In those hard conditions the plant started introducing new products that were in good demand on the market: shock absorbers for railway and metro rolling stock, sockets and mixers for new gas stoves, and bicycle treadles.

In 1994 we introduced automated units for dimensional chrome plating of damper piston rods.

To raise our competitive ability we certified our products: telescopic shock absorbers, hydraulic lift jacks, steering boxes, 7-pin plug-in electric joints, silent blocks for Zhiguly cars, hitch bars.

We transformed the very nature of our manufacture that changed from mass production into a batch one. While in the 80's the range of our products comprised maximum 40 denominations of nodes and parts by 2000 we extended it to over 200 items.

The market demanded flexibility, dynamism and on-going changes. Introduction of new products became one of our basic tasks - we annually put into production 25 to 30 denominations of new components.

We implemented a target programme of technical upgrading in our production, during the 5 recent years alone we bought over 160 machinery units.

The new equipment and advanced processes are the guarantee of high quality and competitiveness of our products in the market; export is a priority in the plant's economic policy: over 30% of our produce went to the markets outside Belarus.

We continued product certification. By the beginning of the year 2000 over 30 denominations were certified. In 1995 we introduced manufacture of hydraulic lift jacks with capacity of 5 tons, lever type grease guns, 7-pin plug-in joints for DC and AC circuits, dowels and ball studs for control arms, elaborate shock absorbers with greater reliability, and new models of shock absorbers for buses Ikarus, LiAZ, Neoplan, KamAZ trucks.

In 1995 we introduced 34 new products, in 1996 - 26, including the steering box with hydraulic booster for MAZ trucks, cab lift pumps for MAZ, dampers for the railway and metro rolling stock.

Heavy increase in the number of new products introduced demanded to develop our tool stock, to employ CNC machines, electrical discharge equipment, multi-axis boring and jig-grinding machines, and other advanced machinery.

To get a more detailed and timely insight of sales markets for new produce management of the plant organized the marketing service department with the following divisions of: sales finance, commerce and strategic development. The department's principal aim is to take arrangements targeted, at increased profit, more sales, improved cash inflow structure, including export inflow, increased competitiveness of our produce, developed distribution network, etc.

The MSD focused efforts in the recent years facilitated the plant's successful assimilation in the market economy and holding at the high level achieved. The same purpose was pursued by the plant's permanent participation in exhibitions and fairs. Each year we exhibit at 15 or 16 exhibitions, both in Belarus and foreign countries, neighbouring and distant. The plant is a permanent exhibitor at National Exhibitions in the Republic of Belarus; it regularly participates in the International Izmir Fair. It allowed the Plant signing mutually advantageous contracts with companies such as Sib-ZiL, Kemerovo, LLC "MAZservice, Yaroslavl, LLC AltayMAZservice, Barnaul, and many others.

Analysis of plant's performance proved that its management has chosen the right way. The plant enjoys annual growth of qualitative indicators: profit, exports, and cash inflow.

Thanks to these efforts, the plant has a constant stock of orders. Nowadays our products go to conveyor lines of such enterprises as RUP MAZ, JSC GAZ, LLC Likinsky Bus, LLC Pavlovsky Bus, JSC KamAZ, RUP MZKT, PO BelAZ, JSC Ural Automobile Plant, PA Volzhanin, LLC Dempferservice, and many others.

The plant's main goal in the present context is raising its effectiveness and competitiveness of its products in the domestic and foreign markets. The principal direction here for the Plant should be to implement the Quality Management System compliant with the ISO series International Standards.

In May 2001 the Plant was granted the national Quality Certificate of the Republic of Belarus of compliance to the requirements of STB ISO 9001-96.

Three years later the Plant was issued the Certificate of Compliance with the Quality Management System (QMS) ISO 9001-2000.

Baranovichi Automobile Units Plant is a core company that is located in the centre of the town; environmental problems of our plant inevitably become problems for the entire township. We understand our responsibility for stricter environmental requirements and we were among the first in the country to obtain the National Certificate of Environmental Management System for our system of environmental management in accordance with ISO STB 14001. This results from purposeful efforts and constructive activities of the entire plant's team, as well as cooperation with other town's enterprises on a number of vital issues and understanding that we find at local authorities and industrial directors.

The implemented systems considerably raised the role of plant's directors in quality management; they provided a more definite orientation to the customer. The Plant's operation came to a real accord with the adopted policy motto: "Quality is our success and welfare ". Following meticulously this principle in the field of quality and environment, the plant's departments and services will definitely reach the set goals.

The result of implementation of the Quality Management System in accordance with ISO 9000 the Plant is the 1st Class Award at the Quality-2001 competition organized by Brestsky oblispolkom, and at the Best Consumer Goods of the Republic of Belarus contest in 2002 (hydraulic lift jacks with capacity 5 t). For high achievements in the field of quality in 2001 the Plant received the Prize of the Government of the Republic of Belarus, and the Prize of the Ministry of Industry of the Republic of Belarus.

The Plant's management has always paid much attention to social services which helps maintaining high staff morale.

In 1980 the Plant's employees got at their disposal a hostel for 390 persons with equipped sports grounds. In 1991 we built a canteen for 200 persons, a bar cafeteria, and a snack bar.

To assist working parents, the Plant maintains a kindergarten for 140 children with a day nursery.

At Gat Lake, in a picturesque place, there is a children's recreation camp, Zviozdochka that belongs to the Plant. Its total area is 3.2 Ha.

Every generation of the Plant's team faced new challenges, and every time they solved ever new tasks. Everywhen these could be narrowed down to one principal goal - providing reliable and timely supply of quality and competitive components to automobile assembly lines to produce heavy trucks that are by far known all over the world.

Analysis of the Plant's 60-year historic path makes us confident to state that we have chosen the right direction and base on a solid foundation. The Plant's team can be optimistic about their future.

Thanks to the efforts made, the plant has a steady order book. At present, products of the company goes to such pipelines, as "MAZ", "GAZ", "Likinsky bus", "Pavlovsky Bus", "KamAZ", "MWTP", "BelAZ", JSC "Ural automobile Plant" and many others.