NEWS

Ford Sollers has completed the project to increase the level of the Ford Kuga crossover localisation that was made possible owing to a growing demand for the model in Russia.

Since early 2017, large plastic parts were localised for the production of Ford Kuga in Yelabuga, such as plastic mouldings, parts of rear and front bumpers, and plastic body kit. Parts are made of polymers produced by TatKhimPlast. In addition, Kuga received new steel forged wheels, tyres from Pirelli and Continental. The Russian-made raw materials are used for steel wheels (Severstal). All localised components are already installed on Russian-manufactured Ford Kuga. The average level of localisation for the model range produced in Russia currently exceeds 60%.

In addition, to launch the production of a new-generation crossover, the company upgraded and introduced new testing and quality control technologies. Total investment to the Ford Sollers facilities in Russia, including preparations for the production of the new Ford Kuga, amounted to about $1.5 billion.

The company also has its own engine plant in Yelabuga, where a 1.6-litre Duratec engine is produced. The localisation of this power unit completing Ford Fiesta hatchbacks and sedans, EcoSport subcompact crossover, as well as Ford Focus hatchbacks, sedans and C-class station wagons, has already reached 78%.

On October 27, Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov had meetings with the Bulgarian delegation led by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Russian Federation Boyko Kotsev and with the State Secretary and Deputy Minister of National Economy of Hungary, Istvan Lepsheni. The events were attended by Almaz Khusainov, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of Tatarstan.

At the first meeting, Rustam Minnikhanov noted that Tatarstan and Bulgaria share common history and culture. According to the Tatarstan President, a large-scale work is underway in the republic to preserve its historical and cultural heritage.

During the conversation, the participants to the meeting addressed the issues of increasing the mutual trade turnover, closer cooperation in engineering, agriculture, petrochemicals, tourism, and also considered opportunities for cooperation between enterprises.

At the meeting with State Secretary and Deputy Minister of National Economy of Hungary Istvan Lepsheni, the sides discussed further steps to strengthen interregional cooperation, development of trade, economic and humanitarian ties, and participation in joint projects.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade of Tatarstan announces that the 2nd Russian Congress of Productivity Leaders (hereinafter, the Congress) will be held from November 13 to 16, 2017 in Moscow, with the support from the Russian Ministry of Economic Development.

The Congress (formerly the Russian Lean Forum 2006-2015) is the leading venue for sharing the experience of the best management practices for labour productivity improvement and production systems development. It is annually attended by hundreds of heads of leading companies from Russia and CIS, representatives of federal and regional authorities, public organisations, and development institutions.

The Congress’s programme comprises the plenary session titled “Improving Labour Productivity: Best Management Practices”, seminars, sessions, trainings, master classes, as well as competitive programmes within the Competition of the Productivity Leaders (hereinafter, the Competition), which has been held since 2011 and is aimed at promoting the best management practices for labour productivity improvement.

For more information about the programmes of the Congress and the Competition, please visit www.leanforum.ru.

Yesterday, a ceremonial handover of symbolic keys took place, during which KAMAZ transferred to Daimler a paint and welding shop for its further equipping.

The ceremony brought together about 240 guests, including top managers of KAMAZ and its foreign partners, such as representatives of Daimler, Kuka, Comau, Zeiss, and Dürr. Symbolic keys were handed over to Executive Director of JV Daimler KAMAZ Rus Jurgen Olberding by First Deputy Director General of KAMAZ Yuri Gerasimov.

The construction of the plant was launched in March 2016 within the framework of cooperation between KAMAZ and Daimler. Coming up next are the equipment installation jobs in the paint and welding shop, which are expected to be started on November 1 this year. The start of the full-scale production is scheduled for January 2019. It is reported that the production capacity of the plant will be up to 55,000 cab frames a year. Products of the cab frame plant will also be supplied for the production of Mercedes-Benz trucks.

Today, Kazan met the participants of the WorldSkills Competition from Tatarstan. At the Kazan International Airport, they were given a really warm welcome with flowers, gifts, and balloons. The team was greeted by fans, friends, relatives, and journalists.

In the total point score at WorldSkills Abu Dhabi 2017, Russia ranked first (35,461), followed by Brazil (34,901), and China (34,103). In the medal standings, the Russian national team won the fifth place with six golds, four silvers, one bronze, and 21 medallions for excellence. China topped the leader board for medal points, Korea came second, Switzerland was third, and Brazil was fourth.

The 44th WorldSkills Competition was held in Abu Dhabi (UAE) from October 14 to 19, 2017. It was attended by 1,300 young professionals and 1,084 experts from 59 participating countries. The WorldSkills Russia team comprised 58 team members and 52 experts from 22 regions of Russia, including eight participants from Tatarstan in seven skills.

On October 24, the Kazan National Research Technological University saw the grand opening of the Russia’s first intra-university competition based on the WorldSkills standards.

The competition will be held from October 24 to November 1 in nine skills (laboratory chemical analysis, printing technologies in print media, technology of polymer materials, fashion technology, web development, business software solutions, entrepreneurship, tourism, and hotel administration). More than 60 students from different faculties of the university will take part in these competitions under the guidance of experienced mentors and experts.

It should be added that the winners of the university competition would take part in the All-Russian inter-university WorldSkills competition. Many KNRTU lecturers also prepare for these events to participate in the WorldSkills activities as experts.

Within the framework of the competitions, there will also be events that popularise the ideas of WorldSkills movement, such as master classes, round table discussions, public lectures, and expert panel meetings.

October 25 is the Day of Customs Officer of the Russian Federation. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade of Tatarstan Albert Karimov congratulates employees of Tatarstan Customs on their professional day:

“Dear current and retired customs officers!

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan and on my personal behalf, I congratulate you on your professional holiday, the Day of Customs Officer of the Russian Federation!

Since the first days of its existence and at all times, the customs has been protecting the economic interests of our country. The formulation of effective customs policies, the active development of civilised formats for foreign trade relations – these areas have always been among the most important priorities facing customs authorities.

On this festive occasion, I express our special gratitude to the veterans of the service, who laid strong foundations for the formation of a present-day customs.

I wish you good health, family wellbeing, optimism, and patience in solving your everyday problems! May you be accompanied by success and new achievements in the service for the benefit of the Republic of Tatarstan!”

As part of the R&D programme of Gazprom, the Kazan National Research Technological University (KNRTU) created a prototype of a modular mobile compressor unit with a gas turbine drive (MKU-MT/GP). The unit is designed for pumping natural gas from the repaired section of the main gas pipeline to the functioning gas pipeline.

It should be added that the main advantage of MKU-MT/GP is that it includes, for the first time in Russia, a screw oil-filled single-stage gas compressor of the K-386 model, which ensured high performance of the device. The unit has been tested in field conditions during the winter and summer periods.

The delegation of the Republic of Tatarstan headed by Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov is currently on a working trip to the United States of America. During the visit, the head of the Republic is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade of Tatarstan Albert Karimov, representatives of various ministries and agencies of Tatarstan, as well as heads of a number of republic’s industrial enterprises.

On October 23, the Texas-Tatarstan Business Forum was held in Houston (Texas), where Minister Karimov made a presentation of the industrial potential in the Republic of Tatarstan.

In addition, within the framework of the business forum, some documents were signed, such as the Agreement between the Almetyevsk State Oil Institute and the University of Rice (Houston) and the Cooperation Agreement between Kazanorgsintez and Univation Technologies.

Today, on October 24, a working visit of the Tatarstan delegation will continue in San Francisco. On this day, Tatarstan representatives will attend the Global Technology Symposium and hold meetings with executives from Torrey Pines Investment, JVIS, Alfa8, the Edge Water Investment Fund, Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, and General Electric.

According to the Regional Office of the Federal Statistics Service in Tatarstan, within the period of January to September 2017, the republic's enterprises shipped goods of their own production, performed jobs, and rendered services in the total amount of RUB 1,600,411.8 million at current prices. The industrial production index in September 2017, as compared to September 2016, made up 100.3%, and in January to September 2017 y-o-y, 102.5%.