Minsk Bearing Plant OJSC is one of the leading specialized enterprises of the CIS, specializing in the production of ball, articulated, roller bearings of various sizes and designs. Located in the city of Minsk, Belarus. It is one of the largest engineering industries in the country.
Birth
GPZ-11 (Minsk Bearing Plant) was established in 1948 according to the decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR of May 20. The basis for its creation was ambitious plans for the restoration and development of the machine-building complex of the Belarusian SSR. The main consumers subsequently became automobile manufacturing (primarily MAZ, MZKT, MoAZ) and tractor-building (MTZ) plants of the republic.
However, three years have passed from the order of the Ministry of Transport to the launch of the Minsk Bearing Plant (MPZ). The first bearing at the Belarusian enterprise was assembled August 13, 1951.
Progressive development
In the 50s, the MPZ increased production and mastered new product ranges. The pace of production was so high that by the fall of 1960, 100 million bearings had been produced. Post-war time gave birth to new heroes of the labor front. In 1960, one of the employees of the enterprise - F.P. Aleksievich - was awarded the most honorary title of peacetime - Hero of Social Labor.
In 1962, after the arrival of the new director I.F. Gavrilova began expanding the production base. In addition to the ball bearings section, the construction of a roller bearings workshop has begun. It was launched in 1969.
70s and 80s
In the Soviet Union, the Minsk Bearing Plant was known not only as a manufacturer of scarce high-quality products, but also as an innovator in the field of industrial technologies. In 1975, the team was awarded a diploma of VDNH of the first degree for the development and commissioning of unique water treatment electrocoagulation facilities, which allowed to improve the environmental situation in the capital of the BSSR. The technology tested by Minsk residents began to be implemented in other industries.
In the same 1975, the MZP bearings were used in an ultra-deep drilling rig on the Kola Peninsula. It was the best advertisement for the achievements of the enterprise. 02/13/1982, factory workers manufactured a billionth bearing, receiving congratulations from the Presidium of the Central Committee. In 1984, the merits of the plant's staff were awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor.
Shortly before the collapse of the USSR, the Minsk Bearing Plant reached its peak of development. In 1987, 55.5 million units were produced - these are record numbers among the country's specialized enterprises.
Independence
In 1992, Belarus became an independent republic, which led to a break in decades of established economic ties. However, the management managed to keep the large enterprise afloat. And MAZ, and MTZ, and other plants needed high-quality inexpensive bearings. New organizational and production methods allowed not to slow down the pace of work. An external market opened, some of the products began to be exported.
Design thought did not stop. In 1995, engineers developed, and workers manufactured a unique large-sized 637 kg bearing. The first of them was delivered to the Kryvyi Rih mining and processing plant.
Certification
In 1998, the Minsk Bearing Plant passed international certification. Its products are recognized as complying with the requirements of ISO 14001-96. In 2004, European auditors checked the quality management system and recognized it as compliant with DINENISO standards. This made it possible to facilitate export to European countries, primarily to Germany.
Modernization
In 2009, an ambitious program to re-equip the machinery fleet was launched at the Minsk Bearing Plant. Replacement of obsolete equipment with new high-performance and high-tech equipment has begun, in-plant logistics has been redesigned, and production facilities have been optimized. For this, the budget provides for serious investments.
The purpose of modernization is the production of products competitive in the world market, increasing the technical characteristics of bearings, increasing their working life. The first updated site was commissioned in 2015. It is equipped with automated lines, Cieffe Forni Industrial annealing units, and Muraro SPA CNC complexes.
The pride of the factory workers is the roller conveyor unit, designed for spheroidizing annealing of rings in a protective atmosphere with automatic loading. Here can be processed as miniature 50 mm blanks, and rings with a diameter of 700 mm and weighing up to 250 kg. Parts are heated in an electric furnace at 900 degrees, and then slowly cooled. This procedure prevents the formation of microcracks and makes the metal more wear-resistant, durable.
The next step is the reconstruction of the rollerospherical production. Three dozen quick-moving equipment were purchased for the updated site, allowing for the shortest period to switch from one model to another. Large amounts of money were spent on commissioning annealing and quenching-tempering units, replacing obsolete heating furnaces with new gas furnaces, and introducing superfinishing and grinding technologies.
Products
Today, MPZ produces hundreds of types of models and product modifications. The factory specializes in the production of bearings:
- Ball in radial, spherical, angular contact design.
- Roller in radial, needle, conical, flat, persistent design.
- Articulated.
- Toroidal.
- Tel rolling.
After modernization, the quality of MPZ bearings is one of the best in the CIS.