Industry

Industrial production makes up 31.6% of gross production in the economy of Belarus. By virtue of its specialization within the framework of the former USSR, Belarus has succeeded in industrial development of such branches as motor industry, manufacture of tractors and agricultural engineering, machine-tool industry and manufacture of bearings, electronics and electro-technical industry, manufacture and refining of petroleum, mining, manufacture of synthetic fibers, mineral fertilizers, radio engineering products, pharmaceutical industry, manufacture of construction materials, light industry and food-processing industry.

On the above list input-consuming, labor-consuming and high technology industries aimed at the output of readymade products generally prevail. The republic specializes in producing wheeled universal furrow tractors, and exports tractors with the trademark «Belarus» to more than 40 countries in the world.

Belarus produces various multipurpose lorries, including open-pit automobiles and hoppers with a carrying capacity ranging from 30 up to 180 tons. The products are exported to Argentina, Bulgaria, Hungary, Vietnam, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, China, Colombia, Latvia, Lithuania and other countries.

The machine-tool production specializes in manufacturing different kinds of machine-tools and blacksmith-extruding equipment.

In Belarus there are powerful facilities for producing computers, micro-electronic devices. It produces watches, radio-receivers and TV sets, electric devices, devices for controlling and regulating technological processes.

Belarusian household refrigerators and deep freezers are exported to many countries in the world.

Potassium fertilizers are produced by four enterprises in Soligorsk; ammophos and ammophosphates are the basic products of the chemical factory in Gomel, high-quality nitric fertilizers are produced at the producers association «Azot», Grodno.

The share of light industry comprises 7.7% of industrial production of Belarus. The leading place here belongs to textile, clothing and shoe industries.

On the basis of flax cultivation the republic has developed flax and flax-processing industry. The largest flax-processing factory in the republic is in Orsha.

The republic ranks first among the countries of the CIS in manufacturing tractors, potassium fertilizers, combine-harvesters, machines for dispersing organic fertilizers, industrial sewing-machines; second — in manufacturing lorries, chemical fibers and threads, motorcycles and timber: third — in output of machine tools, electrical AC motors, tyres, saw-timber, paper, cardboard, window glass, household refrigerators and deep freezers, TV sets, radio-reception devices, bicycles, knitted products.

Unit XI Automobile Industry

The automobile industry is the leading branch of mechanical engineering. Its share in machine-building production makes up more than 30%. The enterprises of the automobile industry comprise more than 14.5% of the workforce engaged in mechanical engineering. The enterprises of the above sector of mechanical engineering produce lorries, buses, trolleybuses, trailers for automobiles and tractors, motorcycles and bicycles, automobile and tractor electrical equipment and devices. Its structure incorporates also two enterprises which produce bearings.

At the Minsk Automobile Factory (MAZ) — the flagship of the home motor industry — a set of arrangements on modernization and creation of new modifications of automobiles and expansion of nomenclature has been carried out. The factory has completely passed over to producing the new type of automobile MAZ-6422, developed samples of new generation lorries and three-pivot trailers on a pneumo-suspension bracket for the above truck. On the basis of this enterprise, the capacity for the production of buses under the license of the firm «Neoplan» has been created, and preparation for manufacturing basic components for bus assemblage is being carried out (currently buses are imported). The annual output provides for manufacturing 150—200 buses per year, with an 80% set of domestically-made parts and units (including other enterprises of the republic).

The Belarusian automobile factory (Zhodino) carries out research and developments on updating open-pit hoppers with carrying capacities ranging from 30 up to 280 tons, and it also works on creating other specialized heavy transport vehicles.

At the Mogilyov automobile factory, in accordance with the inter-branch program «Autoconcretemixer», the manufacture of best-selling concrete-mixers is being developed. Under the license of the German firm «Germapetrac» the pre-production models have already been made, and the production of multipurpose mini-loaders with a one-ton carrying capacity and various (12 types) accessories is forthcoming. The underground lorries, hoppers, chassis and concrete-mixer lorries are being tested according to theprogram of cooperation with the Dzhezkazgan mining-metallurgical combine (Kazakhstan).

At the Borisov factory of auto parts facilities for production of units and details for diesel engines have been created. The development of a modern turbocompressor for diesel engines will make exhaust gases less toxic and fumy, and will allow Belarus to get along without foreign turbo-compressors.

The Grodno cardan shaft factory has developed cardan shafts with protective casings from polymeric materials for the production of agricultural vehicles at Belarusian enterprises; it has also modernized the cardan shaft of the generator's drive for the rollingstock of railroads: it is now developing cardan shafts of a new generation for the MAZ automobiles and the «Neoplan» buses.

The Grodno factory of automobile parts is working on the production of brake chambers with energy batteries for different types of buses; it has passed over to producing shock-absorbers, lorry seats and home-produced motorcycles.

The Borisov factory «Autohydroamplifier» has developed a new type and now produces two-section hydroamplifiers for road construction vehicles, manufactured at Belarusian enterprises. It has also designed and manufactures rear brake cylinders for Lada automobiles; a mechanical steering mechanism for «GAZ» lorries is being developed.

At the Minsk factory of wheeled tractors, work on diversification of automobile vehicles for the needs of the Belarusian economy is being carried out. In particular, production of a special wheeled chassis upon which various equipment can be installed has already started: for overhaul and chink drilling, for crane and о ther lifting equipment, and also for lorries, transporting large diameter pipes.

There can be seen active work in terms of total re-structuring of the domestic motor industry, creating a uniform board for marketing research and for sale of ready-made products corresponding to universal standards. The choice of the most effective way of re-structuring presupposes alternative realization of a number of projects, including attracting highly skilled foreign experts who are familiar with the tasks of re-structuring and capable of taking into account the specificity of the Belarusian motor industry.