OREANDA-NEWS. Wartsila and Bryansk Engineering Works (BMZ), a manufacturing subsidiary  of Transmashholding JSC, have jointly signed a  licence agreement for the manufacture of Wartsila low-speed marine  diesel engines by BMZ, the press service of Transmashholding reports.

Wartsila and BMZ recognise this agreement as a basis for a long-term  cooperation for manufacturing Wartsila low-speed engines. These large  marine engines incorporate RTA engine technology and RT-flex  electronically-controlled common-rail technology. BMZ will focus on  manufacturing engines of up to 82 cm bore size, with power outputs  from 8 to 30 MW, which are in most demand by the marine market. The  first Wartsila engine built by BMZ will be delivered in 2009.
In accordance with the agreement Wartsila will not only provide the  Russian party with needed technical documentation, but will also  arrange training for BMZ specialists both in its training centre and  production sites.

With the new licence agreement BMZ will supply Wartsila engines to  shipyards in Russia, Ukraine, Romania and Bulgaria. In addition, BMZ  will provide Wartsila with engine components required for the  manufacture of Wartsila low-speed engines.

"The agreement with Wartsila provides BMZ with new opportunities for  increasing production volumes and strengthening its position in the  growing market of marine engine building," says Mr Anatoly Zadorozhny,  General Director of BMZ. "The demand in marine vessels of various  types as well as the demand in main propulsion engines has been  growing in recent years along with the total growth of world trade.  Wartsila is one of the world leaders in designing low-speed marine  diesel engines. Wartsila engines manufactured by various licensees  occupy a significant market segment and BMZ is intending to contribute 
its share to this important part of the market," he added.

"By signing this agreement, BMZ will be able to supply Wartsila's most  modern low-speed engine technology to the shipbuilding industry and to  provide an additional manufacturing base for medium-size Wartsila  low-speed engines to meet the increasing demand in local and export  markets. With Transmashholding and its manufacturing subsidiary BMZ,  Wartsila's family of low-speed engine licensees will be expanded by a  company with long experience and sound reputation in the market," said  Mr Martin Wernli, President of Wartsila in Switzerland.

Wartsila has licence agreements to produce low-speed engines in South  Korea, China, Japan, Brazil, Vietnam, Italy, Poland and Croatia.  Low-speed engines are typically used in tankers, container ships, bulk  carriers and other large cargo vessels.The licence with BMZ will also further strengthen Wartsila's presence 
in the Russian markets and expand its offering by locally produced  large diesel engines. Wartsila has been present in Russia for more  than 30 years. In 2007, Wartsila registered a new full-scale network  company under the name Wartsila Vostock LLC. The new company is based  in St Petersburg and has branch offices in Moscow and Vladivostock.  Employing more than 170 people, it represents Wartsila's activities in  the marine and power plant markets, for both new installations and  after-sales service of existing installations.

BMZ is unique in Russia as a manufacturer of low-speed two-stroke diesel  engines, which are used as main engines in marine vessels. The  enterprise has gained considerable experience in marine diesel engine  building; it has been manufacturing low-speed diesel engines since  1961. In 2006 BMZ built 12 main marine diesels, eight of which were  manufactured on foreign orders. Presently, 1000 BMZ marine diesel  engines are in operation in the world.