OREANDA-NEWS. On 02 June 2008 OMZ OJSC (Uralmash-Izhora Group)  reported that the Group company IZ-KARTEX, a leading producer of electric mining shovels in Russia and the CIS, held the fourth international conference “Prospects of Production and Development of IZ-KARTEX Mining Equipment” May 21-22 in St. Petersburg.

Among more than 80 conference participants were representatives of leading mining companies from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, developers and producers of mining and transportation equipment, and experts and specialists in the mining business.

The conference’s topics included development of IZ-KARTEX’s product range, production of high powered shovels (up to 55 cubic meters capacity), deployment of excavator-and-truck packages, company maintenance policy and issues surrounding mining equipment operations in Russia and CIS mines.

The conference’s participants agreed on the usefulness of such forums for joint elaboration of decisions on key issues related to mining equipment production. It was decided to send a letter to the Russian government stressing the need for a formal state policy in this sector.

As in the past, the conference took place at the Izhora industrial site. Demonstrations of the latest developments and technologies, and professional exchanges of views are intended to improve relations between mining equipment producers and their customers.

OMZ (Uralmash-Izhora Group) is one of the largest Russian heavy industry enterprises. It specializes in engineering, production, sales and maintenance of equipment and machines for the nuclear industry, oil, gas and petrochemical industry, and mining industry, and also in the production of special steels. OMZ divisions’ facilities are located in Russia (Uralmash and Izhorskiye Zavody) and the Czech Republic (Pilsen Steel and Skoda JS).