OREANDA-NEWS. May 24, 2010. A line for production of torsional vibration dampers for KAMAZ trucks and vehicles by other Russian auto producers was launched at the joint Russian-German enterprise KNORR-BREMSE KAMA in Naberezhnye Chelny.

Sergey Kogoghin, Director General of OJSC KAMAZ, Heinz Hermann Thiele, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Knorr-Bremse AG, Istvan Lepsenyi, Director General of Knorr-Bremse (Hungary), Chairman of the Board of Directors of OOO KNORR-BREMSE KAMA, Manfred Kindermann, Director General of OOO KNORR-BREMSE KAMA participated in the ceremony.

Torsional vibration dampfers are used as for truck engines. Like all other products of the JV, they will be delivered to the Russian auto components market.

The production and commercial activity of OOO KNORR-BREMSE KAMA, the best supplier most successfully fitted into KAMAZ’s purchasing system, according to the results of 2009, lasts less than two years. Officially, the JV was launched on October 28, 2008. At the beginning of its production activity 74 people worked at KNORR-BREMSE KAMA occupying the total area of 4 thousand square meters. In April 2010 the number of employees achieved 97 people. Till the end of this year it is planned to employ 30-50 people more. In 2009 the JV became one of few enterprises in the Russian automobile industry which steadily increased their product yield.

Basic products to the tune of 792 million roubles and spare parts to the tune of 4 million roubles were delivered to KAMAZ last year. In all KAMAZ have received more than 170 units from the JV. To date KNORR-BREMSE KAMA assembles 42 models of drum brakes for vejhicles and specialized equipment.

Production localization is successfully being carried out. One of the projects realized in this area was purchasing of equipment for processing of brake calipers, the main details of drum brakes. These machines were mounted and set up; in 2010 they will be used for machining process at full capacity. The capacity of four machines is intended for production of no less than 600 details a day which fully satisfy the current plans of KAMAZ production.

During the first calendar year of its activity OOO KNORR-BREMSE KAMA achieved break-even. This made it possible to begin the next stage of investment in production development. In 2010 speed-up by 32% is planned, also due to manufacture of three new kinds of products. Thus, deliveries of drum brake gears to NEFAZ – for buses, trailers and semitrailers – started this year. There are also other projects of cooperation with bus producers – for example, with KAVZ (Kurgan) and PAZ (Pavlovo). Germany’s KNORR-BREMSE plans to share its knowledge and experience in production with the JV in Naberezhnye Chelny.

Production quality is always being improved at KNORR-BREMSE KAMA. KAMAZ awarded the enterprise in the nomination “For Perfect Quality” according to the results of 2009.