A new workshop at the Novolukoml expanded clay gravel plant has been launched in a trial operation mode

November 2, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. A new workshop for the production of expanded clay concrete products has been launched in a trial operation mode at OJSC "Novolukoml Expanded Clay Gravel Plant" (Vitebsk region, Chashniki district), the enterprise's director Mikhail Lazarashvili told a BELTA correspondent. The implementation of the investment project for the construction of this facility with associated facilities, costing 10 million euros (including equipment), has been underway for a year. Currently, the workshop is built, and it houses a vibropressing line and a concrete mixing unit. The supply of equipment and the complete outfitting of the workshop were provided by the German company Hess, the largest European manufacturer of concrete molding machines. A gas piston unit with an efficiency of 92% has also been built, which will provide electricity to the new production site, lead to significant savings in energy resources, and reduce production costs. The workshop has already been launched in trial operation mode. It is planned to bring it to stable operation and fully complete the implementation of this investment project in April 2013. The workshop's capacity will allow for the production of 70 thousand cubic meters of expanded clay concrete products per year, which will be 5 times higher than the current production volume of 14 thousand cubic meters per year. Speaking about the products that will be manufactured in the new workshop, Mikhail Lazarashvili noted that at the initial stage, it is planned to start producing "ThermoComfort" expanded clay concrete building blocks, 400 mm wide, slotted type with a tongue-and-groove system. It is planned that these will account for 80% of the total production volume in the new workshop. "The tongue-and-groove system allows for the elimination of cement-sand mortar or adhesive compound on vertical joints. This is a fundamentally new wall insulation material that can be used in both load-bearing and enclosing structures. There are currently no analogues of such blocks in Belarus and neighboring countries," the director noted. In addition, the workshop will produce solid expanded clay concrete building blocks with wall thicknesses of 200 mm and 300 mm, which also have no analogues in Belarus. "This technology is used to produce blocks widely used in construction in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Based on this, the demand for expanded clay concrete blocks in these markets is evident, as is the prospect of selling this type of product to the Baltic market," the head commented. Among other priority innovative products to be manufactured are expanded clay concrete foundation blocks and paving slabs made from expanded clay. In the second stage of assortment expansion, it is planned to master the production of curbstone and two-layer paving slabs with various color options. In January-October, the enterprise produced over 400 thousand cubic meters of expanded clay and 12 thousand cubic meters of blocks (on the old line). Sales profitability is 11%. The energy saving indicator is minus 4%. Energy consumption for the production of 1 cubic meter of expanded clay in January-October was about 40 cubic meters of gas, which corresponds to the European average. The material intensity decreased by 8%. Exports for 10 months amounted to $2.6 million, which is 7.5% higher than the same period last year. Its share in the total sales volume is 23%. Supplies are made to Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, and Ukraine. The share of shipped innovative products in the total volume shipped is 20%. Revenue per employee for 10 months reached $41 thousand, and for the year-end, it is expected to be at the level of $48 thousand. Investments in fixed assets for January-October amount to Br65 billion, most of which are directed towards the implementation of the project for the construction of a new expanded clay concrete products workshop. OJSC "Novolukoml Expanded Clay Gravel Plant" is one of the largest producers of expanded clay in Europe. The plant is part of the system of enterprises of the Ministry of Architecture and Construction of Belarus. The enterprise is a multiple winner of the professional competition "Best Construction Product of the Year". "ThermoComfort" expanded clay concrete blocks were awarded the winner's diploma in 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2010; in 2005, expanded clay of fractions 8-16 mm and 10-22 mm received an award. This year, the plant acts as an official partner of the competition. Today, the staff of OJSC "Novolukoml Expanded Clay Gravel Plant" celebrates the 35th anniversary of the enterprise's founding. -0-