Vitebsk Carpets has begun installing a printing line unique to Belarus

September 12, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Open Joint Stock Company "Vitebskiye Kovry" has begun the installation of a new printing line, as reported to BELTA correspondent by Elena Chebotareva, Deputy General Director for Economics of OJSC "Vitebskiye Kovry". The investment project for the technical re-equipment of OJSC "Vitebskiye Kovry" is included in the innovation development program of Belarus. The installation of the printing line, which has no analogues in Belarus, is the main stage in the implementation of the project for the technical re-equipment of the finishing production of tufted carpet products. The new printing line includes aggregated equipment over 90 m in length and 5 m in width. The printing line is being installed at the enterprise to replace the old one, which has been in operation since 1980 and was subsequently modernized in 2003. One of the qualitative characteristics of the new equipment is its broad color capabilities: instead of ten-color printing, the enterprise can use twelve-color printing. In addition, this equipment will significantly increase production capacity, improve product quality, and expand the product range. EUR 3.3 million has been allocated for the purchase of the printing line. Commissioning is scheduled for October of the current year. By the end of the year, the enterprise expects to purchase additional equipment that will ensure the integration of the new printing line with other technological transitions of the production process and increase operational efficiency. OJSC "Vitebskiye Kovry" is actively implementing a technical re-equipment program. At the beginning of the current year, a new carpet weaving loom was installed, which allowed the enterprise to increase its annual production capacity for woven carpets by 200 thousand sq.m. In total, about Br37 billion has been invested in the fixed capital of the enterprise based on the results of January-August 2012. Due to active technical re-equipment, the enterprise annually increases production volumes with an almost unchanged number of employees. In January-August, the joint-stock company produced 7.4 million sq.m of carpet products, which is 12% more compared to the same period last year. As an export-oriented enterprise, 70% of OJSC "Vitebskiye Kovry" products are sent to foreign markets. Based on the results of January-August 2012, the enterprise's exports increased by 15%. "Vitebskiye Kovry" exports products to Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Moldova, Uzbekistan, Armenia, and Tajikistan. OJSC "Vitebskiye Kovry" is one of the largest enterprises in the country's textile industry. Founded in 1947, it was incorporated in 1994. It is an enterprise of mixed ownership without foreign participation. The state owns 51.1% of the charter capital. It is part of the "Bellesprom" concern. Currently, "Vitebskiye Kovry" has mastered all types of machine-made products, from synthetic tufted carpets to high-density woven carpets with hand-carved relief patterns. The enterprise employs about 1.3 thousand people. -0-