Vitebsk Motor Repair Plant has produced the first prototype of a self-propelled sprayer

April 14, Vitebsk / Olga Bogacheva - BELTA /. OJSC "Vitebsk Motor Repair Plant" in cooperation with the Italian company Mazzotti is mastering the production of self-propelled sprayers, the enterprise director Viktor Masalov told a BELTA correspondent. The unit is designed for fertilizing and protecting plants at different growth stages. At the same time, the technical characteristics of the machine allow such operations to be carried out even in fields with high-stemmed crops. The first prototype of Belarusian-Italian production has already passed qualification tests. In the near future, during field work, its capabilities will be tested directly in operation. In total, this year the enterprise plans to produce several units of new units. "In order to reduce the cost of this equipment, we are trying to manufacture most of the components for its production ourselves," the director explained. Viktor Masalov noted that work on mastering new types of products is constantly underway. Currently, their share in the total production volume is over 40%, the rest is accounted for by the repair of agricultural machinery. For example, in cooperation with a Finnish company, the plant has already mastered the production of stone pickers, and with a German company, it is engaged in the production of soil-cultivating units. So far, the share of products manufactured by the Vitebsk enterprise for the completion of these machines is 20%-30%, however, by the end of the year it is planned to increase it to 40%. In addition, the plant is currently considering the issue of joint development of potato harvesting equipment. In January-March, the enterprise produced products worth Br4.4 billion, which is 27.1% more than last year. The energy saving indicator for this period, with a target of minus 13.5%, was minus 27.1%. The profitability of sales for two months of this year was 16.1%. Vitebsk Motor Repair Plant was founded in 1968. It was reformed in 2000. It specializes in the repair of engines and gearboxes of agricultural machinery. As an alternative direction, it develops the production of machine-building products. -0-