ForBuilder.com

Name:
Karacharovsky Mechanical Plant

Address:
Ryazan, etc., 2
109052
Moscow
Russia

Phone:
+7(495)9565556

E-mail:
sales@kmzlift.ru

WWW:
www.kmzlift.ru

Company management:
Leonid Chernonog | Executive Director

            Of course, KMP also provides a whole array of services coupled with the installation, technical survey and overall maintenance of elevators during guarantee period, and, of course, repair service and troubleshooting upon request – for this purpose, the company runs some 15 affiliated firms all across Russia, that are charged with delivery, installation and surveillance of the production for distant customers and concentrate almost a half of the company’s total staff. A recent insight into the company’s statistics showed that during the last five years, KMP has acquired and presently controls almost 40% of the Russian market, with as much as 70% of all lifts, currently functioning in the country, being KMP-made.

The company’s history ranges back to the 1950’s, when it was a big construction trust, executing orders and construction projects of the Moscow Municipal Administration, having as such widely contributed to the city’s wider urbanization. Worth mentioning are the plant’s design and engineering contribution to the erection of the Moscow State University building complex; most cast iron constructions were supplied by KMP, as was the modified and specially adapted elevator for the main building aiguille on the very top. Very impressive to this day remain the plant-manufactured iron cast barriers, ornamenting the quays of Moscow river in center town. Back then, the plant’s production was larger and diverse in substance, including for instance weight-lifting cranes and diverse construction equipment. Technology connoisseurs as well as space fans may attach specific interest to the fact, that KMP has, to a certain degree, been formerly involved in the Soviet space program, supplementing ascension lifts to the starting ramps of Soviet cosmodromes. The mining industry with its deep-reaching shafts and vaults, as well as huge nuclear power plants were likewise considerable clients of the plant, which supplied them with various equipment. The company has been nourishing plans for huge modernization projects, the implementation of an utterly new model range of lifts to be introduced in near future, as well as plans of expansion to new markets, but unfortunately, the crisis has cut short many of its ambitions projects.

Speaking of the crisis, the company’s executive director Leonid Chernonog explains – “We were hit hard in the beginning of 2007, when the demand for our production diminished almost 4 times, due to the overall reduction of construction activity, that seemed to freeze most of future projects. The private sector took over an emergency plan, drastically reduced budgets, and state-driven construction sector, which is our important contractor and long standing client on federal and regional levels, kept financing but inevitable and most important projects. Nonetheless, thanks to several state-comissioned contracts, we were able to get through the tough times. Yet still, all upper-mentioned features, complemented by an overall decrease of our customers’ payment ability, has forced us to embark upon hard and regretful measures – shortening of working week and personnel (both in production and administration), budget shortage etc…”

Mr. Chernonog further revealed, that from July 2010 the situation in the construction industry began to improve, and that current production volumes already overpass the pre-crisis level. When

commenting on the main reasons of his company’s viability, that allowed KMP to stand forth, he explicitly outlined – “we take advantage of our company being multifaceted and its clientele diversified to a high degree. For instance – when the crisis almost brought private construction to a halt, we still could rely on our state and governmental partnerships. Moreover, bypassing concrete production, we always offer services of maintenance, surveillance and repair, which safeguards us, together with our affiliated firms, a constant inflow of orders and commissions.” KMP has fixed the 2012-13 term as a deadline for launching a new model series of lifts to the markets, progressive in substance and to which newest technology requirements apply, with most of the models appertaining to either Economy, Business or VIP class. Equally we’ll be offering a new array of services, going in pace with new equipment installation, and are thinking to solidify our market presence on existing markets, as well as exploring new ones. The Caucasus and Middle Asia is our priority orientation, while Europe still remains a market to be conquered, due to its being saturated by local competitors. In this aspect, East Europe is likely to be more appealing. “Our new model series to be launched in 2012 was certified with European ISO standards, with past production complying with Russian ones. Russian standards mostly show up satisfying compatibility with European ones, thence no big obstacles should intrude. What we should keep in mind is that European markets are partitioned already, and if we are to be successful in our pioneer activities, we must offer an indisputable competitive advantage. In our case, it would be a highly attractive correlation of price and quality. From my own experience, consumers favor lower prices in line with comparable quality.”

When KMP’s major assets are concerned, Mr. Chernonog points out the following –

• a highly-promising new production segment with the perspective product model to be launched shortly

• reliability

• competitive price

• the company’s brand mark, popularity and wide reputation in the CIS

• availability of equipment components and spare parts

When entering the Russian market, most foreign producers lack to provide a satisfying services network, while Russian service providers are often unfamiliar with foreign technology, with the availability of components and spare parts being highly insufficient. That’s why KMP is the home market leader. The management is planning to build a new construction facility to be utterly specialized in the new model series, that would harmonically complement three existing special units – the Technology diagnostic unit, the Laboratory for non-destroying control methods (using sophisticated know-how of acoustic and vibration microscopy), and the Lift test center. Resuming his overview, Mr. Chernonog shared his perspectives and expectations – “KMP’s future allows us to think positively. We suppose some 450 thousand lifts and elevators operating currently in Russia, with approximately 150 thousands in need of replacement; this number grows by 5 to 10 thousand each year. The demand for our company’s production widely surpasses our production capabilities, even letting out of view new model series. In our production volume 15 to 50% pertain to replacement of older equipment, the other half belonging to new models. Our staff, counting some 2000 employees, are the core of our success. We are a big employment provider, hiring personnel from distant regions, Moscow itself lacking professional workers. Our management constantly seeks to improve its qualification and proficiency and is hired from among best university graduates, that we support by means of grants and internships.”

Stanislav Stabeycius

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