Business growing for Urals aero engine maker

Published: 2/21/2000

Production volume for Urals-based Ufa Engine-Building Production Organization (UMPO) rose by 21.7% in 1999, giving the company sales of 2.5 bn rubles ($89.2m). It is reported that, since April 1999, the company has eliminated ten months of wage arrears and, surprisingly, has reduced its costs by 126m rubles. UMPO was therefore in profit for 1999, under Russian accounting, with only two of its divisions making small losses, according to General Director, Valery Lesunov. Lesunov added that, in 2000, he expects all divisions to make a profit and plans to boost production by 23%. The primary product for the plant is the production of the Salyut Al-31F engine for the Su-27 and the Su-30. The engine has been further modified, as the AL-31 ST, as a gas-pumping unit. Both products are also the subject of agreements being negotiated with China, according to reports in November 1999, including a deal with Shenyang Aviation Corporation for the Al-31 for China"s licenced Su-27, the J-11 and talk of 70 pumping stations, worth $3 billion. In cooperation with Motor-SICh of the Ukraine, the factory has also been involved in the development of the An-70 power plant, the D-27 as a member of the consortium building the aircraft. Other aero engine products include the ZMBK Progress D-436T, used on the new Tu-334 and the Be-200 amphibian. The company, along with its competitor, Rybinsk, has also developed another line of business through the production of snowmobiles, under the brand name Rys, with three models. The company is looking to increase its production substantially in 2000, given growing demand in Kemerovo, Novosibirsk, and Omsk regions, where UMPO has its own dealer distribution network. Rys machines have also been exported to India, Slovakia, China, and Slovakia. Associated articles: www.concise.org 16th September 199;24th November 1999

Article ID: 1446