Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (MWTP) dates its history start from July 1, 1954. This day by the order
of Tractor & Agricultural Machinery Minister within the execution of USSR Ministry Council regulation of July 25,
1954 No. 1258-563 "About enhancement and development of new artillery system and tractor prototypes"
on the MAZ was found a special design bureau (SDB) upon heavy-wheel artillery systems and engines for
them with testing facilities. B.L. Shaposhnik was appointed the Chief Designer upon heavy wheel artillery
tractors by the Minister’s order of July 5, 1954 No. 25.
MAZ-537 |
By the MAZ Director order of July 23, 1954 No. 15 the newly organized SDB was titled as SDB-1.
In 1956 there was assembled the first testing prototype of artillery tractor MAZ-535.
In 1959 there were put into operation new production facilities, where a machine-assembly
workshop No. 3 (MAW-3) was placed for production of units and assemblies, as well as for tractors assembling.
On March 29, 1959 there was assembled the first production truck tractor MAZ-537 from the testing vehicle lot.
In 1960 the truck tractors assembly on MAW-3 facilities was separated in a free-standing workshop
upon automobile assembly & testing (WAAT-2), which in 1962 was transferred to a new production facilities.
On July 21, 1959 by USSR Ministry Council order the MAZ was authorized with construction development,
execution of design & testing and putting into production of multiaxle autochassis for mounting on them of the
first prestrategic missile complex "Temp-S". In 1962 there was start a production of 4th-wheel
chassis of high crossing capacity MAZ-543.
In light of the necessity to release production capacity for manufacture of new chassis
MAZ-543 the technical documentation, developed by SBD-1, was transferred to KZKT (Kurgan) for production
of truck tractors MAZ-535 in 1961 and MAZ-537 in 1964, to MoAZ (Mogilev) - truck tractor family MAZ-529
in 1959 and to JaMZ (Jaroslavl) - engine V-12 in 1959.
In 1970 in view of ground equipment development for missile complex a renovation project
of special production was adopted, under which in 1971-1979 machinery-assembling premises No. 2 (MAP-2),
brakes testing workshop and administrative facilities were built and put into operation. In MAP-2 there
were placed the following workshops: MAW No. 3, 4, 6, frame-pressing No. 2, thermal No. 3, WAAT-2 and repair.
In administrative facilities 1 and 2 there were placed workshop offices and special production control service.
All production workshops were supplied with all-purposed and high-duty special equipment, including machines
with digit-program control, necessary machine jigging and workbenches for assemblies testing and with
measuring gages.
MAZ-543А |
On April 10, 1975 the special production was separated in financial sphere as production
of special wheel tractors (PSWT).
In different years the following directors headed the PSWT: S.P. Parshin (1975-1978),
G.A. Isaevich (1978-1980), V.I. Gross (1980-1985), P.P. Savchitz (1985-1986), V.A. Volkov (1986-1991).
Till the end of 1980-s the main PSWT production comprises chassis and truck tractors,
made for the needs of USSR Defense Ministry, which became the transport base of heavy weapon complexes,
including prestrategic missile complexes "Temp-S", "Elbrus", anti-aircraft defense
complexes "S-300", salvo fire missile systems "Smerch", coastline defense complex
"Bereg", "Rubezh", strategic missile complexes "Temp 2S", "Pioneer",
"Topol", also the transport base for command headquarters, for location and transporting of radar
aids and other equipment.
The period of MAZ-543 mass production coincided with a rapid development of Western
Siberia and Caspian Sea region oil & gas industry. The vehicle technical specifications, their extreme
payload and high crossing capacity aroused a great interest in the transport and oil & gas pipeline
construction spheres, where these vehicles found a wide application. On the ground of MAZ-543 there
were developed and manufactured automobiles for national economy, including drop-side truck tractors
and trailers for transportation of track vehicles and other loads, dump trucks, pipe and timber carriers,
chassis for mount of fire-fighting equipment. In the 2
nd half of 1980-s there were designed
and manufactured transport combinations for carrying of large undividable loads with a payload of 75 and 100 t.
MZKT-79092 |
MZKT-74131 |
MZKT-79191 |
The SDB-1 Chief Designer B.L. Shaposhnik was honored with Socialist Labor Hero Title (1973),
laureate of Lenin (1976) and USSR National premium (1968). In 1968, 1977, 1978, 1984 and 1989 other 20 PSWT
employees were honored with laureate titles of USSR National premium, besides three of them were honored with
this title twice. Many workers, engineers and clerks of PSWT were marked with government rewards.
In view of increased vehicle variety and their volume rising in 1978 there was developed
a project of PSWT expansion and reconstruction, under which execution there were built and put into operation
MAP-3 and administrative facility 3. There were located MAW 7 and 4, organized a workshop of flexible
production systems, comprising 39 processing centers, controlled by computers.
In 1982 USSR Ministry Council decided about a creation of heavy-duty transporter upon
project "Wildland" and development of design & testing facility (DTF) of PSWT. In 1985 there
were built and put into operation the first DTF parts - research shop No. 2 and engineering facility for
Chief Designer Department 2 (CDD-2). In 1984-1987 there were developed and manufactured prototypes of
unique transporters upon complex "Wildland" and chassis for moving aggregates of complexes
"Speed" and "Courier".
On February 7, 1991 by the order of production association "BelautoMAZ"
No. 143 Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant was found and separate from MAZ, consisting of PSWT subdivisions,
CDD-2, research shop 2 and so on. V.A. Volkov became the Director.
In 1993 in DTF there were put into operation a research center (RC)
and spare parts shop (SPS).
In 1992 in light of orders stop for the needs of Defense Ministry there was developed
and adopted a conversion program, forwarded for designing and testing of new specialized automobiles,
autotrains and chassis of wide purpose for national economy of Belarus, as well as for CIS countries.
Using the accumulated experience in production of wheel chassis and tractors,
which lineup is characterized with number of steered axles from 1 till 12, payload from 12 till
220 t and engines power from 165 till 1500 hp, there was developed a new generation of auto
vehicles with wheel drive 4х4, 6х4, 6х6, 8х4, 8х8, 10х10, 12х12 for the needs of national economy:
road and off-road drop-side automobiles, dump trucks, specialized automobiles, autotrains and
trailers of wide purpose, as well as special wheel chassis for mount of the most various equipment
for enterprises and transport organizations of building, machinery and oil & gas industry.
In order to enlarge export deliveries, according Customer’s demands all
automobiles can be equipped with propulsors, transmissions, gearboxes and other utilities
of the leading world manufacturers.
МЗКТ-8007 |
МЗКТ-80071 |
New generation of autovehicles, producing on the Plant, gained
a trade mark "Volat".
MWTP debut on international market was successful. In 1997-2000 there
were won in competition with famous global manufacturers two tenders on delivery of transport
combinations for carrying of heavy track rigs in UAE and Turkish Republic.
Such results were achieved due to the powerful engineering potential and
modern production base. More than 30% of Plant employees have engineering education. Production
workshops fitted with modern technological equipment, including machines with digit-program control.
There was found the workshop of flexible production systems for body details processing.
Research center has necessary equipment for execution of all lab & road and bench testing,
approved by a Certify agency.
In 2001 the international certificate agency and Certifying & standard committee
of the Republic of Belarus issued the "The conformity certificates" to MWTP, confirming the conformity
of development, sale and maintenance of auto & trailer vehicles of general and special purpose and their
spare parts to the demands EN ISO 2001 and STB RB IS 9001.
Production unitary republican enterprise "Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant" (UE "MWTP")
is a state enterprise, subordinating to State Defense & Industry Committee of the Republic of Belarus.
The General Director of the Plant from 2002 is G.A. Sinegovsky.
The UE "MWTP" activity subject is the production and sale of auto & trailer vehicles.
Nowadays the producing vehicle line comprises:
- dump trucks with wheel drive 6х6, 8х4, 8х8, road and off-road, with payload till 27t;
- truck and ballast tractors, autotrains with payload 40-100 t;
- special autochassis for mount of crane and other lifting equipment with payload till 100 t;
- chassis with wheel drive 6х6, 8х8, 10х10 и 12х12 for mount of special equipment
for service, rebuild and boring of oil & gas holes;
- chassis of road and off-road dimensions with wheel drive 4х4, 6х4, 8х8, 12х12
for mount of special equipment;
- trailers and semitrailers with payload from 15 till 100 t;
- spare parts to the producing vehicles.
The Plant provides the guaranty and after-guaranty service, as well as the supply
of spare parts to the producing vehicles during the operation period and it’s able to develop and
produce the auto vehicles according the requirements of the most demanding Customer.
The enterprise structure comprises 9 workshops of basic activity, trial, repair,
transport shops, research center, 13 functional departments, 15 bureaus, militarized guard.
UE "MWTP" is a founder of subsidiary enterprises: scientific &
production unitary enterprise "Volat Trans Service", scientific & production
enterprise "Volat-Auto" and trade house "Volat".
The Plant has the hostel for 250 people and recreation base "Berezka",
designed for 350 people per shift.