Previously, an imported climate system, filters and even plugs with seals were installed on a domestic truck
After the departure of many foreign brands from Russia, KamAZ, GAZ, AvtoVAZ and other domestic car manufacturers faced a serious shortage of components. For example, KamAZ had to in a fairly short time – about a year – import substitution of 135 components for fifth generation trucks (KAMAZ K5). Project Manager «Outsourcing of production "KAMAZ"» Sergey Mandrik told what kind of systems they were.
It turns out that in addition to large parts like axles and gearboxes, KamAZ K5 was equipped with many other imported parts. For example, the climate system, upholstery elements, thermal and noise insulation, air intake, filters, complex cast brackets, locks, plugs and seals were imported. And all this had to be replaced in a short time. The quickest thing to do was deal with small fasteners and plugs, but the steering column bracket turned out to be the most difficult part.
«We decided on its design quite recently; it is a very complex, openwork, thin-walled cast product with special design requirements. We had to go around quite a few suppliers and even attract casting experts from other countries for a comparative analysis. In the end, we saw that in Russia there are enough experienced specialists on this issue. Now the supplier from St. Petersburg is completing technological preparation for production, and, according to calculations, by the end of the second quarter this bracket will also become completely Russian», – told by Sergey Mandrik.
And here is an example of how, as a result of import substitution work, a completely new material appeared in Russia.
«Previously, we purchased resin-filled basalt wool in Germany – the basis of thermal and noise insulation mats for K5. To compensate for imports, we had to launch R&D in collaboration with several enterprises at once. First we found a company that mines basalt, crushes it, melts it and stretches it into fibers. Then we solved the problem of saturating basalt with polycondensation resin while maintaining a homogeneous structure. As a result, within a year we received new material for the domestic market », – explained Sergey Mandrik.