"Vityaz" Expands Horizons: Smart Bus Stops, Medical Equipment, and Respirators for Rescuers
Production growth rates compared to 2023 are around 140 percent. In five months, exports grew by 20 percent, and salaries by almost a third. Vitebsk OJSC "Vityaz" consistently shows positive results in these economic indicators year after year. And new innovative developments, which we got acquainted with during our visit to the plant, are largely driving this progress.
"This will be the first smart stop in the Vitebsk region," reveals Gennady Azarov, General Director of OJSC. "Our designers developed the idea together with specialists from Beltelecom. I hope the result will please both the residents of Vitebsk and the city's guests. And in the future, residents of other cities in the country."
Gennady Azarov.
What services will this unusual IT facility offer users? Firstly, the screen will display a public transport route map in real-time, showing schedules, times, and routes. Secondly, the "My City" application will indicate the location of all city attractions and possible ways to get to them. Thirdly, it will be possible to watch presentation videos about Belarus in general and Vitebsk in particular. Additionally, the stop will be able to charge mobile phones. As the developers note, the universal system of software capabilities of the smart stop is such that this functionality can be updated and expanded if necessary.
The smart stop will be the first in the festival city.
From Schedules to Attractions
The design bureau for non-standard solutions, a division of "Vityaz," knows how to surprise. And thousands of guests and participants of the international arts forum "Slavianski Bazaar in Vitebsk" will soon be able to see this for themselves. At the public transport stop closest to the Summer Amphitheater, equipment has already been installed, and a complex information system is being commissioned."This will be the first smart stop in the Vitebsk region," reveals Gennady Azarov, General Director of OJSC. "Our designers developed the idea together with specialists from Beltelecom. I hope the result will please both the residents of Vitebsk and the city's guests. And in the future, residents of other cities in the country."
Gennady Azarov.
What services will this unusual IT facility offer users? Firstly, the screen will display a public transport route map in real-time, showing schedules, times, and routes. Secondly, the "My City" application will indicate the location of all city attractions and possible ways to get to them. Thirdly, it will be possible to watch presentation videos about Belarus in general and Vitebsk in particular. Additionally, the stop will be able to charge mobile phones. As the developers note, the universal system of software capabilities of the smart stop is such that this functionality can be updated and expanded if necessary.
The smart stop will be the first in the festival city.Investments in Business
Televisions still account for approximately 75 percent of Vitebsk's production structure. How to stay in the market? Gennady Azarov names a figure: in 2023, the plant produced 946 thousand receivers. This is an absolute record for its entire existence. Almost 95 percent of the products went for export.
— Currently, the range already exceeds 150 items, which we produce under various brands, — the head informs. — Customer preferences are changing, and we are trying to meet them, staying one step ahead and anticipating desires. A few years ago, small televisions with a 32-inch screen were favorites. Now, 43-50-inch screens are at the peak of popularity, the production of which we have expanded. Including those with OLED screens — the thickness of the super-thin panel is only 4 millimeters.
Indeed, five years ago, the plant workers did not even dream of producing 85-90-inch screens. And now it is commonplace. It is interesting that such "units" are ordered not only by enterprises and organizations for presentation purposes, but also by ordinary buyers — for equipping spacious cottages and apartments.From kitchen to presentation — "Vityaz" produces TVs of various models.
But no matter the screen size, the trend is one — the TV must have wide functionality: internet access, smart systems, platforms with applications and interfaces. That is, three in one — a receiver, a computer, a smartphone.
And to satisfy wishes and be competitive in the global market, OJSC "Vityaz" is forced to implement a large production modernization program. Its next and very important stage is planned for the coming years, and it will require serious investment.
— The project is already in development, — reports the CEO. — It will be a new modern TV production facility for manufacturing products based on complex software and information systems using the most promising technologies. Several workshops, highly efficient lines: we will create a large and clear mechanism with a well-thought-out chain of optimization of operations, logistics, quality control, and warehouse capacities. We plan to implement the idea with the involvement of foreign capital. It will require substantial costs, but it will create a foundation for the plant's stable operation for many years to come and allow us to expand the geography of supplies. New jobs will also be created.
— Previously, hospitals and polyclinics accumulated waste from used jars, syringes, ampoules, and intravenous infusion systems. Then they handed them over to commercial firms for disposal or purchased expensive containers for these purposes themselves. It was costly and inconvenient... Our coмплекс позволяет снизить расходы, упростить процедуру и стопроцентно обеспечить защиту экологии.
But no matter the screen size, the trend is one — the TV must have wide functionality: internet access, smart systems, platforms with applications and interfaces. That is, three in one — a receiver, a computer, a smartphone.
And to satisfy wishes and be competitive in the global market, OJSC "Vityaz" is forced to implement a large production modernization program. Its next and very important stage is planned for the coming years, and it will require serious investment.
— The project is already in development, — reports the CEO. — It will be a new modern TV production facility for manufacturing products based on complex software and information systems using the most promising technologies. Several workshops, highly efficient lines: we will create a large and clear mechanism with a well-thought-out chain of optimization of operations, logistics, quality control, and warehouse capacities. We plan to implement the idea with the involvement of foreign capital. It will require substantial costs, but it will create a foundation for the plant's stable operation for many years to come and allow us to expand the geography of supplies. New jobs will also be created.
Assisting Medical and Rescue Workers
Currently, OJSC "Vityaz" is actively working for the country's medical sector. There are several dozen models of equipment and their variations for healthcare institutions on the assembly line. Leonid Karpov, Chief Designer of Engineering and Industrial Complexes, demonstrates a new product whose clinical trials were completed in May. The equipment has undergone the registration procedure, and now the tandem of a sterilizer and a medical waste destructor is being put into production. The specialist explains:— Previously, hospitals and polyclinics accumulated waste from used jars, syringes, ampoules, and intravenous infusion systems. Then they handed them over to commercial firms for disposal or purchased expensive containers for these purposes themselves. It was costly and inconvenient... Our coмплекс позволяет снизить расходы, упростить процедуру и стопроцентно обеспечить защиту экологии.
The range of equipment for medical professionals is constantly being updated.
Igor Alexandrovich demonstrates the operation of the equipment, which has already been appreciated during testing by the staff of the Vitebsk City Emergency Hospital.
All waste is loaded into a special 100-liter box of the sterilizer in bags. At a temperature of 134 degrees Celsius under atmospheric pressure, they undergo half an hour of processing, after which they are transferred to a destructor and shredded. The output is: a carefully packaged harmless fine fraction that can be disposed of in the usual way at household landfills.
By the way, the Emergency Hospital decided to purchase this equipment after experimental approbation — medics made 5-6 loads into the sterilizer daily and appreciated its ease of use.
In the same workshop of the plant, we are shown new sterilizers for the medical industry, veterinary medicine, and pharmaceutical production, as well as a mobile irradiator.
— Remember the wall-mounted ultraviolet emitters installed in wards and other places in medical facilities? Now there is an opportunity to abandon stationary equipment — our mobile unit easily moves to the right place at the right time — Leonid Evgenievich explains the principle of operation. — It can be used not only in medical institutions, but also in kindergartens, schools, food enterprises… Wherever there is a need for thorough disinfection of premises.
Igor Alexandrovich demonstrates the operation of the equipment, which has already been appreciated during testing by the staff of the Vitebsk City Emergency Hospital.
All waste is loaded into a special 100-liter box of the sterilizer in bags. At a temperature of 134 degrees Celsius under atmospheric pressure, they undergo half an hour of processing, after which they are transferred to a destructor and shredded. The output is: a carefully packaged harmless fine fraction that can be disposed of in the usual way at household landfills.
By the way, the Emergency Hospital decided to purchase this equipment after experimental approbation — medics made 5-6 loads into the sterilizer daily and appreciated its ease of use.
In the same workshop of the plant, we are shown new sterilizers for the medical industry, veterinary medicine, and pharmaceutical production, as well as a mobile irradiator.
— Remember the wall-mounted ultraviolet emitters installed in wards and other places in medical facilities? Now there is an opportunity to abandon stationary equipment — our mobile unit easily moves to the right place at the right time — Leonid Evgenievich explains the principle of operation. — It can be used not only in medical institutions, but also in kindergartens, schools, food enterprises… Wherever there is a need for thorough disinfection of premises.
Assembly fitter Irina Ershova is proud that the enterprise's products are in demand both at home and abroad.
These developments are far from being the only ones. Every year, OJSC "Vityaz" introduces new products into production that are in demand in various sectors of the national economy of Belarus, as well as the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Moldova. For example, more than 3.5 thousand medical devices alone were produced in 2023.
Heating equipment for "electric" houses, the production of which was mastered at "Vityaz" at the end of last year, also proved to be in high demand. Several hundred boilers have already been sold to consumers. And now, factory workers, together with the Ministry of Emergency Situations, are conducting research work and preparing to launch innovative products – compressed air breathing apparatuses that can save people's lives in emergency situations. Their mass production within the framework of an import substitution project will begin in about a year.
These developments are far from being the only ones. Every year, OJSC "Vityaz" introduces new products into production that are in demand in various sectors of the national economy of Belarus, as well as the Russian Federation, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Moldova. For example, more than 3.5 thousand medical devices alone were produced in 2023.
Heating equipment for "electric" houses, the production of which was mastered at "Vityaz" at the end of last year, also proved to be in high demand. Several hundred boilers have already been sold to consumers. And now, factory workers, together with the Ministry of Emergency Situations, are conducting research work and preparing to launch innovative products – compressed air breathing apparatuses that can save people's lives in emergency situations. Their mass production within the framework of an import substitution project will begin in about a year.