Russian plastic processor teams up with ENGEL

More than a decade ago Motor Super, based in the Russian city of Tolyatti, decided to intensify its plastics processing activity. Since the company was short of injection moulding experience and expertise, however, a partner was needed to supply turnkey systems incorporating machines, automation and moulds. Today, the automotive supplier has gained ample in-house experience and know-how – but the company is sticking to its purchasing strategy: ENGEL has supplied 20 complete systems to date.

“We have been able to kill three birds with one stone”, says Dimitri Savenkov, Director General of Motor Super, on a visit to the ENGEL parent plant at Schwertberg in Austria. “ENGEL gives us top quality systems, and we achieve high output. What's more, we have always been able to rely on the delivery date for a new system.” The injection moulding machine, mould and automation are delivered as a single unit, with the various components perfectly coordinated. “That means that processes are more stable and productivity is increased”, stresses Udo Stahlschmidt, head of ENGEL mould technology. “Interface problems are also avoided, which cuts costs for the plant operator and significantly reduces time to market.”  The experts from ENGEL mould technology achieve this by drawing together a wealth of know-how in moulds and systems and collaborating with leading mould production partners.

From day one, the moulds for Motor Super have been made by Thieltges in the German town of Lüdenscheid. “We can depend completely on the quality and precision of the moulds”, says Savenkov. “So far we haven't had to make any repairs at all. That's because the requirements of the overall process were taken into consideration at the planning stage.” Where providing the mould and machine along with the automation, ENGEL takes full responsibility for the system – including those areas realised in cooperation with system partners.

Always ready to listen

Motor Super focuses fully on the automobile industry. Amongst other things, the plastics processing firm produces air filter housings for the latest Lada range; and the Motor Super factory is located close to AvtoVAZ, which makes the Lada.

Motor Super and ENGEL began their collaboration in 2000, a year of great change for the automobile industry in Russia. “At that time, the demands on the automobile sector as regards quality and delivery reliability suddenly went through the roof”, recalls Dimitri Savenkov. “To stay competitive, we had to invest.” A high level of systems expertise was seen as the key, which is why Motor Super turned to ENGEL as a partner – and ENGEL has supplied 20 production systems in the meantime.

“State-of-the-art technologies coupled with the high productivity and availability of ENGEL systems give us a critical competitive advantage. On many projects, our rating as a supplier has improved”, reveals Savenkov. One of the main factors behind this success has been the partnership with ENGEL. “Our contacts at ENGEL are always ready to listen to our questions and problems and the new challenges that arise. At first we were happy to procure systems expertise from a single source. Now we also value the mutual trust that has made our collaboration such a success.”