Today, technologies for microelectronics and robotics are of advanced importance. Innovative machines assemble boards for future devices. A set of electronic components turns into a meter control panel and a meter itself. Houses are equipped with smart water, gas and light meters, which not only record the consumption of resources at the established tariffs, but also send consumption reports to the central computer of the relevant services via wireless communication channel providing remote monitoring. Such devices are manufactured in Gomel by MIRTEK-engineering LLC. Pavel Verkhov, Managing Director, talks about the company and its unique products.
Pavel Alexandrovich, this year MIRTEK-engineering LLC celebrates the 10th anniversary of the company's foundation in Gomel. Could you tell us about the results the company has come with to this date? Where did it start from and how was the activity developing? What achievements are you particularly proud of?
Since 2012, when MIRTEK-engineering started its activity on the Belarusian market, the way has been passed from the assembly and verification of standard metering devices to the deep localization of various production stages of finished innovative and high-tech products. Systematically, step by step, starting with simpler projects, we gained experience and accumulated resources to realize our potential.
The company underwent large-scale and deep modernization in 2018. With the support of the founder, the Russian MIRTEK group of companies, an assembly shop was created from the ground up, equipped with modern surface mounting lines, soldering robots, laser engraving equipment, 3D printers and calibration units, as well as other high-tech equipment.
The production of case products has been mastered; Austrian injection molding equipment is used to ensure quality. Own testing laboratory has been launched and accredited, which allows us to reproduce various climatic conditions to verify the reliability of our products.
During these years, along with production equipping, one of my tasks as a manager was to create a team capable of performing professionally the set tasks. It's not a secret that the combination of highly qualified specialists and efficiently built processes allows achieving success in various fields. This task was also successfully solved – our staff today exceeds 300 employees. Taking into account the company's specifics, many specialists are rare and to some extent unique, they are trained directly at the enterprise.
Currently, a 3000 sq. meters production complex, which meets the strict standards to comply with the world analogues technological processes, has been created at MIRTEK-engineering LLC. We have much to be proud of: we are able to manufacture products ranging from classic resource metering devices to sophisticated computing equipment. We are closely cooperating with our Russian colleagues who develop boards for the equipment of any complexity level that we further manufacture at our site. One of the important advantages is our own design bureau allowing us to change boards in accordance with our clients' tasks.
The company is actively involved in the development of the smart city concept, which is being implemented worldwide today. Special attention is paid to cooperation with Gomel universities and technical schools to attract future engineering personnel to this economy segment. Various contests of technological startups are held.
What are the core operations, features and application areas of the company's products and services? What unique and promising developments would you highlight?
The core activity of MIRTEK-Engineering LLC is the production of smart energy metering devices, the construction of advanced automated control systems, collection and transmission of energy metering data via wireless and wired communication
channels.
We also provide contract manufacturing services; the accumulated experience allows us to meet customers' needs in the turnkey production of devices.
I would like to focus particularly on "smart", or "intelligent", metering device concept. Such devices are aimed at transmitting readings and data about the state of the system without a human being involved. Data from all devices are combined into a top-level program to monitor the load and collect analytics on consumption and promptly notice losses and illegal use of resources.
The production of smart metering devices includes a whole range of solutions. We have developed own software for our devices, with the task to combine data on electricity, heat, water and gas supply in a single information field. This system has no analogues in Belarus.
As for the products of MIRTEK-engineering LLC in general, they are presented in the following several areas.
Firstly, they are high-voltage electrical energy metering devices, which are a modern replacement solution for the commercial accounting point. They have obvious practical advantages: the use of these devices significantly reduces the cost of installation, maintenance and operation compared to traditional commercial accounting points.
Besides, the company produces single- and three-phase electricity meters, which are used in industrial, commercial and household facilities.
The third direction is water, heat and gas meters, data transmission systems, calibration installations and panel equipment.
Much could be said about the advantages of each individual kind of product. I will highlight the features they have in common: ease of use and operation, reliability and long service life.
As for the interesting developments, which have no analogues today, I would introduce a water meter capable of autonomously transmitting data for 10 years. The product will definitely be in demand in the market.
Currently, technology is changing very quickly. How does MIRTEK-engineering manage to keep up with the times and technological progress? Can we say that its products meet modern trends in electronics and instrumentation?
MIRTEK-engineering products are compared in quality to the world's leading manufacturers of microelectronics. They are high-tech, available in various versions ensuring data transmission via wireless communication channels, wired channels or with the use of mobile networks, depending on the customer's requirements.
We never stop improving our devices, introducing new materials and components and optimizing technological processes. We always try to stay up to date, study existing market requests and offers, follow current development trends and remain competitive.
Do you primarily focus on the Belarusian market, or are you developing export activities? Who are your main partners in our country and abroad? What is the strategy to gain the foothold in the market, promote products?
The products of MIRTEK-engineering have 70 percent export orientation. Our company's devices are in high demand in Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and other countries.
As far as Belarus is concerned, our main partners are large energy supply organizations and trade networks.
The company strategy is based on several principles, including the search for mutually beneficial solutions with reliable partners, interaction with other market participants, best practices study for the best result. We establish partnerships with our customers in order to solve common problems even more effectively together, strive to be the best partner. To achieve this, we're constantly improving the qualification of our team, looking for flexible solutions and approaches to each customer.
The company has been a member of the BelCCI since 2013, almost from the time of its foundation. Could you please tell us, how do you cooperate with the Chamber? What Chamber services are most demanded?
The active participation of MIRTEK-engineering LLC in foreign economic events held by the BelCCI allows us to find new business contacts and open alternative supply routes.
I would especially like to highlight such an area of our cooperation with the Chamber as holding meetings at our enterprise as part of visits to Gomel of foreign business delegations, organized by the Gomel Branch of the BelCCI. This format allows us to make best presentation of our capabilities to potential partners and find points of mutual interest.
Recently, the situation has been difficult for all market players. How has it influenced your activities? Have restrictions become a challenge for you or a way to open up new opportunities?
We have not been immune to the difficulties faced by the companies involved in the fields of electronics and logistics. For several years, there has been a shortage of electronic components in the world market, which can cause production process disruptions. To prevent this, our specialists are making efforts to adapt the products to minimize dependence on electronic components that are in short supply, ensure the possibility of using various combinations of analogues.
Such work bears fruit and allows our customers to receive high-quality products on short notice.
Recent years have shown that business development requires a creative approach and non-standard solutions as never before. I can note with satisfaction that these qualities are characteristic of the MIRTEK-engineering team, which allows us to overcome difficulties and confront modern challenges.
What development, modernization, production expansion plans does MIRTEK-engineering LLC set for itself in the future?
We do not rest on the laurels and are constantly moving towards even more significant results. Growing production volumes require changes in layout and logistics between our production units. Production processes are accompanied by construction. The plans include the expansion of existing workshops and the creation of a modern warehousing system.
In addition, the construction of an engineering center is underway to unite the design and engineering teams of MIRTEK-engineering, which will ensure the successful development of the company, and will lead us to new horizons.
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