Rusatom Metal Tech LLC (the integrator company of the Fuel Division of Rosatom in the Metallurgy industry direction) and METEOR Auto - the commercial name of Engels Svechi Zazhiganiya LLC (formerly Robert Bosch Saratov LLC) (is the part of industrial assets of the S8 Capital holding) entered into a cooperation agreement within the framework of the XXVII St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. The document was signed by Andrey Andrianov, General Director of Rusatom Metal Tech LLC, and Alexander Kovalchuk, General Director of METEOR Auto.
A key initiative under the agreement is the development of a new technology for the production of zirconium dioxide powder from domestic raw materials. It is planned to master the production of a new brand of zirconium dioxide, which is used in the production of spark plugs based on the existing production at the Chepetsky Mechanical Plant (ChMP JSC, an enterprise of the Rosatom Fuel Division in Glazov, Republic of Udmurtia). Currently, the needs of the Russian automotive industry for such material are fully covered by import trade.
Spark plugs, in the production of which zirconium dioxide is used, have a number of advantages: high strength, wear-resistance and corrosive resistance. The high electrical conductivity of zirconium dioxide provides more stable spark generation and longer service life period for spark plugs.
“In the next five years, Rosatom specialists will perform a number of research projects on creation of a technology for the production of zirconium dioxide powder, prepare engineering solutions and a set of process documentation. It is also planned to produce laboratory samples of new domestic material and perform their tests. The ultimate purpose is to launch mass production of zirconium dioxide powder from Russian raw materials, which will replace existing foreign analogues and increase the technological self-sufficiency of the national automotive industry” Andrey Andrianov, General Director of Rusatom Metal Tech LLC, said.
The expansion of the product line will allow doubling the productivity of the existing section of ChMP JSC for the production of various powders based on zirconium dioxide. The products must be fully supplied with domestic raw materials - baddeleyite concentrate of Russian production.
“Localization of components for the production of spark plugs is a strategic task for METEOR Auto. Over the past two years, we have managed to arrange supplies of a number of important components from Russian suppliers, for example, wire and pins made of precious metal alloys, and the production of glass sealant components. Mastering the production of zirconium dioxide, which is used in the production of all lines of METEOR Auto spark plugs, will increase the level of localization of our products, while keeping their high quality and unique characteristics based on German technologies with an optimal price-quality relationship” Alexander Kovalchuk, General Director of METEOR Auto, noted.
Reference
The Fuel Division of the Rosatom State Corporation (Rosatom's TVEL Fuel Company) includes enterprises for the manufacture of nuclear fuel, conversion and enrichment of uranium, production of gas centrifuges, as well as research and development organizations. As the sole supplier of nuclear fuel to Russian nuclear power plants, TVEL provides fuel to a total of 70 power reactors in 15 countries, research reactors in nine countries around the world, as well as transport reactors of the Russian nuclear fleet. Every sixth power reactor in the world is powered by TVEL fuel. Rosatom's Fuel Division is the world's largest manufacturer of enriched uranium, as well as the leader of the global stable isotope market. The Fuel Division is actively developing new businesses in the fields of chemistry, metallurgy, energy storage technologies, 3D printing, digital products, as well as decommissioning of nuclear facilities. Rosatom's industry integrators for additive technologies and energy storage systems have been created in the TVEL Fuel Company. http://www.tvel.ru
Rusatom Metallurgical Technologies LLC is a divisional integrator of the TVEL Fuel Company of Rosatom in the Metallurgy direction. The tasks of developing the metallurgical business of the Fuel Company include, in particular, expanding the customer base in Russia and abroad, developing production facilities, and creating new alliances and partnerships. Enterprises specializing in the manufacture of products made of refractory and light metals, as well as alloys based on them, are the technological partners of Rusatom Metallurgical Technologies LLC. The integrator consolidates the competencies of TVEL JSC enterprises in the field of metallurgy: ChMZ JSC, MSZ JSC, NCCP PJSC, Elemash Magnit LLC, NPO Centrotech LLC, and VNIINM JSC. The scientific potential, technological competencies, and qualified personnel of enterprises make it possible to carry out work on the launch of mass production of new materials and promising product ranges, as well as promptly respond to the needs of leading industries and high-tech companies.
S8 Capital is a multi-industry Russian holding that unites industrial and high-tech assets from different sectors of the economy: from production to media.
METEOR Auto is one of the world's leading and largest specialized integrated enterprises in Russia, producing a wide range of spark plugs. The production capacity of the plant is 100 million spark plugs per year, the production area is 48,000 sq.m. The enterprise's products are designed for manufacturers and users of gas turbine power plants, various manufacturers of explosion engines, bureau service of automotive manufacturers and independent service enterprises, as well as retail trade organizations.
