Heavy metal: Russian bulldozers poised to tread across foreign market

The Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant, also known as ChTZ-Uraltrak, is one of the largest industrial vehicle manufacturers in Russia. During the Soviet period the plant exported its products, including bulldozers, tracked tractors, cranes and excavators to countries in Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia.

After the fall of the Soviet Union the company suffered a number of setbacks in export sales as it lost much of its presence in foreign markets, but now it appears that this trend is about to be reversed.

In an exclusive interview with Sputnik, ChTZ-Uraltrak head of foreign sales Vladimir Klein said that the company is working towards regaining its standing abroad.

He added that exports to Europe are complicated by a number of issues, including the problems related to vehicles’ certification in accordance with European standards.

He also said that the company has two official dealers in Vietnam who help the country satisfy its need for bulldozers.

He pointed out that the bulldozers are being shipped to Vietnam in a disassembled state (which is cheaper than shipping already assembled vehicles), where the dealers quickly assemble the vehicles and prep them for operation, while their significant technological expertise and abundance of spare parts allows for swift repairs if the machinery breaks down.