European Union bans export to Russia Fire Department technology originates from drafts of amendments to the regulation “On restrictive measures on Russian actions in Ukraine”, familiar to socialbites.ca.
The document of the European Union mentions the ban on the provision of “technical assistance, intermediary services or other services related to goods and technologies” to the Russian market in the field of fire transport. In addition, restrictions are imposed on “the provision, production, maintenance and use of these goods and technologies to any person, legal entity or organization in Russia”.
The ban will apply from July 10, 2022 for contracts signed before April 9 this year.
The sanctions impose a direct ban on the activities of Spetstekhnika Pozharukhushivaniya LLC, a Russian-Austrian joint venture co-owned by the Austrian concern Rosenbauer, one of the three leaders in the global market of fire transport and equipment. Production of fire trucks under license from Rosenbauer has been established in Moscow since 2009. At first, the cars were assembled on the basis of Austrian add-ons, assembled from Europe and mounted on the KamAZ chassis.
Later, the company considered such a scheme too expensive and began the process of partial production localization: “We learned how to roll aluminum, manufacture water tanks, independently manufacture electronics and other components using German technologies.” This was told socialbites.ca by Denis Leleko, general manager of the Special Fire Fighting Equipment joint venture. The addressee of the publication cannot yet say what effect the sanctions will have on the joint venture,
but does not exclude the cessation of deliveries of especially heavy three-axle fire-fighting airport vehicles Rosenbauer Panther 6×6 to Russian airports.
“If it is banned, we will not supply it, we will sell other cars,” Leleko said.
The partner company now assures that most of the components for the production of fire trucks using Rosenbauer technologies are produced in Russia. A few key parts that are fully imported include Austrian pumps and pumps. Denis Leleko assures that, if desired, the production of fire engines can be continued in Moscow using domestic pumps.
However, according to him, the main problem of the company is not the sanctions, but the lack of full capacity loading.
“As an institution, we fall short. We have manual assembly with a volume of 300 units per year, the customer plans to buy only 30 cars, which is unprofitable for us.”
Leleko complained.
The Russian-Austrian company is experiencing problems due to the uncertain situation on the KamAZ chassis – in March, the Chelny Automobile Plant decided to temporarily limit the production of cars with modern engines in favor of the Euro-2 or Euro-3 peripheral production. class vehicles.
Fedor Lapshin, editor of the Trucks and Buses section of the Autoreview newspaper, told socialbites.ca that a very strong network of factories that independently produce fire equipment has been created in Russia.
“Special Fire Equipment vehicles are very expensive.
In addition, the company has recently used some components from Rosenbauer. Purchased abroad, the largest cities – Moscow and St. For St. Petersburg it was the Iveco stairs. Lapshin explains that the stairs of the same plan and format, but on the local chassis of KamAZ, were made at the Pozhtekhnika enterprise in Torzhok.
The specialist is confident that the possible cancellation of the license by Rosenbauer will not affect the production of fire equipment in Russia. Autoreview expert states that Iveco Magirus fire extinguishing equipment produced in Russia is used throughout the country, except for Moscow.
In Russia, an analogue of the Rosenbauer airfield fire equipment from the Bryansk Automobile Plant (part of the Almaz-Antey Aerospace Defense Concern) is still being prepared, but work on it has not yet been completed, Lapshin recalled.
Rosenbauer fire trucks are equipped with the Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Sochi airports of the Russian Aviation Forces in the Voronezh region, Buturlinovka airfield.
KamAZ trucks with Rosenbauer add-ons can be found in the fire departments of the largest cities of Russia. The uniqueness of airspace vehicles is provided by a special turret for extinguishing fire above the ground and in hard-to-reach places, as well as the ability to start firefighting on the go. Some versions of the “Panther” are equipped with a special nozzle that allows you to pierce the fuselage of the aircraft in certain compartments.
According to Lapshin, the remaining airport vehicles will be able to serve for several more decades, since fires are rare, mileage is gained very slowly, and the equipment is perfectly maintained.
Vnukovo Airport reported that the provision and equipment of emergency services is maintained at a high level, and European equipment is serviced in the Russian Federation. Representatives of other airports socialbites.ca spoke to did not comment on how EU sanctions affecting imported fire equipment would affect the safety of air travel. They did not immediately respond to the Ministry of Emergencies and Rosenbauer’s headquarters.
Source: Gazeta
