Alexander Trofimov, NPO Stekloplastic - ОАО “НПО Стеклопластик”
Release Date: 2011-06-10
Alexander Trofimov, General Director of NPO Stekloplastic, the leading Russian manufacturer of reinforced plastics and composites, has been interviewed by Russianavia.net to discuss the position of NPO Stekloplasic in Russia and on the international markets, its commitment to high quality and the comparative advantages of composites and reinforced plastics over the more traditional materials.NPO Stekloplastic is the leading Russian manufacturer of reinforced plastics and composites for the Russian aerospace, defense and nuclear energy industries. What is the role of NPO Stekloplastic in developing the Russian market of composite materials?
NPO Stekloplastic is a unique scientific and production center created in 1946 and specialized in multifunctional reinforced plastics and composites on the basis of a single chain that connects research, development and production.
Our developments in reinforced plastics technologies made by our scientists keep their high potential. They have been implemented in Ukraine, Latvia, Belorussia and Armenia. Today, NPO Stekloplastic has attained a very high and internationally competitive quality of fiberglass and reinforcing materials.
What is the role of NPO Stekloplastic in the development of composites for the aerospace industry today?
Traditionally focused on development of new reinforced plastics since 1990s, NPO Stekloplastic has been expanding production of special fibers and materials for aerospace and other special industries.
Almost all thermal insulation for Russian spacecrafts has been produced with materials by NPO Stekloplastic. We have developed unique thermal insulation for Buran space shuttle. In this sense, we have no competitors in Russia and, possibly, worldwide. Moreover, there has been a very positive trend of allocating greater state support to the aerospace industry over the past several years in Russia. The main task is to develop new generation equipment for piloted spacecraft where our experience and knowledge are greatly wanted. Space equipment developers have turned to us with a need to design a new generation of thermal insulation for extreme temperatures with unique characteristics, and we are confident that we will produce a solution for this task.
How would you characterize the prospects of developing hi-tech materials for the Russian aerospace industry?
NPO Stekloplastic has the greatest competitive advantages in high temperature insulation. This ensures our success in the Russian aerospace and internationally: we supply customers in Germany and Japan.
You take part in forums, exhibitions and conferences on innovations. What do innovations mean to you?
The main thing about innovations is to increase demand for our products. For instance, silica materials were created and widely implemented in the USSR 50 years ago. Now, we have slightly changed the production technology and have taken a niche with high added value that requires higher quality that the consumers are ready to pay for.
Our task was to develop a strategy that would allow us compete for some types of materials on a free market. Moreover, the demand for our materials in Russia and internationally exceeds our production capacity. This witnesses the success of our innovations.
What is your strategy of attracting young professionals?
One of the ways to attract them is to provide housing. Here in Andreevka (Zelenograd – Editor’s Notes), we have constructed a modern residence for our employees.
To invite young people for internships with us, we cooperate with Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology of Russia and Ivanovo State University. There are also opportunities for postgraduate students at NPO Stekloplastic.
Does NPO Stekloplastic get financial support from the state budget?
We prefer developing using our own funds or credits. As far as it is possible, we try not to attract the state funds, however we do cooperate with companies that have received state support.
Talking about composites, is there competition between composites and traditional materials?
It would be incorrect to say that composites would one day fully replace the traditional construction materials. The main advantage of polymer composites, or reinforced plastics, against metals is, firstly, their very high resistance and durability. Bearing in mind that the characteristics of composites can be modified, it is obvious that composites have opened brand new prospects for the developers. However, in some areas the advantages of composites are debatable.
How do you esteem the export potential of your products?
The export potential is very high. The Western world borrows and implements new technological ideas, that is why so many Russian specialists are employed there. But, if the Russian companies manage to react promptly, we will manage to stop the brain drain.
What are your main markets outside Russia?
About 70% of our products go to the domestic market and approximately 30% are exported. NPO Stekloplastic products account for nearly 85% of the Japanese market for fireproof corrosion materials which we have been supplying since 2000. The Japanese were previously using metal blinds but when reinforced fiberglass appeared, it became clear that it is a much more cost efficient solution.
The German automotive industry uses our materials in engines for noise protection and temperature reduction. As foreign companies open their facilities in Russia, there will be an increasing need for composites because it is easier to set up local production close to assembly sites.
Allegedly, the technological lead is always with the suppliers of the defense and aerospace industries, while civil production is behind…
I disagree with that. The military industry is primarily focused on attaining the necessary characteristics of the materials, while the civil industries are interested in the final price of the product, so I would not compare them. Production of military products requires a certain quality benchmark, and that increases the costs for production and testing. Hence, the catalyst of developing new technologies is economy in case of the civil industries, and the technology race in cаse of the military industries.
The Russian aluminum manufacturers are feeling the effect of competition with the composite industry, and that has forced UC Rusal to unite the Russian aluminum manufacturers under a program of promoting the use aluminum products in aerospace and construction. Is it worthwhile, in your view, to organize a similar initiative in the composite industry?
First of all, composites will never overshadow metals in terms of the scope of their application. Secondly, there is competition: today, Russia uses metal pipes while the alternative is fiberglass pipes. It is possible that metal manufacturers use certain lobbying because they have the necessary standards, permissions, so that it is challenging to make a strategic shift to pipes made of reinforced plastics that cost less in the long term.
What civil and defense projects in Russia are your priorities?
One of our current civil projects is development of a thermal insulation manufacturer in Vladimir. Our special scientific approach enables us to get fibers of such a high quality that even during the construction crisis some companies were eager to get our products. Hence, we can say that today the brand of NPO Stekloplastic has a high profile both in Russia and abroad.
As for the defense projects, we are co-contractors for RT-2PM2 Topol-М centrifuges for nuclear energy.
How would you characterize the prospects of NPO Stekloplastic for the next 5-10 years?
The demand for our products is gradually growing. Supplies of certain types of our products have more than tripled over 2010. Accordingly, we are launching new facilities for mass production. One of our main ambitions is to revive our participation in technical support that NPO Stekloplastic was doing in the Soviet times. We also consider it strategically important to expand our company structure.
| Company: | NPO Stekloplastic - ОАО “НПО Стеклопластик” |
| Position: | General Director |
| Country: | 俄罗斯 |