"Products of "Turboatom" are used in 45 countries of the world, that is a reflection of its high quality", - S.Ilyinsky
"Turboatom" is among the largest enterprises in the world in design and manufacture of steam and hydraulic turbines, hydraulic valves and other power equipment. To be competitive in global market it is necessary to constantly evolve. Of course, to improve, above all, you need the quality of products. How difficult it is to keep up with the times and be in demand in incredibly competitive world environment, said Deputy General Director of "Turboatom" on Quality Sergiy Ilinsky.
- Tell us who today is the main competitor of "Turboatom" in global market?
"Turboatom" is one of the leading manufacturers of turbine equipment in the world, so our main competitors are large global companies such as "Siemens", "Voith" (Germany), "Alstom" (France), "Andritz" (Austria), "Mitsubishi" and "Toshiba" (Japan), "Power Machines" (Russia). In addition, companies from China, India, and Korea are serious competitors in the market.
- Is it difficult to meet standards of world quality products at Ukrainian realities?
Of course it is difficult. Nevertheless, "Turboatom" for many years is active participant at foreign market of power equipment. Our products today are used in 45 countries of the world! We have completed dozens of projects (contracts) related to development, manufacture, supply, installation and commissioning works. Naturally, main customer requirement is quality of products, raw materials, components, which must meet requirements of international standards.
Ukraine's membership in WTO and integration into EU requires transition to international and European standards governing quality and safety requirements of products supplied to global market. After cancellation of many obsolete standards, "Turboatom", like many other Ukrainian companies, faced with need to move to international regulatory documents.
We have always been focused not only on Ukrainian market. This made it possible to systematically introduce international quality standards in all areas of plant’s activities. In particular, specialists of "Turboatom" were trained in various areas: from welding production to quality control of raw materials, materials used, etc. Of course, considerable funds are invested in re-equipment of our production. Over past 10 years, more than 70 million dollars has been invested in technical re-equipment of the enterprise.
- What quality certificates does "Turboatom" has today?
Since 1996, at the enterprise is in effect main document "Guidelines for Quality Management System", developed in accordance with International Standard ISO 9001: 2015 and National Standard of Ukraine DSTU ISO 9001: 2015, which is identical to it.
Every year during international audits we confirm compliance of our Quality Management System with international standards. Main goal of the enterprise is to manufacture products that meet, requirements and expectations of customers, or even exceed them, in terms of reliability, safety, technical level and competitiveness. According to results of audit, "Turboatom" was officially approved as supplier NNEGC "Energoatom".
Availability of Certificate of Compliance makes it possible to compete on equal terms with leading manufacturers of turbine equipment at international market, to take part in tenders and win tenders. Illustrative example is contract signed in March of this year with PJSC "Ukrhydroenergo" for rehabilitation of 2 hydroelectric units (st. Nos. 4, 5) of Kremenchug HPP. We won tender for this contract at leading power equipment manufacturer Andritz Hydro (Germany).
- Are there any specific examples in your work, when quality of manufactured equipment became priority in winning of new orders for the enterprise?
In market of Ukraine "Turboatom" takes key, leading position, winning in almost all tenders. Example: as a result of tough competition, we won tender for supply of condenser for South-Ukrainian NPP, which, after installation and commissioning, provided increase in capacity of unit by 25 MW. And exactly this indicator became priority when holding tenders for supply of condensers for the 2nd and 3rd units of South-Ukrainian NPP. Quality of equipment manufactured, installed and commissioned for 3 hydraulic units of Kremenchug HPP with confirmation of all specifications required by customer became priority in winning tender for contract with "Ukrhydroenergo", which I mentioned above.
- Tell us about innovations in production of enterprise?
Our designers and welders, together with Institute of Electric Welding named after E.O. Paton, have developed technology for manufacturing welded-forged rotors of steam turbines from composite steels. Also at "Turboatom", titanium alloy blades for rotors of steam turbines with capacity of 1000 MW were created and introduced into production. Including, innovation is development of new types of condensers made of corrosion-resistant materials for million kilowatt turbines. I want to note that moving blades made of titanium alloy, condensers for turbines, cylinder of medium pressure, which are manufactured today by "Turboatom", are an example of import substitution.
