ST Assembly Expands Production of CLAAS and HORSCH Machinery
Over the years, the enterprise has produced 363 tractors, 714 grain harvesters, and nearly 500 CLAAS headers, as well as approximately 270 HORSCH seeding complexes. The annual capacity of the site is 370 units of self-propelled machinery and the same number of trailed and mounted machines.
The CLAAS lineup includes three models of TRION combines, XERION 12 series tractors, XERION 4500, and AXION 9.420. Recently, the HORSCH range has been expanded to include the Sprinter 15 HD seeding complex, bringing the total number of machinery options to five. According to General Director Sergey Zholik, the ST Assembly site assembles more types of CLAAS machines in one place than other company facilities.
The enterprise is mastering the assembly of specific components directly in Kazakhstan. This year, the first seven machines with in-house produced combine tilt chambers were assembled here. Previously, these chambers arrived at the plant as finished products. The increase in operations requires additional personnel, and an expansion of the workforce is expected next year.
However, the deepening of production processes increases labor time per machine and does not automatically lead to an increase in output. The company has begun construction on a cold storage facility covering nearly 1,000 square meters and is preparing to reconfigure the internal warehouse: the five-meter shelves are to be replaced by nine-meter racks. In the long term, a division of self-propelled and trailed machinery workshops is being considered.
The company associates the choice of a wide range of products with changes in the crop structure in Kazakhstan. Farms are increasing the production of sunflower, rapeseed, flax, and corn, requiring machinery different from that for traditional crops. This year, the demand for seeding complexes and combines exceeded supply, but ST Assembly does not plan to limit itself to the current list of models.
The enterprise is included in the Register of Domestic Manufacturers, and its products have entered the National Goods Catalog after a quality audit. This enables the company to qualify for government support when subsidizing the purchase of agricultural machinery by farmers. To expand localization, ST Assembly collaborates with five Kazakhstani component suppliers and is considering two more companies.
The company is also exploring the supply of Kazakhstani components into the global supply chains of CLAAS and HORSCH. One of the limitations remains the price: local parts often fall short of their European counterparts in cost. Product quality is verified upon receipt, in the test cabin, and based on an end-of-line checklist; additional checks are conducted at production posts, and controllers are engaged for critical elements. CLAAS and HORSCH conduct regular audits, and this year CLAAS specialists confirmed the site's compliance with the company's quality standards.
