rus
Issue #1/2016
K.Hubalek
Unique competences of international engineering for Russian high-tech industry
Unique competences of international engineering for Russian high-tech industry
M+W Group is a global leader in the design, engineering and construction of high tech facilities for science and industry. The headquarters of the industrial group, which was founded in 1912, is located in Stuttgart (Germany). M+W Group operates in more than 30 countries, including Russia. The complex of services from concept development to commissioning is offered to customers, with special emphasis on the most innovative industries: electronics, chemistry, pharmaceutics, energy, information technologies. In financial year 2014, the M+W Group generated sales of more than 2.4 billion euros with about 7 000 employees. Karsten Hubalek, head of International project management department in Central Europe told about activities of M+W Group in the international market and in Russia.
Engineering is a specific area of business that requires good knowledge of the national context and national standards. What are the advantages of cooperation with international engineering companies, in particular, with M+W Group?
Firstly, we have unique experience in projects of different complexity in many countries of the world, which in itself is a major advantage compared to local companies. In the most important countries, such as Russia, we have offices, staffed with experienced engineers who know the local specifics. Secondly, we have the resources for turnkey implementation of the most complex large-scale projects and can provide customers with comprehensive service. Thirdly, it is very important to be able to predict and even anticipate the development of the market, which is very dynamic. Because we operate in many countries, we quickly notice trends in changing customer requirements and respond more quickly to them. Another advantage is the close cooperation with leading international research organisations, e.g. Fraunhofer institutes.
Thus, we offer the optimal combination of competencies in technical matters and project management, as well as resources and services, providing customers the most efficient solutions.
What are the plans of the company development in the Russian market?
Russia and CIS is a growing market with good prospects for the development of high-tech industries. Initially we focused mainly on microelectronics and pharmaceutical industries. In particular, we modernized Angstrem-T and Micron factories in Zelenograd, NITI Avangard in St. Petersburg, Integral in Minsk. All of these projects were quite complex, so as to reconstruct large areas is often more difficult than designing from scratch. In the pharmaceutical industry factories for several international companies are constructed, in particular, for Novartis and Teva. In the last two or three years we try to expand the scope of activities and more active use in Russia our unique competences in the chemical and petrochemical industries, the energy sector, including photovoltaics, waste processing, automation of machine-building enterprises. We also plan to develop engineering in such segments of electronics and photonics as production of LEDs, MEMS and sensors of different types.
Experts often disagree on the forecasts for the development of some new areas, such as photovoltaics...
The development of each technology must be linked to the market situation, government support and other factors. Speaking of photovoltaics, in Russia the use of renewable and alternative energy sources is supported at the government level, and this provides good prospects for growth. However, photovoltaics is still a niche solution that may be effective in cases where the use of traditional power system is economically unprofitable or technically impossible. For example, solar panels can be used for supplying electricity to many Russian remote settlement. In other words, photovoltaics does not replace, but complements the traditional technologies of energy supply.
M+W Group has extensive experience in the field of solar energy systems with a capacity of over 300 MW, which for example can be placed on roofs. We have three times won the Solar Industry Award by the readers of Solar International journal.
How demanded is the competence of the M+W Group in the creation of nanotechnology production facilities?
Nanotechnology is one of the most interesting areas for engineering, as each project is unique and requires the use of the most advanced solutions in the field of engineering systems, production and research equipment. We participated in the creation of major international research centers, such as the Spanish-Portuguese International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory in Braga, which conducts research in the areas of nanobiotechnology, nanomedicine, nanoelectronics, and materials science. Establishment of the National nanotechnology laboratory at NRC "Kurchatov Institute" was the large-scale project in Russia. We have developed the concept, architectural and construction solutions, designed and installed engineering systems, planned the placement of research equipment and suggested technological solutions. The total area of the laboratory amounted to 37,000 sq.m., including 4,000 sq.m. of clean room space. In the future we expect to increase our contribution to the development of high-tech sectors of the Russian science and industry, including nanotechnology.
Engineering is a specific area of business that requires good knowledge of the national context and national standards. What are the advantages of cooperation with international engineering companies, in particular, with M+W Group?
Firstly, we have unique experience in projects of different complexity in many countries of the world, which in itself is a major advantage compared to local companies. In the most important countries, such as Russia, we have offices, staffed with experienced engineers who know the local specifics. Secondly, we have the resources for turnkey implementation of the most complex large-scale projects and can provide customers with comprehensive service. Thirdly, it is very important to be able to predict and even anticipate the development of the market, which is very dynamic. Because we operate in many countries, we quickly notice trends in changing customer requirements and respond more quickly to them. Another advantage is the close cooperation with leading international research organisations, e.g. Fraunhofer institutes.
Thus, we offer the optimal combination of competencies in technical matters and project management, as well as resources and services, providing customers the most efficient solutions.
What are the plans of the company development in the Russian market?
Russia and CIS is a growing market with good prospects for the development of high-tech industries. Initially we focused mainly on microelectronics and pharmaceutical industries. In particular, we modernized Angstrem-T and Micron factories in Zelenograd, NITI Avangard in St. Petersburg, Integral in Minsk. All of these projects were quite complex, so as to reconstruct large areas is often more difficult than designing from scratch. In the pharmaceutical industry factories for several international companies are constructed, in particular, for Novartis and Teva. In the last two or three years we try to expand the scope of activities and more active use in Russia our unique competences in the chemical and petrochemical industries, the energy sector, including photovoltaics, waste processing, automation of machine-building enterprises. We also plan to develop engineering in such segments of electronics and photonics as production of LEDs, MEMS and sensors of different types.
Experts often disagree on the forecasts for the development of some new areas, such as photovoltaics...
The development of each technology must be linked to the market situation, government support and other factors. Speaking of photovoltaics, in Russia the use of renewable and alternative energy sources is supported at the government level, and this provides good prospects for growth. However, photovoltaics is still a niche solution that may be effective in cases where the use of traditional power system is economically unprofitable or technically impossible. For example, solar panels can be used for supplying electricity to many Russian remote settlement. In other words, photovoltaics does not replace, but complements the traditional technologies of energy supply.
M+W Group has extensive experience in the field of solar energy systems with a capacity of over 300 MW, which for example can be placed on roofs. We have three times won the Solar Industry Award by the readers of Solar International journal.
How demanded is the competence of the M+W Group in the creation of nanotechnology production facilities?
Nanotechnology is one of the most interesting areas for engineering, as each project is unique and requires the use of the most advanced solutions in the field of engineering systems, production and research equipment. We participated in the creation of major international research centers, such as the Spanish-Portuguese International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory in Braga, which conducts research in the areas of nanobiotechnology, nanomedicine, nanoelectronics, and materials science. Establishment of the National nanotechnology laboratory at NRC "Kurchatov Institute" was the large-scale project in Russia. We have developed the concept, architectural and construction solutions, designed and installed engineering systems, planned the placement of research equipment and suggested technological solutions. The total area of the laboratory amounted to 37,000 sq.m., including 4,000 sq.m. of clean room space. In the future we expect to increase our contribution to the development of high-tech sectors of the Russian science and industry, including nanotechnology.
Readers feedback
