Monitoring the technical level of promising domestic tractors for farmersReview of the Russian tractor industry

Lately there has been an opinion that mechanical engineering in Russia has long been destroyed to zero, and we haven’t been making new Russian tractors for a long time, and it’s good that you can still buy “Belarus” from your neighbors. Of course, I will not say that everything is fabulously good, but there are progress in a positive direction, and at the same time, against the backdrop of the devastation of the 90s, these movements seem simply gigantic. Some enterprises collapsed, while others, on the contrary, confidently entered the market, and even some market segments are completely supplied with tractors of their own production. We can talk about the reasons for a long time and this is a topic for another material, but in our article we will try to analyze what works and is in demand, and at the same time produced in Russia. Let's start the review incrementally, from small to large.

Mini Tractor

Mini tractors are one of the most popular classes on the market, and on average about 7-10 thousand such machines are sold in Russia every year. Russian manufacturers are confidently leading in this category.

One of the market leaders in this segment is the Chelyabinsk enterprise Traktor LLC, located in the city of Yemanzhelinsk. The plant produces several models under the Uralets brand with a capacity of 16 to 22 horsepower. The company produces about 1,500 thousand tractors per year, and the most popular model is the Uralets-220. The history of the brand began in 2000, when the company first became a dealer of Chinese equipment, and in 2004 released its first tractor. The equipment came to the fore, because small farmers needed inexpensive and unpretentious equipment, and given the sufficient selection of mounted and trailed equipment, which is also produced at the plant, Uralets became very popular. Essentially, Uralets is a localized Chinese Jimno, but every year the level of localization is growing, and there is less and less Chinese left there.

The second popular Russian brand of mini tractors is Chuvashpiller. There are many more models in the line of this manufacturer from 12 to 35 hp. for any pocket and task. This enterprise also produces approximately 1,500 thousand tractors per year, and the model range is also a copy of Chinese tractors, maximally localized for Russian conditions.

Classification by traction class

Among the gradation of tractors according to traction characteristics, there are self-propelled machines from the smallest traction class of 0.2 t.p. (walk-behind tractors and mini-tractors) to heavy-duty, energy-rich, industrial production models with a thrust of 80 t.p.

In the characteristics of tractors, the traction force is indicated in kN (kilo Newtons), in the reflection of the tractor class, the traction force on the hook is displayed in T.S. (tons of force), where 1 tf = 10 kN. This criterion is the main indicator for the formation of working technological units in combination with the operating tractor; it indicates the traction capacity of the machine, formed by the engine power and the transmission ratio with its chassis.

The most common and actively used tractors among self-propelled machines for agricultural and industrial purposes are machines in the traction class from 0.9 to 3 t.p., where the class is 1.4 t.p. the most widely used. An example of such tractors is the popular brand of tractor MTZ 82(80) and a number of modern versions of MTZ in this class: 892, 920, 922, 923, 952,1021, 1025.

An example of one of the most powerful pieces of equipment is the T-800 tracked industrial tractor in the 75 thp class. produced by the Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant.

Agromash

But in this category, where Agromash is represented, there really is not just a failure, but a real disaster. Despite the fact that the USSR was traditionally strong in the production of tractors of similar power, and several factories produced them at once, with the collapse of the union this category became the most sore point. On the one hand, the Belarusian giant MTZ, with state support, confidently conquered the Russian market, on the other, the internal weakness of Russian factories led to the fact that Russian factories are represented here more formally, and Lipetsky completely closed the production of civilian products. The Minsk Plant sells 15-18 thousand tractors in Russia every year and the reason is very simple - cheap and affordable, but Agromash tractors are more expensive, and the quality still raises questions, and there are no more competitors. However, it still doesn’t hurt to present them, and production is gradually growing, and if in 2012 only 38 pieces were produced, then in 2015 there are already more than 500.

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Vladimir Tractor Plant produces Agromash wheeled tractors with power from 30 to 85 hp, and MTZ’s main competitor is Agromash 85tk. There is also a model Agromash 180 with a power of 180 hp, but this is more likely for the model range, and this segment is completely dominated by foreign manufacturers.

Volgograd Tractor Plant - Agromash 90TG tracked tractor model 2014, which is a modernized version of the DT-75, and is really in demand on our market in some regions with soft soils.

New development criteria

We must pay tribute to the market, which has dotted its i’s. Basically, only high-performance tractors remained in production. Each of which performs 1.5-5 times more work than their Soviet counterparts. They also do it faster and more economically.

In addition, at the Samara training ground, the technology for unmanned driving of agricultural machinery has been developed since the times of the USSR. Across the field and in quarries using signals from Glonass/GPS systems.

Soon, tractor drivers and combine harvesters will no longer be needed. Tractor maintenance personnel only. Repairers, suppliers, refuelers and so on.

Alttrack

The Altai Tractor Plant, despite all the problems, survived the most difficult times and maintained production, albeit in a slightly reduced volume. Its main direction is the production of crawler tractors for agriculture and logging. The line of agricultural tractors produces three models from 140 to 200 hp, and the latest new product is the T-501 tractor with a Russian D-461-19 engine with a power of 200 hp. Production volumes are small, and in total the plant can produce about 500 units of special equipment per year. However, this is quite enough, since the market for crawler tractors is not that large.

HTZ T-150K

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T-150K is a Soviet general-purpose agricultural wheeled tractor produced by the Kharkov Tractor Plant (KhTZ). The T-150K is a modernization of the T-125 tractor, the design of which is completely original and has no predecessors. In 1979, the T-150K tractor was successfully tested at the international testing site of the University of Nebraska, USA. The tractor has been in production for more than forty years, has undergone several modernizations and is still being produced to this day. It consists of front and rear semi-frames connected by vertical (to ensure the tractor turns) and horizontal (to ensure contact with the soil of all four wheels) hinges. The T-150 without the letter “K” was tracked without a “breakable” frame.

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KamTZ

The history of the Kama Tractor Plant is very complicated. There have already been two attempts to start the production of tractors, and both times it was closed. The first time was from 1985 to 88, but it didn’t go well and the production of automobile products was established at KamTZ. The second attempt, and by the way an extremely successful one, was in 2008, when the assembly of four models with power from 85 to 215 horsepower began here. For 2008, this was a real breakthrough, because the quality of Kama tractors was in no way inferior to imported ones, but at the same time the price was at the level of MTZ. However, the 2008-09 crisis crippled production and investments were curtailed. The plant found its third wind in 2013, when production was again launched together with the Italian company ARGO (5th place in the world in terms of tractor production), and the first 200 machines were sold out on pre-orders, which says a lot. At the moment, the company's line includes three models: TTX-185, TTX-215 and TTX-230, where the last digit means power. In the near future, KamTZ plans to reach the milestone of 1000 tractors per year, as well as expand the model range. In the future, the plant should become the main competitor of MTZ.

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Types of tractors by purpose

In the classification of self-propelled vehicles, the following types of purpose are distinguished:

• Agricultural (including agricultural models of industrial tractors)
• Industrial (including industrial versions of agricultural tractors)
• Forestry (including logging and timber industry)

Agricultural

Agricultural tractors are divided into types according to specialization:

1. General purpose for performing work in animal husbandry and crop production (without cultivating row crops)
2. Universal row-crop tractors for use both in general work and in row-crop work.
3. Row crops, used only for cultivating and harvesting row crops.
4. Specialized, used only for the cultivation of certain crops (rice, cotton, vineyards, vegetables, beets, tobacco, tea, hops)
5. Special tractors by area of ​​application (swamp, mountain, greenhouse, livestock for farm maintenance)
6. Auxiliary (loaders and other machines for on-farm work)

Universal row-crop MTZ 82.1
Row-crop processing

Row-crop tractors, with their general design, chassis, together with the generated gearbox ratios, correspond to and ensure the implementation of technological operations as part of units for cultivating and processing row crops (in accordance with the row spacing of cultivated crops). Universal row-crop tractors imply the widespread use of machines of this classification both in row-crop operations and other agricultural and general industrial work.

Cotton row-crop tractor MTZ 80Х

Greenhouse tractor

Industrial

For industrial work, tractors are classified according to application specialization:

1. General purpose (for working with a bulldozer, ripper, scraper, ditch digger, etc.).
2. Specialized for their intended purpose (single-bucket loaders; pipe layers; tractors; excavators and others).
3. Specialized by area of ​​application (reclamation and swamp; underground; amphibious for construction work in coastal areas; underwater; small-sized for work in holds, cars and buildings).

Industrial wheeled Kirovets

Industrial tracked T-170(B10)

Forest

Self-propelled machines for forestry work are classified according to their specialization:

1. Timber industry for logging operations (skidding, logging, harvesting).
2. Specialized for the purpose (felling, delimbing, bucking, debarking, crushing, timber loading, felling and skidding, felling and logging and others).
3. Specialized by area of ​​application (floating for work on timber rafts, swamp-moving for logging on soft soils).
4. Forestry for reforestation, forest fire and drainage works (swamp, forest fire, general purpose).

Forest felling machine

Forest fire tractor

Timber carrier based on T-150K

Forest tractor based on MTZ 1221 MUL-1221

Forest checkerless skidder

CJSC "Agrotekhmash"

Agrotekhmash is a young manufacturing company that produces tractors at its production site in Tambov. Its history began in the 90s, when Agrotechmash was a dealer of famous European brands. In 2005, a conveyor was laid in St. Petersburg, and the development of the first models and production of the first tractors under the Kirovets brand began. In 2008, the plant moved to Tambov to the territory of the former Tambovmash and created its own Terrion brand. Currently, the plant produces four models ranging from 180 to 360 hp, and the most powerful is the Terrion 7380 ATM.

Terrion is considered the best Russian tractor. However, this also has a downside - the level of localization is extremely low, and all the main components are imported. Accordingly, the price of tractors is high, and repairs are not cheap at all and can take a long time in the event of a serious breakdown. On average, approximately 400 tractors are produced per year. Of course, this is quite a bit, but the dynamics are strictly positive, which is good news.

Tractor models from Russian manufacturers

The largest production of tractor equipment dates back to the times of the USSR, when the products of domestic concerns were popular. However, after the economic crisis and the collapse of the state, foreign models were able to occupy an impressive market share.

At the moment, Russian tractor factories produce many modifications of equipment, which seems to be the optimal combination of affordable price and reliability.

Russian-made tractor models are in great demand because they are adapted to local operating conditions. They can operate on low-quality fuel without the risk of breakdown, and are characterized by increased cross-country ability and resistance to low temperatures. Tractor manufacturing in Russia continues its work, and having studied the model range, we can single out several of the most popular units. Among them:

• VT-100;
• B-13;
• K 9000;
• Uralets 220.

Kirovets tractor
This list is far from complete, since the model range produced by Russian factories is impressively wider, but these devices are in the highest demand. It should be noted that Russian manufacturers often use foreign components, with the exception of some parts of the structure.

Produced by the Volgograd plant, the VT-100 is a modified tracked unit. It is equipped with a powerful diesel engine with a turbine, as well as a pneumatic compressor. It should be noted that despite the high power indicators, such tracked models are characterized by a low level of fuel consumption, due to which it is possible to reduce operating costs.

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The Chelyabinsk plant produces the B-13 bulldozer , which seems to be the concern’s most modern solution. It is equipped with a YaMZ engine, and its reliable design guarantees correct operation even under the most difficult conditions. The unit complies with European standards, which is relatively rare among domestic products.

When considering wheeled devices, it is necessary to pay attention to the heavy tractor K 9000, produced by the Kirov Plant . It is a powerful tool for solving complex problems, as it is equipped with all-wheel drive and belongs to traction class 9. The carrying capacity of the device allows you to use additional equipment with a large weight, as well as transport cargo.

New units are also produced by the Ural plant, the most modern of which is rightfully considered the Uralets 200. This mini-tractor, as can be seen in the photo, is small in size and equipped with a 22 hp engine. It works easily off-road and is great for small farms.

There are many factories operating on the territory of the Russian Federation that produce modern modifications of equipment, which is why it is advisable to study the largest of them in more detail.

Rostselmash in Rostov-on-Don

The Rostselmash concern should be considered one of the undisputed leaders in the industry. It produces a wide range of devices, as well as additional equipment for cultivating agricultural land.

The company has been operating successfully for many years, and the first tractors were manufactured by the plant in 1929. The concern's most popular unit is the Versatile 2375, equipped with a Cummins engine, which allows it to achieve high efficiency levels.

Versatile 2375

Agromash in Cheboksary

An equally important production complex in this area is Agromash. It is part of the large Tractor Plants holding, producing not only agricultural but also municipal equipment. When manufacturing products, the company actively cooperates with. The history of Agromash began in 1972, when the first models of industrial tractors rolled off its assembly line. The most popular among manufactured devices is the universal 180TK, which seems to be an inexpensive and effective option for cultivating medium-sized plots of land.

Tractor 180TK

Terrion St. Petersburg - Tambov

One of the popular brands that are part of Agotekhmash is Tambov-based Terrion. The concern first began its work as a dealer of foreign models of similar equipment, but later a full-fledged production was opened in Tambov.

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The main feature of our products is the participation of foreign specialists in the design of models , which allows us to achieve excellent technical parameters. The most popular tractor of the concern is the ATM 7360.

ATM 7360

Kirovets in St. Petersburg

The Kronstadt plant, which later received the name “Kirovets,” first began operating in 1801. After the company refocused on the production of tractor equipment, it began to produce many models that have become legendary. The most modern solution from such a company seems to be the fifth generation of the Kirovets, for example, the K-744R. Some models provide the possibility of installing not only domestic, but also foreign power units from Mercedes.

Kirovets

Alttrak Rubtsovsk

Founded in 1941, the Altai Tractor company, abbreviated as Alltrac, is focused on the production of tracked tractor equipment. As a rule, models are actively used for work in logging, agriculture and heavy industry. The most popular version of the tractor from this plant can be considered the universal T 501.

Baltiets SPb

Traktorny initially specialized in the production of attachments, and later moved on to the production of its own line of tractors. In terms of their parameters, the products are extremely similar to products and are intended for use in various fields of activity.

The most widely used for a wide range of work is the wheeled K-707T, equipped with a YaMZ power unit.

Tractor K-707T

KAMTZ in Naberezhnye Chelny

The Kama Tractor Plant, abbreviated as KAMTZ, is located in Naberezhnye Chelny and cannot boast of an impressive number of products, but the line of models includes several particularly popular options. Among them, it is advisable to highlight the universal TTX-215, suitable for most types of work.

TTX-215

VTZ Volgograd

The Volgograd plant was founded back in 1930, is part of the Agromash holding and is also focused on the production of this type of equipment. Despite the production of models under other brands, the plant produces its own devices, for example, VTZ DT-75. Such a unit appears to be a modified version of the legendary device produced in 1963.

VTZ DT-75

ChTZ Chelyabinsk

The Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant, which began mass production of special equipment in 1933, deserves mention. The product range includes specialized solutions for specific tasks - bulldozers, loaders and others. The Russian T-10, which can be produced with a standard or swamp configuration, is in great demand from consumers.

ChTZ T-10

Petra-FTZ St. Petersburg

Founded in St. Petersburg, it belongs to the category of enterprises producing equipment for various purposes. Models are widely used for operation in the field of road construction, public utilities and agriculture. The classic model of the concern, which in many ways resembles universal tractors, is the 390 on wheels.

Petra-ZST 390

Rostselmash

Versatile 2375 - now produced in Russia. In 2016, Rostselmash transferred production of this model from Canada to Russia to reduce costs and despite the fact that it is in this market segment that there is strong competition among Russian manufacturers. So this tractor can be called Russian, despite the name. On the other hand, combine harvesters at Rostselmash in America go under the Versatile brand, so all this is very conditional.

Versatile 2375 is a real hero, its power can vary from 335 to 375 horsepower, and most importantly, it is ideal for Rostselmash attachments. However, such a machine is not cheap and only large farms can afford it.

Petra FTZ

In the USSR, the most powerful tractor was the Kirovets, which was produced at several factories at once. With the collapse of the union, each plant went its own way, but few people abandoned the production of the popular Kirov vehicles due to the high demand for them. The St. Petersburg Special Equipment Plant has been modernizing Kirov vehicles since the early 2000s, and it looks like a tuned K-700. Only Russian engines are installed on the tractor, which may also not please you. The latest ZST model is the Kirovets 714 tractor, which has power from 235 to 420 hp. and is capable of performing almost any task.

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ZST Petra is not the only company that produces the modernized Kirovets, however, compared to other manufacturers of similar machines, it has two important advantages. The localization of this model is very high, and due to this the machine has a very attractive price. The FTZ also has a wide network of technical service stations, which is very important, especially during seasonal work.

Kirov plant

The Kirov plant is one of the few that survived the crisis of the 90s on the Soviet side and did not stop production, but here it was rather a coincidence in the form of a lack of competition, since the Kirovets K700 was a powerful, but at the same time cheap tractor in comparison with foreign analogues. However, even despite the greenhouse conditions, the giant plant dropped to only 500 units per year instead of 10 thousand in the best of times. The quality of the new tractors was so depressing, and the model itself was so obsolete that they stopped buying it, even despite its low price. Things gradually began to improve along with the change of management, and already in 2013 approximately 2,500 tractors were manufactured and the plant still maintains this level.

The basis consists of three main models, which inherited from the old models only the name, but now they are completely different machines. The first is a deep modernization of the legendary K700. Kirovets K744 received not only a new design, but also all the filling is now at a very decent and modern level. Power varies from 300 to 428 horsepower. The sixth generation of tractors from the Kirov plant is represented by the K-9000 model, which in design is almost no different from its predecessor, but has greater power, which can reach 516 hp.

A very important new product is the new model Kirovets-708.4, nicknamed Kiryusha for its low power compared to the main series. This model is designed to occupy the niche of the Ukrainian HTZ, which is going through hard times, but still occupies this segment. Power will vary from 180 to 240 hp.

Agricultural tractors

Tractors are common in agriculture because they are versatile and have advanced functionality. Thanks to a wide range of attachments, such machines can be used in a variety of areas - from field harvesting to load handling.

In general, there are three types of agricultural tractors:

• Universal (general purpose). Suitable for various types of agricultural work. As a rule, they are equipped with a wheel propulsion device. An example of this type of machine is the MTZ-80 Belarus, one of the most common tractors in agricultural enterprises in the South and Western regions of Russia;

• Universal row crops. They are similar to general-purpose tractors, but due to their compatibility with a large number of attachments, they can be used for field work - plowing, harrowing, sowing and harvesting. As an example of such machines, we can cite not only MTZ products, but also, for example, the American model John Deere 8030;

• Specialized. Tractors designed to perform certain types of work and agricultural operations. For example, the SAME Frutteto3 model is used in vineyards, the Deutz-Fahr Agroclimber F is used in orchards and greenhouses, and the MTZ-82R Belarus is used in rice fields.

Image source deere.ru

The key features of agricultural tractors are high maneuverability, a universal trailer mechanism with the ability to connect various attachments, and a special chassis. In particular, such special equipment is equipped with a high-speed engine, multi-speed gearboxes and creepers.