The tire factory operating in the Karaganda region is the only one of its kind in the country. Its establishment is a result of the development of Kazakhstan-Russia cooperation. The domestic investor is the Allur group of companies, and its partner is Tatarstan's "Tatneft." Their joint venture, named Tengri Tyres, is located in the Saran industrial zone.
This site was chosen for a reason. Firstly, it has a large area, which is crucial for a major industrial enterprise. The tire production occupies 76 hectares, while the factory itself covers 28 hectares. Secondly, all engineering communications in the Saran industrial zone are new. A gas pipeline has recently been constructed here, and connecting to it significantly reduces heating costs for the vast complex.
Over 228 billion tenge have been invested in building the tire factory, with 140 billion coming from direct foreign investments. The annual production capacity of the enterprise is 3 million tires for passenger cars and 500 thousand for trucks. It is planned that bus tires will also be produced here. It is no coincidence that a factory of QazTehna has been built nearby, currently assembling more than 1,000 units of equipment annually.
Construction of the tire factory, installation, commissioning, and equipment setup took three years. It must be noted that the equipment here is state-of-the-art. The enterprise is fully digitized and equipped with computers and industrial robots. This year, the shipment of finished products has begun. In September, the first batch of tires was sent to the Kostanay automobile plant of the Allur group of companies.
– For us, this is a significant event that underscores the high quality of our tires, – noted Radik Burganov, General Director of Tengri Tyres. – It demonstrates trust in our products and opens new opportunities for the factory's production development. Supplying Karaganda tires for primary assembly reduces the domestic automotive industry's dependence on imports and allows us to scale up production.
Additionally, the production cycle includes all stages of manufacturing, from rubber preparation for tires to finished product testing. The enterprise pays great attention to quality control. Initially, every tire that comes off the production line undergoes a visual inspection. It is then sent to special stands that simulate the movement of vehicle wheels on highways. Only after such a "test drive" do the tires that meet the testing parameters go to the warehouse.
As for truck tires, an additional inspection is conducted here. The products are scanned using a digital X-ray machine. This thorough control is necessary since the wheels of heavy machinery experience increased loads while driving on highways. Any tire that fails the quality check is immediately sent for disposal with a cut sidewall. This ensures that defective products will not be sold.
Regarding the workforce, nearly 700 people are currently employed at the Karaganda factory. When the enterprise reaches its design capacity, its staff will grow to 1,100 employees. Currently, the employer is systematically training specialists. First, candidates undergo theoretical training at the Saran Higher Technical College, receiving a scholarship, and then they go for practical training in Tatarstan, in the city of Nizhnekamsk.
There, in a real production environment, Kazakhs learn the intricacies of working as vulcanizers, tire assemblers, process engineers, equipment adjusters, and many other professions. Moreover, the company covers all expenses for travel, training, and accommodation. The average salary at the tire factory exceeds 300,000 tenge per month.
– We are working with our partners on providing official housing, – said Radik Burganov, General Director of Tengri Tyres. – We plan to build or renovate two apartment buildings in the city of Saran for our employees.
It should be noted that new productions are developing the region's economy, creating new jobs, and increasing the welfare of citizens.