A meeting between the management of Chelyabinsk Urban Electric Transport Plant (CUETP, part of the Sinara-Transport Machines Holding) and representatives of South Ural State University was held at the enterprise. The parties discussed the possibilities of introducing technologies developed by the educational institution into production.
The site was visited by SUSU First Vice-Rector for Research Anton Korzhov, Director of the SUSU Institute of Engineering and Technology Mikhail Ivanov, and Director of the SUSU Mechanical Engineering Research Institute Ramil Zakirov. Director of CUETP Oleg Frantsev introduced the guests to the production process of the new SINARA-6254 trolleybuses and talked about the main stages of manufacturing the machines and their technological features.
"We needed to understand the possibilities of introducing our scientific developments into the transport engineering industry, which is successfully developing in the Chelyabinsk Region. This was the main purpose of the visit," commented Anton Korzhov, SUSU First Vice-Rector for Research. "Following the meeting, we took into consideration three major tasks that the plant faces. We will be glad if we begin to interact with the enterprise in a scientific and technical manner, and if our ideas become useful to CUETP."
In turn, Director of CUETP Oleg Frantsev emphasized the need to use new technologies in production.
"SUSU’s experience in modern mechanical engineering impresses us. We are watching with particular interest the developments by the Mechanical Engineering Research Institute because this topic concerns the production of wheeled vehicles. For example, we are interested in reducing the weight of cars, improving their energy efficiency, and speeding up charging. I think our colleagues’ projects will surprise us and, most importantly, help improve our product. We are open to innovation!" said Oleg Frantsev.
The manager noted that CUETP already has experience in interacting with educational institutions − now the plant’s employees are training students at the Profi Chelyabinsk College of Industrial Technologies named after Ya.P. Osadchy as part of internships. Oleg Frantsev also expressed hope that possible future cooperation between CUETP and SUSU will be effective and fruitful.
Chelyabinsk Urban Electric Transport Plant is the first and only full-cycle enterprise for the production of SINARA-6254 trolleybuses. Today, CUETP is focused on the production of machines for updating the rolling stock fleet as part of the Chelyabinsk Trolleybus concession project for the modernization and subsequent operation of trolleybus infrastructure. The organization of production at CUETP is implemented outside the obligations of the concession agreement and makes it possible to attract new competencies to the region and create modern workplaces. The trolleybuses produced by the plant have been operating on route No. 19 since September 1, 2023, and on March 1st of this year, new vehicles have began operating on route No. 12.
CUETP plans to expand its line of wheeled vehicles. The next one to be produced will be the SINARA-6253 electric bus.
Chelyabinsk Urban Electric Transport Plant (CUETP) is the Sinara Holding's own site for the production of vehicles from the new SINARA wheel family − the SINARA-6254 trolleybus and (in the future) the SINARA-6253 electric bus. The plant was launched in March 2023 and can produce up to 350 vehicles annually.
Sinara -Transport Machines (Sinara-TM) is a company producing urban electric public transport. In 2022, a new family of wheeled vehicles SINARA was introduced. The company’s specialists are also developing a prototype of the SINARA-6253 electric bus. In the future, they plan to introduce gas bus and diesel bus models.