How Sespel builds distinctive machine tools as well as tankers and semi-trailers
Of course, my trip to Cheboksary had a purpose. Let’s talk about Sespel and more besides. To be honest, this team hardly needs an introduction: the whole country knows them as a manufacturer of tankers and semi-trailers. Incidentally, they are Russia’s only manufacturer of tankers for chemically aggressive liquids accredited by Rostekhnadzor.
Sespel’s story began back in 1988, although it originally manufactured computers. Its name means “first flower” in Chuvash: a herald of spring and a symbol of nature awakening. As the saying goes, the name you give a ship shapes its course. Every year, Sespel brings new developments to market, looks confidently to the future and expands its production capacity.
They are particularly good at working with aluminium. They even manufacture the machines used to friction stir weld aluminium alloys. This innovative process improves weld quality and speeds up production. Friction stir welding uses a pin and a shoulder. The rotating pin heats the material through friction and plunges into it, while the shoulder prevents the tool from passing through the workpiece. The heated metal becomes plastic, and constant pressure from the shoulder consolidates it into a single weld mass. The pin then travels along the seam to create a strong joint. Only a handful of companies worldwide use FSW in their production processes, mainly in aerospace and defence—well, I had better stop there rather than give away every secret. And Sespel is, without exaggeration, among Russia’s masters of this technology. How do I know? I once had the chance to visit the Progress Rocket Space Centre, part of Roscosmos, which builds Soyuz launch vehicles. It uses Sespel equipment. That explains why their product quality raises no further questions: space technology is simply part of everyday work here.
Forgive me, but I have more praise to share. People often ask how I get into factories. There is no secret: I know how to make friends in industry. Engineering company Politekhnika in Nizhny Novgorod has been in business for many years, specialising in projects to establish plastics manufacturing workshops. It has an interesting connection with Sespel. In fact, Politekhnika arranged my visit to Cheboksary, and I am very grateful. Here is the story: Sespel recently manufactured the world’s first silo made from extruded aluminium-magnesium profiles using a patented friction stir welding process. It is designed for safe storage of any polymer raw material. The lightweight, strong structure offers increased strength, resists corrosion and does not collapse under vacuum. It can even be used in earthquake-prone areas.
In a word, this is an outstanding factory making useful, important products. Special respect goes to the machine tools, which I will cover in more detail soon. For now, it is time to continue visiting our factories and plants. Russia certainly has industrial achievements to be proud of and plenty to show…
