The Avgust-Polymer plant, located in the Alabuga special economic zone (SEZ) in Tatarstan, has launched the production of polymer sleeves for storing grain, oilseeds, and silage. Avgust Group plans to occupy up to 40% of the market and export its products to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
The sleeve is a multi-layer container that can store up to 250 tons of grain. It is produced using co-extrusion technology (polymers are simultaneously pushed through a single extrusion head to form a single multi-layer film-like structure). This makes the material durable and wear-resistant, protecting the crop from pests and oxidative processes.
The press service of Avgust Group explained that there is a shortage of modern elevators and grain storage facilities in the regions of Russia.
According to industry experts, due to the shortage and dilapidation of warehouses, as well as difficulties with transportation, the country loses 10–12 million tons of grain annually. For comparison, this is approximately the annual volume of grain harvest in the Stavropol Territory.
Features of the polymer sleeve:
- Length — 60-75 m
- Diameter — up to 3.6 m
- Temperature range — from –50˚С to +50˚С
- Resistance to mechanical damage
- If the humidity level is maintained up to 14%, agricultural products can be stored for 18 months.
Avgust Group also plans to expand the range of polymer products. In the future, the plant will produce silage, greenhouse, and heat-insulating films.
The Alabuga SEZ opened in 2005. Currently, it houses about 60 enterprises, including a plant for assembling Geran-2 drones and Sollers cars.