Based on a knocked-down export agreement concluded between Ethiopian Metals and Engineering Corporation (MetEC) and Ursus SA, Polish agriculture equipment producer, MetEC is prepared to take delivery of the first 1,500 tractors from the latter.
There are five models that are being supplied and they are either completely or partially knocked-down. This makes MetEC the first company to operate an assembly line for the Polish manufacturer.
According to Robert Pietrzyk, trade specialist and coordinator of the Ethiopia project at Ursus headquarters at Lublin, tractors installed with 50, 80 and 110 horsepower which are in a complete knocked-down form will be supplied to MetEC starting from the end of September. These tractors will need as many as 60 assembly processes to put together and set them for use.
The other two types of tractors, 140 and 180 horsepower tractors, will be in a semi-knocked-down form having a relatively less assembling work. Pietrzyk noted, his company will provide the necessary equipments for the setting up of a proper assembly line in MetEC and train as well as support Ethiopian professional both abroad in the country.
“We have already delivered five tractors for presentation in January together with spare parts and equipment for assembly lines,” Pietrzyk added. He furthered the first batch to be delivered for MetEC have already been manufactured and they are currently being packed.
Another agreement for the supply of 1,500 tractors is expected to be concluded in the coming year. In addition to this, the tractors intended for Ethiopia and are currently in the production line are also slightly customized versions of their original models on account of the desired specifications and the price that the Ethiopian markets can pay, the coordinator noted.
The first batch of operators from MetEC are being expected to come to Poland for the purpose of completing their training hours required for making the assembly line work, the coordinator noted. He added, “We are not only selling our products to MetEC, we are in fact selling the technology and knowhow”.
Ursus is relying on this project to decide on its approach of entering the neighboring country markets. If the current steps up to the plate, Ursus wishes to penetrate the regional (Eastern Africa) market through MetEC by exporting to the countries in the region.
Source: Ethiopia
