by Ksenia Sidarovich
So, last week we – partially Belarusian, partly Dutch Brave Girls were lucky enough to visit the Minsk Tractor Works (MTW). OMG, it is so big, it’s even bigger than big, it’s huge, I mean it’s ginormous. We felt so teeny-tiny. During our visit, we got to see the skilled workers on the assembly lines making gears, wires, cabins, and wheels. We spent several hours listening, making boomerang videos, and time lapsing the working process and here are the Top 6 facts we thought we would share…because there were just too many fun facts to just be 5.
Fact №1: Every 5 minutes a new tractor is born!
Tractor Belarus conveyor. Video by HiFive Belarus
Fact №2: There are around 16,000 people working in the factory and 30% of those are women!
Minsk Tractor Works. Photo by HiFive Belarus
Fact №3: One of the most popular models is called the Belarus and is known throughout the world. In fact, the tractor has been such an important part of Vietnam’s agricultural history that in 1987 it appeared on their national currency (200 dong).
Tractor Belarus. Photo by HiFive Belarus
Fact №4: It is an open joint stock company which means that 100% of its stocks belong to the State. Belarus owns Belarus.
Tractor Belarus. Photo by HiFive Belarus
Fact №5: Since the mid-1950s MTW produced 3,890,479 tractors (and 3 more while I am typing). So, in a few years we will celebrate the 4 millionth tractor made in Belarus. Boom!
Minsk Tractor Works. Photo by HiFive Belarus
Fact №6: Finally, every 10th tractor in the world was made here inside these walls. We are proud to see our people working and achieving such amazing results.
Minsk Tractor Works. Photo by HiFive Belarus
There are so many things we could tell you about the MTW factory! It is definitely worth visiting during your trip to Belarus. There are two different tours available, first one allows you to peek inside the factory and get informed about the history and the making of these amazing big machines, the second one allows you to actually help to assemble one of the tractors, so you will become a factory worked for one hour! How cool is that?! If you are interested please contact us via this email and we will arrange this tour for or with you: tours@hifivebelarus.com