Manufacturer of mining equipment. Most of all, he became famous for his huge dump trucks, with a carrying capacity from several tens to several hundred tons. Also produced are towing tractors, underground dump trucks and other similar equipment, most of which belong to the class Ultra Truck.
Now you can often hear the version that BelAZ appeared thanks to the gigantomania that ruled in the USSR. But the giant country really needed giant trucks. True, back in 1948, when a peat machine-building plant was laid in the Belarusian city of Zhodino, no one had even thought about giant dump trucks. In 1958, the assembly of trucks also begins on it. First development time Minsk Automobile Plant – MAZ-525 dump trucks with a carrying capacity of 25 tons. At the same time, the plant in Zhodino received its now familiar name. BelAZ (apparently, the combinations of ZhAZ or ZhoAZ were considered not too euphonious, or maybe they wanted to emphasize the all-Union significance of the new brand).
The development of its own model began a little later - in 1960. Moreover, the first prototypes appeared already in 1961. And in 1966, the serial production of the BelAZ 548A model began, with a carrying capacity of 40 tons. The further history of the plant is the history of constant development and expansion of the model range. Since 1978, not only dump trucks, but also airfield tractors have been produced. The products and the plant itself have repeatedly received both domestic and foreign awards and prizes. The largest dump truck was BelAZ 75600, with a carrying capacity of 320 tons (!). It remains only to admire the professionalism of the drivers driving such mastodons. Probably they look at road signs only out of pure curiosity, sitting proudly in their cabin, located somewhere under the clouds.
The collapse of the Soviet Union was a serious test of strength. But BelAZ not only survived, but also continued its development. The unique equipment produced by him has always been in demand. To date, BelAZ is one of the largest companies in the world producing such products. And the only one on the territory of the former USSR.
Part BelAZ enter now MoAZ (Mogilev Automobile Plant) and cost center (Mogilev Carriage Works).
Companies also produce similar products. Caterpillar, Terex, Euclid (the first in history to start producing class trucks Ultra Truck), Komatsu Dresser Company и Liebherr.