Interview with Dipl. Ing. Valery Andreev, general menager of Systems Automation Technology (SAT)
• Automation & Robotics • Interview • South-East European INDUSTRIAL Мarket - issue 1/2011
SAT Ltd. meets its 20th anniversary as a hi-tech engineering company
Dear Mr. Andreev, SAT Ltd. celebrates its 20th Anniversary this year. What is your general conclusion for the previous years?
Yes, the 20th jubilee. Both a short and long period of time. I would use the cliche: we left the “Company puberty.” I hope we are faced with a period of vigorous growth and stable progress.
I will not hide it from you that the first years of the Company were very difficult, as well as extremely interesting and exciting. Difficult because in the beginning, as all contactors, we had no experience in private company management and no state assistance. The state completely disembarked being depersonalized by greedy and incompetent politicians who saved and brought back in the economy not more than 5 % out of approximately one hundred billion stolen actives. The others were squandered. We used to receive some symbolic support from the European institutions which would send their most incompetent specialists for consultants. Rather, they wanted to crash further the hardly plodding economy. This period was characterized by quickly modifying conditions, regulations, laws, and endless demagogy deceiving the already completely disorientated nation. It was an ugly pattern or as I often say: "it was difficult to swim in sulfuric acid".
The general conclusion: we are here with our 20th anniversary, a hi-tech engineering company operating in the field of electrical and automation projects with more than 100 specialists in Bulgaria. The Company owns a subsidiary in Russia and has turned into one of Bulgarian and European leaders in its branch. Attending different auctions we provoke stress in our rivals. The Company imposes its own style of correctness, responsibility, quality, partnership, and uncompromising client support.
“So far so good, said the madman falling by the 20th floor.” My aim was to prove that by means of hard working, profound knowledge, correctness and clear vision for strategy and purpose one could develop successful business in Bulgaria without any thefts and jobbery. I wanted to show the young experts there is some hope for their prosperous professional and personal realization in Bulgaria, despite all the slop around us. The bigger the number of progressing companies like ours is, the closer the change we all crave for will be. However, this requires lots of efforts, great will, and character.
What moments of your Company history are you most proud of?
Of course, I am proud of the beginning which was a difficult one. Most of all, I am proud of the transformation of my associates into highly qualified and well-paid experts through the years. They are in no way inferior to their Western colleagues and often outrival them. Also, our employees that are proud of working for the Company.
I am proud of the fact that as I predicted 5 years ago, if you remember this, several Bulgarian experts have already returned to Bulgaria and are now working for us. They came from the companies of our greatest Western rivals.
I am proud that more than 60 % of our production has been realized in markets outside the country in the recent years. We export “hi-tech solutions” and engineering products for our western clients instead of low quality goods and services.
Which of the realized projects do you estimate as being the most important for SAT Ltd. progress?
Our Company has more than 200 realized and successfully implemented major projects for “Electrical and Automation Projects” section. It is actually the sphere we are most specialized in. Some of our most important projects marking new stages in the progress of SAT Ltd. during all these 20 years have been: the automation of Domostroene Burgas, being implemented for 80 hours of continuous work; the first entire factory complex management project – Rubin Glass JSC in Pleven; the Holcim Bulgaria project - Beli Izvor, “Bulk Cement Transportation” workshop; the first of many projects outside the country – Sharcem Kosovo; the first “under lock and key project” for “Greenfield Cement Plant” - Holcim, Russia, “Shchurovsky Cement” etc.
What are the qualities that give you a certain advantage in international auctions?
There are plenty of them. Actually, part of them are confidential. However, some of our basic advantages that all of us may achieve are the enormous experience in technical solutions, project management, and technology and equipment knowledge. Also, guaranteed compliance with the time-tables; European quality and components and exceptional references from previous successful projects. Last but not at least – detailed offers and pricing transparency, as well as innovative proposals at offering level.
What are the accents in your activity at the moment?
We are now actively preparing to meet the increased needs and turbulent investments accompanying world economy while leaving the latest crisis. Unfortunately, it turned out to be longer and deeper than expected. However, this crisis will probably sift out successful and perspective companies being called upon to erase crisis traces and ensure a better and I hope more stable future for world and most of all Bulgarian economy.
Some of our jubilee year accents are: launching a new “under lock and key project” for a “Greenfield Cement Plant” in Russia; restructuring and creating new accents in engineering services we offer; teaching of personnel concerning the utilization of alternative suppliers of automating systems’ hardware and software components; a reasonable and effective standardization of all Company hardware and software projects, as well as innovations in all directions.
What is your strategy on the Company’s future progress?
We stake on a flexible and profit-making strategy without sudden changes. We hope we will turn into a multinational European level company and will increase our market share in Bulgaria and abroad. We intend to enlarge our profound technological knowledge of new industries, except the already adopted ones – cement, glass, concrete, fodder, metallurgic etc. We plan to extend the Company activity by means of some projects such as the General executor “under lock and key project” and introducing leading European practices ensuring SAT Ltd. effectiveness promotion (MES, ERP systems, European certificates etc.)
Let’s finish in a more optimistic manner as we make the wish to give such an interview for the Company’s 50th anniversary. Also, I wish good luck to all of our current and future partners and clients. As to our rivals – cheer up! Follow us and there will be work for us all.
LATEST issue 1/2025
