Oleksandr Serhiiovych Khabaznia

Our today hero is special, as he recently celebrated his 70th birthday. Meet Oleksandr Serhiiovych Khabaznia, the Lead Designer of Shearers of the Chief Designer Service, and his interesting story about himself and work at the Corum Svitlo Shakhtaria Plant.

- In the early 1960s, after graduating from secondary school in Horlivka, without obtaining the necessary points for admission to the institute, I decided to start working at the Horlivka Engineering Plant. The school I studied in was associated with the plant, so we had more than 10 excursions at the plant, starting from the 2nd grade, so I firmly decided that I wanted to work there. After the summer vacation, as I recall, on 12 September 1968, I first crossed the check passage of the plant and became a tool dresser’s apprentice. And after the exam, I became the tool dresser myself. My mentor was Vitalii Ponomariov, an experienced tool dresser, - says Oleksandr Serhiiovych.

A year later, after self-training, the future design engineer joined the Donetsk Polytechnic Institute in the mechanical specialization of the metallurgical faculty.

- It was easy to study. Since the second semester, I had been working together with friends in the Student Design Bureau, -our hero continues his story. I remember such projects as the surge reliever, the modernization of the casting machine at the Makiivka Metallurgical Plant, the project of the blast furnace continuous loading weighing device.

After graduation, Oleksandr Serhiiovych started to work as a repairman at the metallurgical plant. Two years later, he returned to the Horlivka Engineering Plant, where he passed the career way from the foreman to chief designer of the plant.

- All the years of work, I have been constantly involved in the development, production of prototypes, testing and organisation of serial production of many machines. Among them, there were the Strela-77 (State Prize Laureate), which was exported to China, Morocco, Spain, Romania and Bulgaria. Plough installations UST4, US3, shearers KDK500, UKD300, UKD200-250, UKD400, roadheaders KPD, KPL, KPA, KPU, BPR, MPR, – proudly shares the man of the hour.

He started his work at the Corum Svitlo Shakhtaria Plant in 2014. One year later, he became part of the Chief Designer’s Service as a lead engineer for the shearers. The main task is design support for the development and production of the KA200 shearer, including components and spare parts for the KA80, KBT200 shearers. He is also working on hydroelectric units of pumping stations, and has also developed operational documentation and test methods for KDK500 shearers.

For many years of conscientious work, he was awarded the Miner’s Glory badge of all three degrees.

- Like every man, I have my own motto: "Do your job, don’t fuss." When a problem arises, I always say to my colleagues not to look for those guilty, but to first check themselves, their decisions, documentation, and then to go on. There is the technical policy, but there is the political manoeuvring, which I don’t like. I am very glad we have a great team, and here I am doing my favourite job - creating machinery. This year has become a special year for me: the anniversary of the plant and my anniversary. I would like to wish everyone good health, do their job well and with dignity and not be afraid to start over, - summed up Oleksandr Serhiiovych.