January 2, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Republican Unitary Production Subsidiary Enterprise "Begomlsky Zavod "Vetraź" (a subsidiary enterprise of the Republican Unitary Enterprise "Mogilev Elevator Machine-Building Plant") is the first in Belarus to start producing lock washers, the director of "Vetraź", Anatoly Sivko, informed a BELTA correspondent. Lock washers prevent the self-loosening of fasteners, thereby extending the service life of the connection and ensuring its safety. Their range of application is vast in mechanical engineering, but until now they have been imported into Belarus from Russian and Ukrainian enterprises. The Begomlsky plant has completed the commissioning of new equipment for the production of import-substituting products and will begin mass production of washers with diameters from 3 to 12 mm in the coming days. First, the needs of the parent enterprise, the Mogilev Elevator Machine-Building Plant, will be met, and in the near future, the domestic market will be saturated. According to Anatoly Sivko, the demand for the new product will be driven by both its wide application and its price: the Begomlsky washer, according to preliminary calculations, will be a quarter cheaper than imported ones. Moreover, the cost of metal is decreasing due to the operation of the Customs Union. Approximately Br400 million was invested in the production of the Begomlsky plant in 2011. Along with machines for the production of lock washers, the enterprise purchased equipment to increase the output of metal hoses, which are not only necessary for the parent enterprise but are also in demand by other enterprises of the Ministry of Industry. According to Anatoly Sivko, the plant is considering the possibility of expanding the range of metal products in 2012.