High-quality and safe woodworking promoted by Aton Service

 It is not uncommon for a manager to have relevant education and specialty in accordance with the activities of his production company. At best, he has a diploma as a manager, manager. And often what the head of the company once studied, and what he does in life, do not match. However, it does not matter if there is an entrepreneurial vein – experience is gained, as they say, on the march. In the company about which there will be a story, the coincidence can be said to be perfect.

Eduard Lebedev, co-founder and current head of the engineering company Aton Service, has an engineering degree and his business partner is a ventilation specialist, whose professional profile fully corresponds to the activities of the company, which is known as a Ukrainian developer and manufacturer of aspiration and ventilation equipment. “Aton Service” comprehensively (design, production, supply, installation, commissioning, as well as service) solves the needs of industrial aspiration and ventilation.

At first, Mr. Edward said, the company implemented engineering aspiration projects at woodworking plants using imported equipment. A few years later, it became clear that they had already acquired sufficient financial, production, and human resources to produce what they bought in Europe. We started with the production of small, simple units, gradually improving, and now the company produces a full range of equipment for the implementation of aspiration and ventilation projects of any scale and complexity.

– Your aspiration equipment is universally suitable for service of any woodworking equipment – and machines “with experience”; and the most modern models, and domestic and foreign production, and functionally simple, and high-tech? Are there cases that require the design and manufacture of special aspiration equipment?

– As for the aspiration equipment, it is basically really standardized, suitable for woodworking industries equipped with any woodworking equipment. Another thing – aspiration systems based on such universal equipment. They are always designed and executed individually (especially with regard to the network of air ducts): taking into account the peculiarities of production shops – their size and architecture; depending on the quantitative composition of the machine park, which must be aspirated, the power of the system is calculated. There are other enterprise-specific points to consider.

– Traditionally, the competitive advantage of domestic producers is that their products are always cheaper than similar foreign ones. First of all, due to the fact that labor is cheaper in Ukraine. Aton Service is probably no exception?

– Our real competitors are similar to foreign companies. Our equipment is of high quality – reliability, productivity, environmental friendliness, energy efficiency, dust removal, and wood waste – almost unmatched by foreign counterparts, as we use the same components in its production – electric motors, gearboxes, electronics, etc. – as foreign competitors. And we even use Italian metal. This allows us to export equipment and compete with dignity in foreign markets. And also – what to hide? – that the price of our equipment, as well as projects in general, is really our main competitive advantage. But for Ukrainian customers, we are profitable primarily at the cost of logistics. However, we have other indisputable advantages as a Ukrainian manufacturer: in case of a breakdown or when a customer, having purchased new machines, wants to connect them to the aspiration system, we will help him faster than a foreign supplier.

– What are the most critical and what are the most successful periods in the history of the company and what caused them?

– Paradoxically, the most critical moments were really the most successful as a result. Crisis first of all. Because there is a logic in such a paradox: difficult circumstances force one to survive, to mobilize, to organize more effectively, to act because of “I can’t”. And often end in a qualitative breakthrough to new levels of development and success. And here is a specific example. It was the crisis of 2008 that forced the company to start its own production of aspiration equipment because it was obvious that imports became expensive for domestic enterprises, and because of this, we could not implement aspiration projects on its basis.

– Is the company’s membership in the Ukrainian Association of Furniture Manufacturers caused by the interest in expanding the customer base?

– But no! Although this reasoning is really the most plausible. We were attracted, first of all, by the fact that UAFM purposefully taught and teaches its members economical management, efficient business conduct, organization of production on the basis of continuous improvement. So it turned out that our company was brought to the Association by its “Kaizen Club”. And already, being members of UAFM, as an added bonus they received the communication with other members of the Association, which sometimes grows into a business relationship.