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Volodar |
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Providing individual gas-fired heating systems |
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In General In the former Soviet Union, central planning concepts led inexorably to the creation of central municipal heating systems. Heat for homes and businesses became a public utility. Not surprisingly, these centralized systems have not aged well. Many have fallen into disrepair and have become unreliable. Few have been upgraded to contemporary standards of efficiency. The situation has become particularly acute in north-eastern Ukraine (whose latitude is north of upper Minnesota), where comfortable living requires supplied nine months of the year. Distinctive Characteristics In Kharkiv, the Volodar company has achieved exemplary success in replacing the municipal monopoly through the installation of individual gas-fired heating systems well-tuned to the Ukrainian environment. The company’s mission is to bring comfort and efficiency of modern heating technology to the homes and businesses of Ukraine. With approximately 50 employees, Volodar is an open joint stock company owned by about 40 investors. It was founded in 1998 and has no long term debt. The company has enjoyed strong, impressive financial success. Products and Services The company has also been successful in replacing outdated heating systems in homes and businesses, often achieving 50 percent energy cost-savings. Volodar also serves as a supplier of heat to a limited group of residential and commercial customers, as well as to state companies. Volodar purchases its boilers from several sources, with the majority imported from the United States. Their other boiler suppliers are based in Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany. From a fundamental perspective, Volodar’s market spells growth. Picking away at the municipal monopoly has tacit official support as well as visceral customer appeal. Many citizens and businesses are more than dissatisfied with their existing services, which has suffered from a lack of funding and continues to deteriorate. Goals for Ohio Visit Volodar now wants to expand its knowledge of and sources for heating equipment, from both the United States and other non-Ukrainian suppliers. It’d like to find potential investors to participate in a joint project “The Construction of Autonomous Boiler Facilities, Equipped with Modern Energy-saving Devices, and Market the Heat to Consumers.” It seeks a pro-active supplier/distributor who can shop the world’s markets with insight and savvy, while bringing new product developments to the company’s attention. Secondarily, Volodar would like to establish contacts that could lead to a joint boiler manufacturing venture in Ukraine. Its knowledge of Ukrainian market needs could be an effective complement to the know-how brought in by a resourceful manufacturer. |
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Information supplied by the Company December 2001. Page last updated: January 19, 2004
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