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History of the Site

Legacy of Innovation: From SPORTMASH to CEI

The Center of European Integration PJSC is the legal successor to SKB “SPORTMASH”, the former design and production bureau that developed snow grooming vehicles (also known as ratraks) on this very site.

These specialized machines are essential for preparing ski slopes and cross-country trails. While such equipment today is mostly imported across the post-Soviet region, few know that more than 30 years ago, Ukraine had its own domestic production.

In 1979, under the directive of the Soviet Sports Committee, a design division of the VISTI Institute (the All-Union R&D center for sports and tourism equipment) was founded in Lviv. This marked the beginning of SKB "SPORTMASH", with an ambitious goal: to create a Soviet-made ratrak that could rival top global models.

Engineering Excellence in the 1980s

Designing a high-performance snow grooming machine was no easy feat. Unlike simple tractors, ratraks required:

  • Rubber-metal tracks with wide aluminum paddles
  • Hydrostatic transmission with dual pumps
  • Snow tillers — all while maintaining a compact machine weight

Despite the complexity, the Lviv engineering team achieved remarkable results in the 1980s, developing three types of ratraks:

  • Heavy model for alpine slopes – powered by a 220 HP KAMAZ engine, fully domestic components
  • Medium universal model – with a Minsk D-80 engine (80–100 HP)
  • Light model – designed for cross-country ski trails with a 60 HP Deutz engine

Some advanced designs reached the stage of visual and conceptual prototyping, reflecting significant industrial design effort.

Production & Future-Oriented Concepts

In total, up to 40 ratraks of various types were produced at the SPORTMASH facility (excluding the light model). Beyond snow grooming, the team also envisioned adapting these machines into all-terrain vehicles for public utility needs:

  • Northern transport
  • Pipeline laying, and more
  • Pipeline laying, and more

Although these ideas remained at the sketch-project stage, they showcased the site's enduring spirit of innovation.