VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHMO #2974 3431209
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 091209Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5615
RHMFIUU/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS MOSCOW 002974
SIPDIS
USDOC FOR 532/OEA/LRITTER
USDOC FOR 3150/USFCS/OIO/CEENIS/MCOSTA
USDOC FOR 532/OEE/MO'BRIEN
USDOC FOR 532/BIS/OEA/TWILLIS/EHOLLAND/ANALYST
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BEXP ETRD ETTC RS
SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PRE-LICENSE CHECK: PROTON LLC, MOSCOW, RUSSIA,
LICENSE NO. D422663
REFTEL: REQUEST #6110074; DATED 11/10/2009
1. Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided below is
prohibited by Section 12C of the Export Administration Act.
2. Reftel requested a pre-license check to determine the legitimacy
and reliability of the end-user, Proton LLC, Moscow, Russia. The
organization is listed on BIS license application D422663 as the
ultimate consignee of one vertical machining center with 20QX16QX14
travels (X,Y,Z) with a 2-axis trunnion table TR110, capable of
5-axis simultaneous machining. This item is controlled for national
security, nuclear nonproliferation and anti-terrorism reasons under
ECCN 2B001. The licensee is Haas Automation Inc., 2800 Sturgis
Road, Oxnard, CA 93030.
3. On December 3, 2009, Commercial Attach Ilona Shtrom and LES
Natalya Shipitsina conducted the requested pre-license check at the
offices of Proton LLC., Pushkina st., 23A, Sobinka, Vladimir Region,
Russia. The export control team met with Dmitry Ponomarenko,
General Director, EMG. EMG is a small business and is ProtonQs
parent company. Founded in 2003, Proton employs approximately 50
individuals. EMG, the parent company, employs approximately 400.
EMG includes a variety of other organizations within its structure
including a company called QModelQ and QMethodQ. All companies work
in electro-technical sector.
4. ProtonQs customers include mostly oil/gas companies as the
company produces the vacuums utilized in pumping oil out of the
ground. Proton exports to some countries of the former Soviet Union
(e.g. Kazakhstan), as well as India. The equipment the company
wishes to purchase from Haas will be utilized to improve efficiency
and produce more components with fewer machine operators. Proton is
located in an industrial area and appeared to be fully surrounded by
a security gate. Mr. Ponomarenko indicated security is available
24/7 because, otherwise, it would not be safe to leave such
expensive equipment. The export control team was given a brief tour
of the building which will house the Haas equipment. The facility
appeared new and was not yet in operation pending receipt of the
equipment. When the export control team explained the purpose of
the visit, Mr. Ponomarenko stated he has received Haas equipment in
the past and didnQt understand the reason for our visit now.
Additionally, he stated he is aware that several former defense
related organizations have ordered and already received the same
equipment and were never contacted for a PLC (he noted one such
organization located in Novosibirsk). Mr. Ponomarenko stated he
understands the equipment may not be re-exported and has plans to
make additional purchases from Haas in the future.
5. Recommendations: Post recommends Proton LLC, Sobinka, Vladimir
Region, Russia, as a reliable recipient of sensitive U.S. origin
commodities.
(FCS MOSCOW/ JMARKS/ISHTROM)
BEYRLE