KULDIGA, Latvia
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April 9, 2024
(press release)
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As the Group continues to implement its development strategy and invest in increasing production capacity, the new veneer mill of Latvijas Finieris in Kuldīga started its test operation at the end of March. It is equipped with a unique technology that enables the maximum possible veneer yield to be obtained from each birch log. The veneer mill in Kuldīga was established as a subdivision of the plywood mill Furniers of Latvijas Finieris. It is located at Ganību iela 12, in the area where the timber yard of Latvijas Finieris in Kuldīga has been operating for several years. The construction of the new mill took about a year, and the investment in the production building, equipment, technology and landscaping amounted to EUR 16 million. When fully operational, the mill will have 4–5 employees working in two shifts, which will enable the production of 40 m3 of wet veneer from 80 m3 of veneer logs in an eight-hour shift. It should be noted that the new team is made up of employees with versatile skills to be able to interchangeably cover and perform any of the required functions, from receiving the veneer logs to processing information and working with documents. The new veneer mill is headed by Rinalds Larsens, who previously worked at Furniers as head of the peeling department. Initially, the peeled veneer from the Kuldīga mill will partly provide raw material for the production of plywood in the Lignums mill. As the Group continues to expand Verems RSEZ SIA in Rēzekne, it is planned that within a year to a year and a half, the Kuldīga mill will be switched over to supply raw material exclusively to the Furniers mill in Riga. “To produce one cubic metre of plywood, approximately 2.5 m3 of birch veneer logs is needed. Therefore, it is important to get the maximum amount of veneer from each log,” says Arvis Švanks, Director of Furniers. To achieve this, a unique hybrid peeling machine has been built for the Kuldīga mill, combining two technologies traditionally used in veneer peeling – shaft and shaftless, enabling the peeling of veneer logs with a core of up to 25 mm. “The Kuldīga mill with its unique machine is a major milestone in wood processing. Due to being able to provide the peeling of thin wood, we are now purchasing additional, new C-grade birch logs,” says Artis Podnieks, Director of the Birch Solid Wood Supply Service at Latvijas Finieris. Peeling smaller diameter and lower quality birch logs at current harvesting rates in Latvia means that an additional 300 000 m3 of birch wood per year could be diverted to plywood production. Previously, such wood was exported to Scandinavia for pulp production or processed into lower value-added products. “From the point of view of sourcing, Kuldīga is a regional centre with high potential. However, investment and development, together with the growth of the region, also raises questions about the resources available for the Latvian economy and economic development in the long term. It is important for every forest owner and the economy as a whole to use every cubic metre of Latvia’s forest resources with care, diligence and responsibility.” “The principle “closer to forest owners” is not only the basis for our service and relations with log suppliers but also the company’s strategic direction,” says Artis Podnieks. “The pre-processing of veneer logs must be designed to shorten the distances between the forest owner, the forest and production, reducing time and the consumption of other resources. This is a benefit for the forest owner, the company and the environment.” “Latvijas Finieris Group is a leader in the use of birch logs for the production of high added value and quality birch plywood. For us, growth means not only increasing capacity but also investing in the economy and well-being of society: in the professional sphere and quality of life of employees, in a modern and safe working environment, in innovative and efficient production processes, as well as in regional development, sustainability and innovation, resulting in the overall development of the Latvian economy,” says Indulis Kovisārs, Member of the Management Board of Latvijas Finieris. “The most important areas of specialisation in Kuldīga Municipality are forestry, agriculture, transport and logistics,” says Inese Astaševska, Chairperson of Kuldīga Local Government Council. “With the inclusion of the Old Town of Kuldīga in the UNESCO World Heritage List, tourism and creative industries are also playing an increasingly important role. Our region is characterised by romantic cafés and design-driven hotels, as well as small family businesses. Alongside tourism businesses, Kuldīga has also been chosen by a number of well-established export-orientated manufacturing companies due to its convenient location. The investments made by Latvijas Finieris are a strong signal to other businesses that Kuldīga is a region open for business, focused on development and growth. The company’s investment in our region is a strategic choice – it is an investment in infrastructure, jobs for citizens and tax revenue for the local government budget. Fortune favours the bold – I congratulate the company’s management and employees on their development and growth. This is a significant contribution, not only to Kuldīga Municipality but to the whole of Kurzeme region. Here’s to every fortune!”
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