Continuing the birch plywood factory modernisation project launched at the beginning of the year, one of Latvia's leading timber industry companies, Stiga RM, has invested €500,000 in a plywood laminating press. Expanding the machine's capacity and functionality allows for the production of a wider and significantly more valuable range of products, which is already resulting in success in export markets – an agreement has been reached to significantly increase supply volumes to the USA and Canada.
“Nowadays, due to its properties, birch plywood has many different uses and is deservedly considered one of the most popular multifunctional materials. While everyone has heard about the use of plywood in construction and joinery, its application in mechanical engineering, shipbuilding and even the space industry may be news to many. Thanks to the modernisation of the laminating equipment, we are able to apply a different coating to each side of the plywood, which expands the potential uses for the finished product. Meanwhile, more economical consumption of coating films, enabled by the new technology, will strengthen not only our competitiveness but also a more sustainable approach to production,” says Jānis Osis, Development Director at Stiga RM.
Jānis Osis also points out that following the modernisation, the production productivity of laminated plywood has increased – by up to three times in certain product categories. Thanks to the high added value and quality of the finished products, as well as the ability to manufacture significantly larger quantities, clients from all over Europe have shown interest, with demand from the USA and Canada increasing in particular. With production volumes increasing significantly, Stiga RM’s product exports to Canada, for example, will grow by up to four times this year.
As previously reported, Stiga RM plans to invest €22.4 million in the modernisation of its production facilities, including the purchase of new equipment and the improvement of existing technical solutions, significantly increasing production efficiency, volume and product quality. On the path to becoming the most technically innovative wood processing company in the region, a sustainable approach is also not forgotten, utilising more environmentally friendly and energy-efficient solutions in the selection of equipment. By continuously improving and automating production processes, better working conditions and a modern working environment are also provided for the factory staff. The development project was launched at the beginning of this year and will continue until the end of 2024.