Raute Corporation, a leading player in the forestry industry, has entered into a EUR 29 million agreement with AS Latvijas Finieris, a leading European and Baltic birch plywood producer. The deal, effective upon the signing of the delivery contract, pertains to the provision of technology for an expansion project at a plywood mill in Latvia.

The expansion will take place at Latvijas Finieris's Verems-based factory in Latvia, which is set to increase its production capacity by 35,000 cubic meters. Raute's contribution to the project will encompass all major production processes. These processes range from veneer drying to plywood overlaying, including veneer drying line, scarf-jointing line, composing lines, plywood layup line, pressing line, panel trimming line, and panel overlaying line. The provided solutions will integrate the trusted R5- and the latest automated R7-Series technologies.

The extensive package also includes long-term on-site management and services. The machinery and equipment, outfitted with analyzers for grading and MillSIGHTS software for data capturing, will be delivered between March 2024 and June 2025. The products will be manufactured at Raute's facilities in Lahti and Kajaani, Finland, as well as within its partner network.

This expansion, expected to reach full operational capacity by 2025, aligns with Latvijas Finieris's strategy to innovate and develop sustainable birch plywood production to facilitate further processing of unique end products.

Raute's CEO, Mika Saariaho, expressed delight at collaborating with Latvijas Finieris on another project aimed at promoting a resource-efficient society. He voiced confidence in their unique solutions to aid Latvijas Finieris in achieving their sustainability goals for plywood production.

Latvijas Finieris Group operates as an international multi-sectoral company. Its core activities include research, development, production, and sales of bespoke birch plywood products under the Riga Wood brand. The group operates birch plywood and veneer factories in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and Finland.