In order to develop the production of new synthetic resins based on the natural wood component lignin, thereby reducing the proportion of fossil raw materials in phenol formaldehyde resins, which are currently widely used in the production of furniture, flooring, thermal insulation, sandpaper and many other everyday products, the concern Latvijas Finieris has begun construction of a new factory in Riga, Bolderāja, Latvia.
On January 15, 2025, to mark the start of construction, in the presence of government representatives and international cooperation partners, a capsule with messages for future generations will be built into the foundation of the new factory building.
The construction of the factory is part of the international research consortium project VIOBOND, which brings together eight partners from five European Union member states under the leadership of Latvijas Finieras. The project aims to develop a formula and create the world's first industrial production technology for “greener”, more environmentally and human-friendly synthetic phenol formaldehyde resins, which are currently used in Europe and elsewhere in the world in the production of plywood, thermal insulation materials, furniture, flooring, sandpaper and many other everyday products.
The total research costs of the VIOBOND project are Euro 32 million, of which Euro 16 million are from a grant from the European Commission's research and innovation investment program Horizon 2020, and the rest are contributions from the companies involved in the project.
To implement the project, Latvijas Finieris will conduct research worth Euro 16 million, of which Euro 8 million are co-financed by Apvārsnis Eiropa. The total investment of Latvijas Finieris to implement the construction of the factory is around Euro 40 million.
The project is scheduled to be implemented by August 31, 2027. The construction of the factory is planned to be completed by spring 2026.
Latvijas Finieris is one of the largest birch plywood producing companies in the world with production in all Baltic countries and in Finland.
