United Panel Group increased chipboards production by 4.5% in 2006

Mar 01, 2007. /Lesprom Network/. United Panel Group (Moscow region, Russia) has summed up the results for year 2006. United Panel Group growth of production in year 2006 for chipboards was 4.5% and for MDF boards 18%. However, fourth quarter of last year was marked by low supplies of logs in connection with weather anomalies. The company was forced to reduce the production capacities. The company decided and almost fulfilled the dismantling of the equipment for production 1525x1525 plywood, so called “squares”, the production facilities of which are used for the machinery producing large formats, e.g. 1500х3000, 1525х3050; 1220х2440; 2440х1220; 1525х2440, 2440х1525 mm. Italian short-cycle press lines “Pagnoni” were installed at Zheshart Plywood Industrial Complex which will be used to overlay wooden based panels – MDF, particleboard and plywood. UPG has almost completed the installation of a multiple opening press for overlaying plywood with phenol based films. The company is now carrying out the tests of the films supplied by various European manufacturers. Zheshart Plywood Industrial Complex (UPG production subdivision) passed a SmartWood chain-of-custody audit according to the FSC standards. The FSC certification assessment was accomplished by the NEPCon Company which represents the FSC accredited SmartWood programme in Russia, Eastern Europe and Scandinavian countries. Talking about future of the company, the weather conditions being favourable, it’s planned an increase of production capacities in year 2007: +25-30% for plywood (including filmfaced plywood); +20% for chipboards including melamine faced chipboards; +15% for MDF boards. The trade-production group of companies United Panel Group was formed in 1999. A wide variety of plywood and panel products for furniture manufacturing, construction, building industry and other applications are being distributed under this trade name. The biggest part of the production is being exported to the USA, Italy, Spain and other European countries, where it achieved appreciation among all customers, which is undoubtedly an indication of high quality standards of produced panels.