Nov 08, 2012. /Lesprom Network/. Latvijas Finieris will open a renovated birch veneer factory in Kohila, Estonia, which will be operated by Kohila Vineer, an Estonian subsidiary of Latvijas Finieris established in 2011. Total investments to ensure factory operations will reach Euro 20 million in three year period, facilitating conversion of Baltic birch resources into valuable products and strengthening competitiveness in the demanding world market, as the company said in the press release received by Lesprom Network. The factory was renovated according to the latest technology standards with a view to generate valuable products, save wood and energy resources and ensure work efficiency in line with the best world practice. Finnish company Raute, the global leader in birch plywood production equipment, was involved in project implementation works. Capacity of the renovated factory is 70 thousand cubic metres of birch veneer per annum and according to plans the employment will gradually reach 70 people. Such factory scale allows it to reach excellent productivity rate – output of one employee in production can exceed Euro 200 thousand per annum. Uldis Biķis, CEO of Latvijas Finieris: “Developing a common understanding in the Baltic forest sector is beneficial for everybody – starting from forest owners to suppliers of ready-made products. Only a balanced distribution of benefits in the whole value chain can ensure sustainable development for all participants of the forest sector.”