News
02/08/2011 / Changeable Summer Weather Affects the Quality of Round-wood (Logs)
Currently, Lithuanian forests and the quality of wood have been greatly affected by the changeable summer weather. Hot and humid weather cause coniferous wood to turn blue. A significant damage has also been done to the raw material of deciduous wood, which resulted in decrease of the quality of the raw-material.
Recently, UAB Juodeliai has been facing this quality-maintenance issue quite often. A large portion of the timber from Lithuania’s forest enterprises is affected by the changeable weather. To reduce the degradation of the product quality, every shipment of wood is being carefully examined: by inspecting the wood, and returning damaged and/or inappropriate logs back to their suppliers. The company’s representatives are continually visiting timber storage sites of Lithuania’s forest-enterprises in order to select the proper wood at the first stage of manufacturing.
Compared to 2010, the volume of low-quality coniferous wood has increased by forty percent (40%). The continual cooperation with the representatives of Lithuania’s forest-enterprises helps to monitor the current situations of Lithuanian forests. Lithuanian forest enterprises believe that the quality of round-wood (i.e., logs) should increase by the middle of August, and predict expansion in the quantities of raw material.
12/07/2011 / The results of the company’s activities for the first-half of 2011
The first-half of 2011 was successful for UAB “Juodeliai“. Compared with the first-half of 2010, the production increased by 37%. After the upgrading of the production facilities, and the optimising the production process, the company has maintained the top position in the Baltic States among the manufacturers of wooden pallet-blocks. The continuous training of workers, the improvement of business-process management, and the optimization of the production capacity, all enable usage of 100% of the production capacity. The company’s two (2) sawmills are working three (3) shifts daily, and are producing up to 7,000 cubic meters of sawed timber per month. A high-quality timber pallet has been approved by a list of long-standing customers, as well as a growing range of interested new customers. During the first-half of the year, there was a significant increase in the number of active customers: exceeding sixty (60) new customers. The main outlets for the production continue to be Germany (46%), Belgium (18%), and Holland (16%).
A continuous market-analysis, consistent work in the fields of marketing and sales, and also an on-going optimization of the production, enable us to expect potentially better activity results in the second-half of the year.
08/07/2011 / Meeting with the Minister of Environment, of the Republic of Lithuania, regarding the round-wood trade policy
On 4 July 2011, the Director of the Wood-processors Association, Juozupas Zimnickas (General Director of UAB “Juodeliai”) attended the meeting with the Minister of Environment, G. Kazlauskas. The topic of the meeting involved the regulations of the round-wood trade (auctions). The discussion also concerned other important topics.
It is notable that the Minister supported (presently, only verbally) the proposal of the Director of the Association: to move the current order (with minor improvements) of the round-wood trade into the digital space, and to refuse to hold the auctions.
Unfortunately, this position was not supported by the association “Lithuanian Wood”, which was also attending the meeting, and which was clearly protecting the interests of large companies and bio-fuel producers.
Mr. Zimnickas outlined his idea of an alternative energy to the Minister of Environment; that straw and energy crops (willows) could effectively replace bio-fuel, and thus protect the wood that is suitable for cutting, from the de-forestation. The Minister agreed to this idea, and promised to help implement as much as possible such idea of the alternative energy.
We should also be proud that we have received the support, regarding the order of the round-wood trade, from the Directorate-General of State Forests, which sent a letter to the Ministry of Environment with the suggestion to maintain the current process — that is, to move it to the digital space.
21/06/2011 / Competition: “Germany’s Economy Awards in Lithuania 2011”
German and Lithuanian Chambers of Commerce in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania (DBHK) are seeking to stimulate the development of economic relations between Germany and Lithuania, and to motivate Lithuanian companies to collaborate with partners in Germany. The Chambers announced the sixth competition, “Germany’s Economy Awards in Lithuania 2011”. The aim of the competition was to give recognition to a small or medium sized Lithuanian company, which has contributed to increased business relations between Germany and Lithuania, and which responsibly exercises its economic activity in Lithuania. This year, the prize was named “Responsibility for the Future”. The selection criteria were:
- Use of regenerated energy sources in the activity of the company
- Effective use of energy in production and in the implementation of production innovations
- Responsibility for the protection of nature, and environmental control consciousness
- The company’s social and/or cultural activity in Lithuania, and public responsibility
- Raising personnel qualifications
- Participation in programmes for unemployed workers
- Placement and stimulation of senior employees, persons with disability, junior specialists
- Services and creation of innovation, and development of new products
- Increased collaboration with Germany, and growth of exports to Germany
Other special merits in the development of business relations between Lithuania and Germany UAB “Juodeliai” has received acknowledgement by Germany and the Baltic States Chambers of Commerce in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for successful participation in the 2011 competition.
15/06/2011 / LIGNA HANOVER 2011 – The Worlds Fair for the Forestry and Wood Industries
From 30 May to 3 June 2011, the worlds fair for the forestry, engineering, wood industries, raw materials, and wood crafts: “LIGNA HANOVER 2011“, was held in Hanover (Germany). It is held every two years at the Hanover Exhibition Centre.
Exhibitors for 2011 presented: forestry machinery, manufacturing equipment, sawmill machinery, other machinery / equipment; wood-waste recycling and energy-production equipment; machinery, equipment and supplies for raw materials, plywood and veneer production; tools and supplies for the woodworking trades; industrial machinery for furniture production; automation technologies; interior decoration; renovation; consumption of wood for energy production; associations, training institutions, institutes; specialized media, publishing houses, information, individual presentations, forums, etc. This year the fair was attended by more than 90,000 visitors, from more than 90 countries.
“LIGNA HANOVER 2011“ was visited by the UAB “Juodeliai” (Ltd.) directors, Mr. Juozupas Zimnickas and Mr. Andrius Zimnickas. The objectives of the visit were: to learn about market innovations, meet the industry partners, exchange contacts, and become familiar with the newest technologies of pallet production. Afterwards, Andrius Zimnickas stated that the timber industry is recovering, although there is still a threat of a second-wave of recession.
