News

25/05/2011 /  The charity and support foundation “Juodeliai & Co”

The charity and support foundation, “Juodeliai & Co”, headed by chairman Andrius Zimnickas, was established in 2010. Although the foundation has been active for a short period of time, it can already claim an abundance and variety of performed works. “Juodeliai & Co” supports and motivates the improvement of young basketball players in Marijampole, as well as other sports. The funds of the foundation are also given to children from children’s homes, to the green movement, to village societies, etc.

The organizers of the foundation believe that it is time to invest in a more sustainable education — knowledge and spiritual values. The foundation’s activity does not focus on one particular field; it seeks to direct its attention to those who really need help and support. The charity and support foundation “Juodeliai & Co” will continue its activities and seek to implement new projects, as well as those that have already become traditional.

10/05/2011 /  Meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania

On the 29^th of April 2011, the Wood Processors Association director, Mr. Juozupas Zimnickas (who is also director-general of the company UAB “Juodeliai”), met with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania, Mr. Andrius Kubilius.  The reason for the meeting was the concern of the wood-processors regarding their business future.  Mr. Zimnickas communicated the wood-processors’ thoughts of their increased anxiety, which is due to the plans to intensely increase the potency of heating boiler-houses that use bio fuel; thereby requiring more good wood, over and above wood-waste, to be produced by the wood-processing companies .  The director cited the similar situation that had occurred in Poland; and he requested recognition of the defects of the Lithuanian law of renewable energy resources:  1) the absence of any means of protection of the forest as an ecosystem; 2) the lack of the necessary separation of wood that is designed for processing, from wood for biomass;  and 3) thus, increasing the possibility to develop alternative energy-plants in the country.

Mr. Zimnickas submitted to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania a request to establish a working-group of representatives of all interested groups, as well as scientists, who together:  1) would examine and evaluate the present situation; 2) would propose specific  calculations of possible data to collect and the probable consumption of bio fuel; and 3) would develop future perspectives.  These indicators by separate sorts of bio fuel should be reflected in a national renewable-energy resources development programme prepared by the government.

19/04/2011 /  The products of Juodeliai UAB: EPAL and CP pallet blanks

Since the commencement of its activities seventeen years ago, Juodeliai UAB focuses attention to the quality of its products, and to the strengthening of its sales positions.  In order to be able to work successfully in current market conditions, it is necessary to have one specific direction.  Therefore, the company’s specialization is the production of EPAL pallet elements and CP pallet blanks.  In the first quarter of 2011, 65 percent of Juodeliai UAB production was the raw material for EPAL pallet manufacturers, 25 percent was for CP pallet manufacturers, and the remaining 10 percent was for non-standard pallet manufacturers.

In the first quarter of 2011, there was an increase of the demand for CP pallet elements, while the demand for EPAL pallet blanks remained stable.  Because of its long-time experience, and despite the increasing price and lack of timber on the market, Juodeliai UAB managed to adapt to the changing market, and to be able to produce a larger volume of CP pallet blanks.  As the result of the planned May 2011 increase of production capacities, the company will be able to satisfy the increasing demand for CP pallet elements, and to retain the current volume of EPAL pallet blanks.

05/04/2011 /  Summit-meeting of the Directorate-General of State Forests and the Wood-Processors Association

Co-operation between the wood-processors and the Lithuanian State Forests was discussed during the summit-meeting held at the Directorate-General of State Forests on 30 March 2011.  Mr. Juozupas Zimnickas (Director of the Wood-Processors Association), Mr. Benjaminas Sakalauskas (Director of the Directorate-General of State Forests), Mr. Gintaras Visalga, (Deputy-Director of the Directorate-General of State Forests), and Mr. Andrius Vancevicius (Senior-Adviser of the Directorate-General of State Forests) participated in the meeting.

During the meeting, the situation of the state forests was reviewed, and issues concerning co-operation with the wood-processors were discussed.  Director Zimnickas, speaking on behalf of the members of the Association, expressed their positive point of view that no problems occur lately between the State Forests and the wood-processors, that wood-log purchases are performed according to schedule that operates smoothly, and that signed contracts are enforced.

While discussing the issues of the wood-log trade, the representatives of the Directorate-General of State Forests assured that, as planned, an electronic system for such timber sales would be launched in approximately the middle of the second-half of 2011.  This system should simplify procedures for electronic trading.

Referring to information regarding a negative experience of neighboring Poland in electronic timber-sales, the Director of the Wood Processors’ Association asked that particular attention be paid to any possible leakage of information while using the electronic sales system, because such information leaks could lead to collapse of the wood-log trade.

During the meeting, a further issue was mentioned:  timber for processing should not be burned in biofuel boiler-houses, as has been much-encouraged recently.  Mr. Sakalauskas assured Mr. Zimnickas that he will take every effort to avoid this practice.

Source:  Directorate General of State Forests web site:  www.gmu.lt

22/03/2011 /  April 2011 Repairs of Production Facilities

We maintained an intensive production of wooden pallet blanks during the unfavourable weather conditions of the 2010-2011 winter. Our sawmills’ equipment was greatly affected by such maximum use that was required to meet our customers’ needs.  Maintenance, repairs, and modernization of our wood-processing equipment is now necessary to ensure that we can to continue our quality of work and production capabilities.

To enable us to retain our high quality and volumes of production, in April of this year we will repair and modernize our equipment.  To enable equipment repairs and modernization:  our “Jure” sawmill will suspend production from 11 to 16 April 2011; and our “Akmenynai” sawmill will suspend production from 26 April to 1 May 2011.

Therefore, our production volume for April 2011 will be decreased by twenty-five percent (25 %).  After the repairs and modernization, the production capacity will be increased by approximately ten percent (10 %), while retaining our high quality of production.