Foundation slab constructed for the future resin mill of AS “Latvijas Finieris”

Continuing the construction of the new resin mill in Riga, Bolderāja neighbourhood, the foundation slab of the future building was laid in March. The concrete slab was constructed using approximately 140 tonnes of reinforcement bars and approximately 1000 m³ of concrete. The tower crane has been assembled, the reinforced concrete columns have arrived and their installation will start shortly.

It has already been reported that in order to develop the production of new synthetic type resins, where fossil raw materials are partially replaced by natural origin wood component lignin, thus reducing the share of fossil raw materials in the production of phenolic formaldehyde resins, which are currently used in the production of board materials, thermal insulation, sandpaper and many other everyday products, Latvijas Finieris Group started the construction of a new mill in Riga, Bolderāja. The new resin mill is being developed on the territory of AS “Latvijas Finieris” at Finiera iela 6, Riga. The mill will have an annual production capacity of 45 000 tonnes.

Latvijas Finieris has developed an adhesive for birch plywood production in which lignin partially replaces phenol and formaldehyde, and Riga ECOlogical birch plywood products have been available on the market for several years. Further research and construction of the mill is a continuation of the work carried out over many years. With the construction of a new synthetic resin mill, this experience will be scaled up to an industrial level. As a result, it will be possible to provide environmentally friendlier lignin-phenol-formaldehyde resins to all the plywood products of Latvijas Finieris.

The construction of the mill 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 Finieris. The main objective of VIOBOND is to develop the use of the natural polymer lignin in high value-added products, partially or fully replacing fossil phenol and formaldehyde, a product of oil refining, with this renewable raw material.

The total research cost of the VIOBOND project is EUR 32 million, of which EUR 16 million is a grant from the European Commission’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation investment programme, with the rest coming from the companies involved in the project. To implement the project, Latvijas Finieris will carry out research amounting to EUR 16 million, of which EUR 8 million is co-funded by Horizon Europe. The total investment by Latvijas Finieris to build the mill is around EUR 40 million.

Construction of the mill is scheduled to be completed by spring 2026.