CEWOOD products from Jaunlaicene exported around the world; EUR 25 million invested in production facility

With a population of just 300, Jaunlaicene Parish in Alūksne District is home to an ambitious Latvian company – CEWOOD. As the biggest employer in the region and one of the leading European manufacturers of wood wool boards, CEWOOD is representing Latvia on the global stage with sustainable and innovative products. Just recently, during Latvia’s week of national celebrations, the company opened a new production line, which is a major step forward in its development. The company has invested more than EUR 25 million in this development project, through which it is planning to almost triple its production capacity.

“Our staff have already dubbed the new production line “Max”. The equipment, worth more than EUR 10 million and being among the most advanced in the world, will raise the company’s competitiveness on the global market allowing it to offer products of excellent quality. At the same time, we will be able to expand our annual production capacity from 1.7 million to nearly 5 million square meters of board. This project has been over 3 years in the making, and it will allow CEWOOD to secure its position as an industry leader in Europe,” Ingars Ūdris, CEO of the company, explains.

In November, the company completed the first phase of expanding its production facility, but work is still on-going with plans in place to build a new warehouse of 3,300 m² and install several other powerful state-of-the-art production machines next year. 

From Jaunlaicene to the world

CEWOOD products are in great demand not only in Europe, but also father away – in the United States and Australia. Architects and interior designers often choose the company’s boards in their acoustic and design solutions for concert halls, schools, offices, and even military sites. CEWOOD is also strengthening its market position in Latvia by supplying the local market with eco-friendly quality materials.

The key to CEWOOD’s success is sustainability and innovation. Its products are 100% natural, made of Latvian coniferous trees, cement and water without chemical additives. Being fireproof, noise absorbing, resilient and providing thermal inertia, the company’s wood wool boards are a unique and widely applicable material. The company works closely with Baltic universities to develop and expand the ways this material can be used. Collaborative projects have been implemented together with Riga Technical University, the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies and the University of Latvia, as well as Tartu University and Vilnius Gediminas Technical University. 

Proud of their roots and green thinking

CEWOOD is proud of its history and respect for the environment; the new production facility has been built with minimal intrusion on the surrounding nature: without cutting down trees and by adapting the configuration of the building to the terrain. This sustainable approach has also been appreciated at national level with the new production facility being named Latvian Construction of the Year in the the “Factory” category.

Symbolising the company’s ambition and creativity, the building features a unique round window; with a diameter of 3.2 meters, it just may be the largest single-piece window in Europe. This window is the visual centrepiece of the CEWOOD factory ascertaining the company’s determination and desire to become a global industry leader, representatives of the company explain.

Future plans

With the new production line and additional facilities, CEWOOD is planning to not only increase its production output, but also create new jobs for locals. The company is looking to continue developing and innovating to continue being a trusted partner for architects, contractors and interior designers throughout the world.

“We are proud to represent Latvia, and we believe in our product which is made of natural materials and represents a sustainable future,” Mr Ūdris says. “This is just the beginning. We are going to keep building the future – in Alūksne District, and at a global scale.”