Leading European producer of wooden pallet elements Juodeliai marks its 30th anniversary with a EUR 30 million investment: The opening of a second factory in Marijampolė is approaching

Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, wooden pallet component manufacturer UAB Juodeliai is entering a significant stage of development. The company, which launched operations in 1994 as a small family business, will soon be opening a new – second – factory in Marijampolė, which will significantly increase the company’s production volume.

“It is symbolic that such a significant investment project coincides with the company’s anniversary. We take pride in the fact that our business grew successfully for three decades until it became one of the leaders in its sector in Europe. Today, we can implement the most ambitious of projects that create even greater added value for the company, its employees and the communities that the company operates in,” says UAB Juodeliai CEO Petras Jašinskas.

Having grown consistently since its establishment, UAB Juodeliai is the largest company in the TMV Capital Group operating as a catalyst for the creation of added value. More than 600 people work in the four production units and the administrative unit belonging to it.

“Soon, the number of employees will increase even more, because later this year, we will be launching operations at the second factory in Marijampolė, which went into construction last year and is now being fitted out with production equipment. We have invested EUR 30 million in the construction and installation of this factory,” Mr Jašinskas points out.

At the end of this year, when the new 14,700 m2 factory becomes operational, Juodeliai’s production volume in Marijampolė will increase by 40 per cent, and the amount of processed wood at the company level will go from the current 1.3 million m3 per year to 1.5 million m3 per year. Furthermore, approximately 50 new jobs will be created int he capital of Lithuania’s Sudovia Region to work in a modern company using cutting-edge equipment and other technological innovations.

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‍Special focus on sustainability

Constant attention to increasing efficiency has allowed UAB Juodeliai to achieve 100 per cent raw material utilisation. The by-products obtained during the production of wooden pallet components are used for biofuel and the needs of the furniture industry, so value is created not only for the company, but also for its partners.

In order to achieve even greater operational sustainability and efficiency, UAB Juodeliai decided to invest in the construction of a 10 MW boiler house next to the new production unit in Marijampolė. This solution will make it possible to turn the by-products generated during timber processing into valuable industrial heat, which is necessary for the wood drying process.

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‍Productivity is also increased by the new office in Kaunas

Another significant change recently took place in the life of UAB Juodeliai, which is preparing for the opening of a new factory. Last summer, the company’s administration moved from Marijampole to anew office in Kaunas, which currently has 44 employees.

According to Mr Jašinskas, moving the head office to the second largest city in the country was a natural stage in the development of the rapidly growing company that makes it possible to attract the most competent specialists not only from Kaunas Region, but from the country’s other major cities as well.

“The comfortable and innovative environment of the new office also significantly contributes to productive work that continues to drive the company forward, and Juodeliai employees in all regions of the country – including Marijampolė – benefit from this,” emphasises the UAB Juodeliai CEO.