If we compare the birth of the company to the birth of a person, we can say that the war found the Novovolynsk-based company ‘Ideall‘ as a newborn ‘baby.’ It was registered just a month before the russian invasion. As co-founder Mykola Karpenyuk explained, in February, they were still in the initial stage of acquiring the necessary equipment for manufacturing wooden panels from solid wood, which is their specialization. The complete equipment plan was supposed to be finished by April. Of course, the war changed these plans. Fortunately, it didn’t destroy them entirely but significantly delayed them.

– The first batch of machines from Italy was already at the border at the beginning of the war, so they received it practically on time.

Equipment from a German manufacturer was still in the production process. The Germans called to inquire whether, given the current situation in Ukraine, they still needed the ordered machinery. They didn’t cancel the order, but they requested that the machinery be stored in their warehouse until it was ready. They weren’t sure how events would unfold in a country engulfed in war. When the machines were prepared, and they could have picked them up, an unexpected obstacle arose on the part of our state. As you know, there were currency restrictions in trade operations with foreign partners. It was only in May that the government relaxed these restrictions, allowing the purchase of specific types of goods, including the woodworking machines we had purchased.

However, the story was different when it came to acquiring equipment from an Austrian manufacturer. They faced complications in its production and delivery to Ukraine. The reasons for the delay were various, from supply chain disruptions at the manufacturer to risks associated with the war in our country. Consequently, the arrival of the purchased machines from Austria was delayed until October.

However, they couldn’t start panel production as planned last year. When they finally had the machines in place, the power supply was cut off. In the fall and winter, they couldn’t operate because they were allocated only one and a half kilowatts of electricity, barely enough for lighting. Thus, this story stretched out for almost a year, – said Mr Mykola.

– Did you have any problems with setting up the purchased equipment since European technicians were hesitant to come to Ukraine?

– Yes, we had. Italian and German technicians from the companies where we bought woodworking equipment didn’t come to us, but we managed to set it up for high-precision and high-quality woodworking technology on our own. As for the equipment from the Austrian manufacturer, they have a representative office in Ukraine, and that’s where the specialists for commissioning work came from.

– Even experienced members of UAFM (Ukrainian Association of Furniture Manufacturers) with a significant production and sales background have suffered a significant decline due to the war. Can you imagine how challenging it must be for your young company to start from scratch in the current conditions? What has allowed you to establish yourselves successfully and confidently in the market?

– First and foremost, it’s thanks to our product. We offer our customers (furniture manufacturers, interior designers, architects) panels made of natural wood of valuable species with high-quality decorative milling of their surfaces. The success of this business is ensured by the high quality of our products and favourable production terms for customers, achieved through the persistent work of our team and the use of high-tech equipment.

– Good quality milling can be achieved by any woodworker using the most modern CNC technology…

– Not exactly. Even with the best machines, you won’t achieve the desired result without the appropriate woodworking techniques. We have developed such unique techniques through years of experimentation, so our panels can be finished without additional grinding – they are made so perfectly.

– Regarding the design of the milled panel surfaces, how many options do you offer?

– There are ten basic options, but experience has shown that clients and designers usually prefer to have panels with their own design. Then we provide exclusive milling. Of course, this takes more time than buying ready-made panels or ordering one of our designs.

It’s worth adding to what Mr Mykola said: ‘Ideall’ dared to do something that rarely happens in the history of other furniture companies. Just half a year after its establishment, even before starting production, it became a member of UAFM and immediately took advantage of one of its benefits. The company participated in an international exhibition as part of a national stand organized by the Ukrainian Association of Furniture Manufacturers. At that time, they already had the first samples of panel products and took several options to the exhibition, hoping to attract foreign customers. The company also participated in this year’s March exhibition in Kyiv, ‘KIFF,’ which helped them form a significant base of potential domestic customers. By the way, the first buyer of their panels after the Kyiv exhibition was a Ukrainian company and international sales started from there.”