This means that UWPC still specializes in the production of high-quality lumber, furniture blanks, glued panels, and industrial parquet. All waste is processed into firewood for fireplaces, kindling wood, Pini-kay briquettes, and also into charcoal.<\/p>\n
\n\u2014 Your words radiate optimism. But still, hasn\u2019t the second and third years of war \u2014 when our industry began to \u201cgroan\u201d from the lack of skilled male workers due to mobilization \u2014 shaken your company in any way?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u2014 You know, I\u2019ve been in the wood processing business for thirty years, which means it\u2019s hard to surprise me with anything. I\u2019m used to the fact that crisis situations in our country arise regularly \u2014 be it financial, COVID-related, or now, war-related. I also know they can and must be overcome. And we are overcoming this one as well, without stopping our usual operations. I\u2019ll say more: it\u2019s during times of crisis that we get better results than when things are calm.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\u2014 But still, you\u2019d agree that this crisis is unique\u2026<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u2014 For our company, it\u2019s unique because Europe, frightened by the war in Ukraine, began buying up everything we produce at an accelerated pace.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\u2014 So, you\u2019re experienced exporters?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u2014 Since 1999. Mostly to European markets. There\u2019s also interest from Chinese buyers, but we can\u2019t agree on price \u2014 they want our products almost for free.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\u2014 Do you have any European clients who\u2019ve worked with you for over a decade?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u2014 I remember a French client who bought from us for fifteen years. If not for him, I\u2019m not sure we would\u2019ve survived the financial crisis of 2008. And although they no longer buy from us, we still maintain contact.<\/em>
Some companies have bought from us since our foundation. Others work with us steadily for a few years, then disappear, only to return and renew contracts later.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\u2014 Which of your products sells the most, especially abroad?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u2014 It\u2019s hard to say offhand. There\u2019s a certain cycle: at times parquet is in high demand, at others \u2014 glued panels. The strongest sales fluctuations usually relate to secondary products like firewood, fuel briquettes, and charcoal. Of course, there\u2019s also a seasonal factor here.<\/em>
We adjust our production accordingly \u2014 if demand for one product drops, we increase output of another. Last autumn, for example, parquet demand dropped sharply, but this year the situation improved. Sometimes it\u2019s more profitable to sell furniture blanks than finished panels.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\u2014 Judging by the range of your products, your company processes wood with virtually zero waste.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u2014 Yes, we\u2019ve established a full-cycle roundwood processing system. Of course, there are some production scraps, but we turn even those into products.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\u2014 Many wood processing companies don\u2019t bother with waste recycling \u2014 they simply burn it for heat.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u2014 Everyone does their own math and chooses what\u2019s more profitable. Some companies grind large wood scraps, like slabs, into chips to press into pellets or briquettes. We calculated that it\u2019s cheaper \u2014 and thus more profitable \u2014 to turn these pieces into charcoal without the cost of grinding, glue, or pressing.<\/em>
We found the right technology, purchased special hydrolysis kilns, and added another product to our line. What\u2019s more, we get a double benefit: during the eight hours while the charcoal is forming, we also get heat as a bonus. Now we\u2019re working on how to use that heat more efficiently.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\u2014 Even companies in worse shape than yours still create development plans. No doubt you have plans as well.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u2014 The company has been growing continuously since 1996, when a band sawmill started working in our backyard. Since then, it has grown into a modern enterprise with around 150 employees, processing a thousand cubic meters of roundwood monthly in a full cycle.<\/em>
As they say, every cloud has a silver lining. In our case, the war brought access to favorable loans and available grants, which we used for further development. Our latest investment was aimed at stabilizing electricity supply \u2014 we installed solar panels at our facility.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n\n\t\t