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Gutex starts production at Eschbach insulating boards factory


Above left: First board signing at the new Gutex Eschbach factory Above right: The Eschbach factory is complete


Leading German wood fibre insulation board manufacturer Gutex has started production at its new Eschbach im Breisgau factory following a two-and-a-half-year project. The project was focused - neutral philosophy,


on a CO2


featuring energy from photovoltaics and biomass, as well as district heating from the immediate neighbourhood. “Our company is investing more than €100m in the new Eschbach im Breisgau location and has created around 70 new jobs to date,” said Gutex


managing director Claudio Thoma.


“I am sure that our factory in Eschbach will further improve Gutex’s reputation as a reliable manufacturer of high-quality wood fibre insulation materials.” The factory in the Breisgau industrial park is Gutex’s second plant. It is located a short distance to the company headquarters in Waldshut- Tiengen and to the company’s key core markets, which include Germany, France and Switzerland.


It also is near to the wood Egger Group acquires minority


stake in Thai Panel Plus Egger has made a move to strengthen its position in Asia by acquiring a 25.1% minority stake in the Thai wood-based material manufacturer Panel Plus Co Ltd.


The purchase was closed on January 3. No specific financials pertaining to the deal were disclosed. “As a significant growth


market, Asia plays an important role in our strategic considerations,” said Thomas Leissing, chief financial officer Egger Group. “We have been considering expanding our presence there for some time now. In Panel Plus, we have found the


ideal partner in this respect. Panel Plus has state-of-the- art production sites and a product portfolio that is perfectly tailored to regional requirements. “We are convinced that we will benefit greatly from their local expertise and will be able to exploit further growth opportunities together.” Panel Plus Co was founded in 1990 and today produces a wide range of wood-based materials such as chipboard and MDF boards, both laminated and raw boards. The main production plant


is located in Hat Yai in the Thai province of Songkhla.


WBPI | December 2023/January 2024 | www.wbpionline.com


resources that Gutex sources from the Black Forest, Switzerland and, in the future, also from the Vosges. The factory started test production in October/ November 2023, with 70 employees working three shifts, before ramping up output at the start of 2024. Gutex believes the use of green electricity, biomass, district heating and steam recycling, sets new environmental standards in the industry. “Even years ago, when gas was much cheaper than


district heating, we decided on the new technology concept and the goal of CO2


An innovative silo system


for storing wood chips complements the sustainable overall concept of the new production site. Wood was also used as a building material in the factory structures wherever fire protection regulations permitted it. Gutex insulation panels are installed on more than 3,700m2


of facade area. Kronospan opens design centre


in Barcelona Kronospan opened a new design centre in Barcelona at the close of 2023.


The centre is in the vibrant Ciutat Vella district, known as a hub for art, trends and innovation. The area was chosen for easy access to the city’s rich cultural heritage, diverse creative community and talented pool of professionals. The showroom is intended


to bring together the minds of the industry — designers, architects, engineers and other experts — to collaborate on solutions for a variety of sectors including furniture, interior design,


construction and more. Covering two storeys, the centre allows the company to showcase large samples and products in various applications, rendering valuable insights into the materials’ quality, versatility and aesthetic appeal. Visitors will find spaces


for workshops, consultations and brainstorming sessions, fostering an environment where ideas can be transformed into real projects. Technical information and access to a library of resources are all available on site.


-neutral production,” said operations manager Oliver Bauch.


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