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Strong finish means record year for Valutec
With ten businesses and a total order value of over MSEK 150, Valutec has ended 2017 on a high note. In the last three months of 2017, sawmills around the globe invested in 25 kilns from Valutec and the company total for the year was over 40 kilns sold.
“For the first time in our history, we will have a turnover of over 38 million USD. This is a milestone and proof that we are continuing to push forward development in lumber drying,” says Robert Larsson, CEO of Valutec.
The fact that 2017 was a record year is the result of several interacting positive factors for the sawmill. USA’s significantly increased import of sawed lumber products and increased construction throughout Europe has created a positive market climate. Together with relatively low lumber prices, the good prices for wood and the major demand for dried products has meant that many sawmills expect higher production in the near future.
“Increased demand for cross-laminated, glulam and not least the increased need for drying sideboards has also played a huge part in our success. To dry the sideboards, our new TC continuous kiln has been a competitive option that meets the sawmill’s needs for flexible and efficient drying that is high quality,” says Robert Larsson.
In 2017 a total of over 36 million cubic meters (15 billion MBF) of lumber was dried in kilns supplied by Valutec. The volume is equivalent to the total production over 2 years from all of Sweden’s sawmills.
“This needs highly-skilled workers with a central customer focus. We would never have been able to grow over time without this. We also have new employees, and have expanded with several workers over the year,” says Robert Larsson.
Valutec’s headquarter is in Skellefteå, Sweden, with around 28 employees. The company also has around ten employees based in Riihimäki, Finland, five in St Petersburg, Russia, and one employee in Vancouver on Canada’s west coast.
“We are making long-term investments in the Nordic countries as well as central Europe and Russia. We have recently taken the step across the Atlantic to launch ourselves in North America. They have a completely different culture in terms of how they produce wood-based items, but we are secure and happy with the quality of our solutions,” says Robert Larsson.
He also hopes that the new year will continue the company’s success.
“There is a lot to indicate that the strong economy will last. I can already dare to say that 2018 will be just as good a year, if not better.
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