Vitebskdrev mastered the production of innovative moisture-resistant MDF boards
Unlike ordinary polished boards, moisture-resistant boards have a denser structure, thus they do not swell, and their surface is not damaged by condensate. This innovative product can be widely used in humid areas, for example, in the manufacturing of bathroom furniture, due to its ability to withstand accidental contact with water. "Today, 'Vitebskdrev' is the sole producer of moisture-resistant boards in the post-Soviet space, including Belarus, and is ready to replace similar imported products, mainly imported from Belgium. At this stage, we are actively promoting the innovation, participating in exhibitions, and supplying trial batches to potential partners. The goal is to increase the share of this product to one-third or even half of the total output," noted Yury Doylin.
Under the conditions of sanctions pressure, under which woodworking enterprises have to operate, "Vitebskdrev" decided to focus on the production of goods with new qualities and, consequently, higher added value. Preliminary market research has shown that there is a demand for such products in Russia and Central Asian countries. "Of course, it is easier to sell raw or laminated boards; it is quite another matter to achieve the characteristics required by the consumer for their final product. The next novelty will be fire-resistant boards; we are currently completing the development of their production technology. We will continue our research in this direction," said Yury Doylin. In addition, the company has completely switched to Russian chemical components (synthetic resins and additives) used in production, without compromising product quality.
The high innovative potential of "Vitebskdrev" is ensured by the presence of a central factory laboratory (CFL) within the enterprise's structure, which in 2017 became the basis for the creation of a testing center for board products. The laboratory has the necessary accreditations for monitoring quality and verifying wood-based panel materials for compliance with European and international standards, while remaining the only one in the country with such a broad scope of accreditation.
The CFL's arsenal includes unique equipment that allows for tests, including those that no one else in Belarus performs, noted Yuri Doylin. Thanks to the cohesive team of laboratory specialists led by Ivan Groshev, Candidate of Technical Sciences, Associate Professor, new knowledge in the field of product standardization and certification is effectively being created at the enterprise, and research is being conducted on the development of board products with new qualities.
"BELTA"