PRESS RELEASES
Danzer France: Grand Opening of Facility
13 Million Euro Investment in the Expansion of Sliced Flooring Wear Layers Capacity
From left to right: Hans-Joachim Danzer (CEO Danzer), Fabrice Langlet (Plant Manager Danzer France), Rudi Heinzelmann (CEO Danzer Veneer Europe)
Opening celebration at the reconstructed Danzer facility in Souvans, France, on September 7, 2017.
The Danzer facility in Souvans, France
Reconstruction work in fall 2016
Part of the production in Souvans is now automated.
Step in the veneer production: drying
Finished product: sliced wear layers for engineered hardwood flooring
Souvans / France. After seventeen months of conversion, hardwood specialist Danzer re-opened its location in Souvans, France on Thursday, September 7, 2017. By investing 13 million Euros in the site, Danzer responds to the ever-increasing demand for sliced wear layers in engineered hardwood flooring. From the beginning of 2018, the full capacity of about 20,000 m3 log volume will be processed in Souvans resource efficiently.
In May 2016 hardwood specialist Danzer started the conversion of its French site in Souvans. On Thursday, September 7, 2017, the staff celebrated the opening ceremony together with local representatives from politics and business as well as Danzer CEO Hans-Joachim Danzer. “In recent years, the global demand for engineered hardwood flooring has increased steadily – a trend that will continue. We have installed a new energy-saving boiler, our proprietary high-precision Danzer VS4000 veneer slicer and adequate drying kilns. Previous to the conversion, Souvans was exclusively producing veneer – now it is also a specialized production site for flooring deck layers. In spring 2017, we started a first test production; in the beginning of 2018 we expect to reach full capacity. An annual production volume of 20,000 m3 is planned for Souvans in the future, serving customers all over Europe. This is yet another milestone for our flooring business, without losing sight of our other hardwood activities.” Preceding the construction, the Danzer Supervisory Board approved a 15 million Euro investment plan for the thick-cut veneer expansion for the factories of Souvans, Melnik (Czech Republic) and Darlington (USA) in 2015. Prior to this, solely the plant in Melnik produced thick-cut veneers.
Saving valuable hardwood: slicing instead of sawing
The distinctive feature of Danzer’s wear layers lies in their production. Deck layers are usually sawn but at Danzer they are sliced – exactly like Danzer does in the traditional veneer production process. “Our proprietary Danzer VS4000 slicers are capable of creating the product with a slicing process, completely eliminating the sawdust and saving roughly 30 to 40 percent of the valuable wood. Slicing is much more efficient here - the loss of wood is very low,” explains Rudi Heinzelmann, CEO of Danzer Veneer Europe.
Production close to the resource in France
As early as 2012, Danzer began producing sliced wear layers for engineered flooring – with increasing volume. Above all, the demand for deck layers in oak is high; a resource with an abundant supply in the Souvans region. “In addition to the many years of experience and the great know-how of our local employees, this was an important factor for the Souvans location,” says Hans-Joachim Danzer. “Due to our slicing technology and our proximity to the resource we work exceptionally efficiently. Additionally, thanks to our industrial approach, we are able to offer a high production volume of consistent quality and with short reaction times.”
Facts Danzer:
One of the world's largest producers of decorative hardwood
Founded in 1932
Holding company: Dornbirn, Austria
Production facilities: Europe 4, North America 5
Sales offices: Europe 7, North America 8, Asia 3
Product range: veneer, lumber, timber and logs, specialties (Vinterio, 3D-Veneer)
Sales 2016: 190 million Euros
Distributed to 87 countries worldwide
Employees: 1,600 worldwide
Facts Souvans location:
Incorporated 1997 by Danzer
2016 renaming “Jura Placages” in “Danzer France”
Production: decorative hardwood veneers and sliced deck layers for engineered flooring
Total number of employees: 85
Danzer is thus one of the larger employers in the region.
2018: full capacity production of 20,000 m3 of annual volume
About Danzer
Danzer is a leading quality hardwood company with production facilities in North America and Europe. The company has approximately 1,600 employees and services customers from 18 sales offices worldwide. Founded in 1932, the company is managed by a family member of the third generation. Danzer owns and manages forests in North America sustainably and produces sliced veneer, lumber and innovative value-added wood timber products for decorative purposes. Danzer products are being used in high-quality furniture, automobiles, interior architecture and other applications. www.danzer.com
