SPAIN – Kronospan, the largest global wooden panel manufacturer, is investing more than EUR 400 million in a new manufacturing plant of wood-based panels for the furniture industry in Tortosa (Catalonia).

This is one of the largest foreign investments ever recorded in the area and will lead to the creation of over 185 direct jobs and around 1,500 additional indirect jobs in timber supply, logistics, maintenance, and services.

Mr. Javier Macicior – the general manager of Kronospan Spain – explains that this is a 100% sustainable project that aligns with the principles of the circular economy. The economic impact of this investment will be highly significant, as it will involve the creation of a business cluster of related companies near the new site.

The new factory will work with up to 100% recycled wood sourced from discarded end-of-life domestic furniture collected by our suppliers. The factory plans to receive 100 trucks of recycled wood daily, which will be cleaned, crushed, and processed into boards. The new plant will incorporate a state-of-the-art particleboard press capable of producing 2,000 m³ daily. The planned production is 720,000 m³/year, which will contribute to a 0,72 Mt CO₂/year reduction of the CO₂ footprint in the region of Catalonia.

The infrastructure construction started in February 2022 and will cover 25 hectares, including a 40-meters high cleaning tower and photocells separating the wood chips from the waste material. The heat required for the production process will be sourced from a biomass boiler fueled by bark and process wood rejects, which are unsuitable for wood-based panels.

Solar panels installed on the factory’s roof will help power the production lines with clean and renewable energy.