Strategic upstream integration guarantees sustainable value chain for wood
Unilin Group, through its division Unilin Flooring, has come to an agreement with the Austrian supplier of timber and wood-based materials JAF Group to acquire an important part of its production site in Braşov, Romania. With this integration the company, renowned for its brands Quick-Step and Pergo, further establishes its foothold in the (Engineered) Wood/Parquet category for flooring.
Unilin had been looking for upstream integration in the value chain of (Engineered) Wood/Parquet flooring and is now successful. The deal includes land, buildings and industrial assets. Over 100 employees will transfer to Unilin. Jens Van Rompaey, General Manager Wood at Unilin Flooring explains: ‘Our direct access to premium logs is now guaranteed. The skills and experience of our new colleagues at the Braşov plant, combined with Unilin’s drive for innovation and design, is very promising. We expect to make significant steps forward.’ The company is planning to make important investments in the Braşov-site.
Ruben Desmet, President of Unilin Flooring: ‘After a constructive negotiation with JAF Group, we are very pleased to announce a deal. This integration clearly shows we are committed to the (Engineered) Wood/Parquet category. It will allow us to provide even more value for our customers, in terms of quality and sustainability of our products and services. Our mission is to use wood in the smartest way and store carbon for as long as possible.’
“We are delighted to have found a sustainable purchaser for our production site in Braşov. The negotiation process was extremely constructive and has been successfully concluded,” commented Werner Stix, CEO of the JAF Group, on the positive outcome of the discussions with Unilin over the past weeks.
No financial details on this transaction are to be made public. The deal is expected to be closed by the fourth quarter of 2021.