2010-01-13 - ABB AS signed a Full Service contract with timber processing enterprise AS Barrus. According to the five-year contract, ABB is responsible for maintenance of the customer’s production equipment. “ABB Full Service helps the customer raise productivity in the first place,” assured Bo Henriksson, the Country Manager of ABB Baltics.
The signature of the contract was preceded by a through-going cost-benefit analysis at Barrus' plant in Verijärve in Võru County. The value added to Barrus' production process by ABB's maintenance service was identified in the course thereof.
“We were looking for a long-term international partner who has sufficient experience and technical resources in order to find new ways for increasing the productivity of our production equipment,” said Janar Tamjärv, a member of the Management Board of Barrus. “It is very important that our partner is persistently able to find new ways for improvement of the functionality of equipment, reduction of maintenance costs and improvement of the effectiveness of the production equipment.”
“ABB Full Service model supports Barrus in achievement of its objectives,” added Kaarel Variksaar, the Manager of ABB Full Service in the Baltic States.
AS Barrus, founded in 1993 and belonging 100% to Estonian owners, is engaged in production and supply of high-quality laminated timber. In 1995 the company started producing laminated timber boards and in 1997 sawn timber of round material. A sawmill was opened in 1998, a laminated timber window and door performs was opened in 2004 and a new sawmill based on Swedish technology was opened in 2008. Barrus' production volume was nearly 40,000 m3 of sawn timber and 17,500 m3 of laminated timber components in 2009. The turnover amounted to EEK 153 million.
“The contract with Barrus also strengthens ABB’s performance-based maintenance services position in the Estonian market,” emphasised Kaarel Variksaar. “Also, it was another signal as to the importance of the technical conditions of production equipment in the entire production process, allowing the customer to focus on its main activity and achieving their long-term goals.”
In addition to Barrus, ABB AS has four other full service contracts in Estonia: with Kunda Nordic Cement plant, ABB electrical machines plant, Draka Keila Cables manufactory and Lindström textile service company .
ABB has been operating in Estonia since 1992. The activities of the company are divided into three areas: production (wind generators, low-voltage drives, switchboards, compact substations); sales (transmission network and distribution substation projects, medium-voltage and low-voltage products, industrial automation projects, robotics) and maintenance services for large industrial customers.
ABB has received the Foreign Investor of the Year award from Enterprise Estonia three times (2007-2009) and the Enterprise Award given to the best enterprise in Estonia (2008).