“People at Metsä Fibre understand this business, and know what a component producer like us needs.”
has an in-house laboratory that tests breaking strength, the water resistance of finger joints, and the possible de- lamination of components. The tests are done randomly in every shift. Many components that Barrus produces have a specific amount of heartwood. It is durable and less affected by the humid climate in Scandinavia and is thus often used in high-quality windows. X-RAY HELPS SELECT THE BEST LOGS The raw material for the components comes mostly from the company’s sawmill that has the annual output of 130,000 m³. “Having our own sawmill allows us to pick the most suit- able logs for our components. We optimise our produc- tion by selecting the logs with longer distances between the knots. We also look for a big yield of heartwood and dense year rings. The sheer quality of our raw material makes a big difference in comparison to other producers,” Glinvad says. Logs are graded with an X-ray scanner. “The X-ray is an essential tool for us. It reveals the inner quality of each log,” Tatomir says. PARTNERING WITH METSÄ FIBRE Barrus also uses 40,000–45,000 m³ timber that comes from external suppliers. “The combination of internal and external supply en- sures that we can respond to customer demand quickly and flexibly,” Tatomir says. One of the most significant external suppliers is Metsä Fibre. “We have been working with Metsä Fibre for five years. They understand this business, and know what a compo- nent producer like us needs. Metsä Fibre always tries to find solutions together with us,” Tatomir explains. Glinvad describes Metsä Fibre as a strategic partner for Barrus. “Being a strategic partner means that we share infor- mation. For example, if we have an issue with the raw material, we often turn to Metsä Fibre and ask if they have experienced similar situations. They listen to us with an open mind and offer support,” Glinvad says.
NEW FACTORY INCREASES CAPACITY BY 50 PER CENT Barrus was the first company in Estonia to start making components for the window industry in 1995. “The idea of pre-fabricated components was brand new in those days.The component industry truly took off years later,” says Glinvad. Being an early adopter has given Barrus a significant advantage. “There is no one with more experience in this sector. Flexibility and know-how developed over 25 years of mak- ing components is the most valuable certificate we have,” Glinvad says. Today Barrus is once again on the threshold of some- thing new. In order to meet the increased demand, it is now building a new factory. The capacity is expected to rise to 120,000 m³. The groundwork for the new factory has already started. “We are building a new factory from scratch. It will have the most modern production line in the industry. Only four people are needed per shift to get the job done. We will achieve increased efficiency and will become even more competitive in the market," Glinvad says. Scaling up from an annual capacity of 80,000 m³ to 120,000 m³ will require a lot of new raw material. “The biggest challenge is acquiring the right raw ma- terial for the factory year-round. We need to continue working with suppliers who can develop and grow with us,” Tatomir says. •
Looking good! Janar Tatomir (left) and Morten Glinvad inspect the quality of the final product.
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BARRUS An Estonian company which produces finger-jointed components for windows and doors • Established in 1995 • 250 employees • Turnover in 2020 54.5 million euros • Capacity 82,000 m³ per year www.barrus.ee
Barrus' headquarters were awarded the Estonian Wood Construction Award.
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