Forest Club model projects and sites

Issue 20, April 2002

Russian woodworking industry is capable to produce quality window frames which are making no concession to plastic frames in appearance and properties.

Such high-quality production was shown on an exposition of Antsiferovsky Woodworking Industrial Complex (ADOC) situated in Novgorod region, north-west of Russia. The production has been highly appreciated by the visitors of the interregional exhibition "City. Resources. Energetics" which was held in Veliky Novgorod last year.

Dirty technologies, which try to transfer in CIS from so-called " developed countries ", not bypass as a matter of fact any sphere of life. A vivid example is window frames of polyvinylchloride (PVC), actively promoted in the last years: speak, they do not pass neither dust, nor sound. Therefore PVC frames have already become indispensable attribute of prestige. However on the "developed world", where this mode has come from to us, we'll see absolutely controversial situation

Scientists all over the world have proved, that production of PVC is very dangerous, first of all because of dioxins are emitted on each of four stages of manufacturing, and their amount increases.

In foreign countries standarts for chemical productions become more and more strict, using of harmful, dangerous chemicals including polyvinilchloride in many cases is prohibited.

In Austria it is forbidden to utilise any compounds containing chlorine, in the household goods: paints, glues, etc. since 1992. Moreover, use of the medical equipment, window frames, and other structures containing polivinilchloride is terminated in the Austria. In Scandinavian countries the industrialists have given up bleaching of paper by chlorine, and also of use PVC-containing packing materials and bottles.

When materials containing polyvinilchloride, including frames, burn, they evolve a lot of toxic substances. Certainly, there is a question - whether we have an alternative? Many industrialists try to convince us that, in any way, usual wooden window frames cannot be made so sound- and dust-proof, as plastic ones. However, Europe already returned to wooden frames long time ago. All the question is in technology of producing.

Maybe, one sceptically-minded consumer would say here, that that Russian industry can't use European technologies because they're too expensive. But he won't be right.

All depends only on production equipment both initiative of a manufacturer. Most dynamically developing woodworking plants already produce wooden window frames, which do not concede to frames of PVC advertised by the media, and which prices favourably differ from PVC-products.

Therefore, when we had an opportunity, we couldn't help coming to ADOC ourselves and look, how those frames, which admired the visitors of exhibition, are produced. The plant is supposed to be the one of places to see in the Novgorod region.

That we saw there was really differ from traditional image of woodworking plant in Russia. An accurate building, a clean territory, where neither scrap of machines, nor mountains of wastage were seen. In the workshop there is no bustle, nobody hurry, everybody does his own work.

The plant specialises on producing wooden window frames and doors. Its average production is about 40 sq. m of window blocks in a shift. Totally in joiners workshop 15 persons are involved.

The frames are made of glued balks, with triple glazing. The plant make not only individual orders, but equip with their glass-packages and apartment houses which already were built.

Basically, in the region there are no similar plants: frames with triple glazing are not made by anyone more for a while.

Those tests, which the technologist exposes materials going on production of glass packages (freezing, heating up, maceration), frames of PVC hardly would pass. To ensure the quality of production, on ADOC they carefully check all glues, paints and lacquers, before purchase them.

About three years ago the credit was taken to purchase processing line from abroad. Till now it is necessary to pay back. It constrains development of production a little, however investments quite worth themselves.

"It is pleasant to look at the windows, while you walk along the street", - says V. Umerenko, the technologist of the plant. In general, everyone on the plant talk about their workshop with pride and shine in eyes, like an owner of country-house talks about his kitchen garden.

The basic competitors of ADOC are woodworking complexes, but they attract by the low price, though very frequently they aren't capable to ensure quality and modern technology.

Valeriy Ivanov, the executive commercial manager of "ADOC": "Our major to gain the market. There is also the parallel process of quality improvement. The more production we make, the more we'll know about the imperfections and defects of our work, to correct them further".

For the time of its existence the plant already has gained reputation, its production is purchased by the buyers from the Novgorod and Tver regions, St.-Petersburg, even from Moscow region there are the orders.

Lot of attention is given to the individual orders; the customer can come with own drafts and chose complete set and furnish necessary for him.

ADOC for people of Borovichi (Novgorod region) is a stable and successful plant, people are motivated t get employed there, despite of rather exacting requirements. Each worker knows how to do high quality work on all the machine tools, on all the operations. As every order is individual, the work is carried out immediately from working projects, that also requires appropriate skills from the workers.

Return to wooden window frames instead of PVC, but at more high-technology level, is advantageous from every quarter. First, at manufacturing of these products it is practically not formed collateral toxic substances. Having served its time, such window frames will not turn into toxic wastes, unlike PVC. Second, the development of woodworking means decrease of export of round timber, and consequently, the more reasonable use of forest resources of the country. Third, usually such industrial complexes are small plants that can become the support of local producers and small and average business.

So there is always the alternative to dirty, so-called "new" technology. It requires only well-considered choice.