OREANDA-NEWS. November 19, 2007. Nikita Leonov, who before October 1, 2007, was Chief Managing Director of business in Ilim Group, was appointed Managing Director of mechanical wood processing.

Nikita Leonov is to head Russia’s largest wood processing holding established on the basis of Ilim Pulp facilities not included into Ilim Pulp – International Paper joint venture.

The holding will function as an independent company including IlimSeverDrev (Koryazhma, Arkhangelsk oblast), Ilim Bratsk Wood Processing Mill and Ilim Bratsk Saw and Wood Processing Mill (Bratsk, Irkutsk oblast), Ust-Ilimsk Saw and Wood Processing Mill (Ust-Ilimsk, Irkutsk oblast), and IlimDrev trading company.

In 2006, the wood processing mills produced over 470 thousand cu metres of market lumber, 140 thousand cu metres of plywood, 45.8 mln sq metres of hardboard, 9.8 thousand cu metres of woodworking products. Over the first nine months of 2007, the output included 345.8 thousand cu metres of market lumber, 106.1 thousand cu metres of plywood, 38.5 mln sq metres of hardboard, and 8.3 thousand cu metres of woodworking products.

At the moment, the company’s strategic line is being developed, in order to provide manufacture of modern woodworking products aimed for the Russian construction market.

Note:

The wood processing holding, established on the basis of Ilim Pulp facilities, will include the following companies: IlimSeverDrev (Koryazhma, Arkhangelsk oblast), Ilim Bratsk Wood Processing Mill and Ilim Bratsk Saw and Wood Processing Mill (Bratsk, Irkutsk oblast), Ust-Ilimsk Saw and Wood Processing Mill (Ust-Ilimsk, Irkutsk oblast), and IlimDrev trading company.

Ust-Ilimsk Saw and Wood Processing Mill is one of Russia’s largest lumber producing mills. Its yearly output consists of softwood lumber, woodworking products, and pulpchips produced from over 1 mln cu metres of processed wood. The company exports its Taiga branded lumber to Western Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Northern America.

Ilim Bratsk Wood Processing Mill is Russia’s largest producer of broad-side softwood plywood. Over 80% of the output is supplied to the home market.

Ilim Bratsk Saw and Wood Processing Mill was re-energised in 2001 owing to Ilim Pulp’s investment programme to promote lumbering. Its major products are Belka branded softwood lumber and pulpchips.

IlimSeverDrev was established in August 2003 by Ilim Pulp Corporation in Koryazhma, Arkhangelsk oblast on the basis of Kotlas Pulp and Paper Mill board production. The company produces hardboard, most of which are supplied to the home market.