FoamLine in EUR 34m expansion

Moscow — Russian polyurethane foam producer FoamLine is planning a EUR 34m flexible foam plant and a separate mattress production unit at Kuznetsk in western Russia.

Moscow-based FoamLine, Russia’s largest flexible PU foam maker, signed a cooperation agreement for the development with the Penza region administration in April.

Phase one will see construction of a 25 kT/year plant to make PU foam for the furniture sector, including the nearby Kuznetsk industry cluster.  Preparation on the site of a former radio equipment factory has begun. The EUR 20m facility will employ 100. Operation is expected to start in spring 2019.

The second stage is expected to cost EUR 13.5m. This will involve rebuilding old factory units. These will house the mattress manufacturing unit which will create 200 jobs.

Work has started on this part of the project and machinery installation is scheduled for  the first half of 2019. The plant is expected to start-up in autumn 2019 , according to the regional authority.

'Support for the implementation of investment projects by the regional government and municipality will be assured. We are interested in creating new enterprises and developing the industrial sector in the Penza region,' stressed the governor Ivan Belozertsev. Belozertsev was speaking after singing the formal agreement with FoamLine CEO Artur Soghomonyan.

FoamLine has eight foam plants and 7 cutting centres in Russia. It also has one foam plant each in Serbia and Kazakhstan.

The company produces furniture foams, mattress cores and pillow foams as well as blocks, moulded parts and sheet. FoamLine’s overall annual production has reached 90 kt/year.