We are honored and grateful for this country, where our work takes place every day. SCHWENK Latvija congratulates everyone on the Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia! For a strong and united Latvia!

The four-year EU-funded research and innovation project GENESIS is coming to the end. The project aims to develop and improve materials for CO₂ capture and purification, demonstrates their performance, durability and reliability in an industrial environment.

The implementation of the last stage of the project – testing of special technologies and materials – takes place at the Brocēni cement plant. Representatives of YODFAT from Israel in cooperation with Latvian specialists have installed and connected to the plant chimney three containers with equipment and special membranes for CO₂ capture and purification, which will operate as a pilot project until spring.

The GENESIS project brings together 18 partners from 9 countries: Belgium, France, Israel, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

On October 7, representatives of the Board of Executive Directors of the Association of Local and Regional Governments of Latvia and Saldus Municipality visited the SCHWENK Latvija limestone quarry “Kūmas” where they got acquainted with quarrying, results achieved so far and future plans for quarry recultivation, as well as CO2 reduction and the Green Deal goals of the company.

SCHWENK Latvija continues to implement an extensive program of social responsibility activities, where cooperation with the local community is one of its pillars. In order to promote the general growth and development of the region, we announce an application for the SCHWENK Latvija open project application competition, inviting to implement projects that strengthen the well-being of Brocēni and Saldus residents, increase quality of life, provide short- and long-term growth opportunities and attract new people to the region.

In the first round of the competition, applicants submit only a briefly described project idea. The project idea shall be submitted electronically by sending it to e-mail: stiprakopiena@schwenk.lv until October 17, 2021 by 23:00 with the indication “SCHWENK Latvija project competition”.

All documents, including the competition regulations, are available on the website only into Latvian language Sabiedrība un kopiena / Projekti kopienas stiprināšanai.

On 30 September, SCHWENK Latvija Chairman of the Management Board, SCHWENK Northern Europe CEO Reinhold Schneider became the President of German-Baltic Chamber of Commerce (AHK).

Upon taking responsibility of the President of the AHK, R.Schneider emphasized that the main focus of his presidency is green deal, sustainable innovation and digitilisation which goes quite often hand in hand.

For ore information please read a Press Release of the German – Baltic Chamber of Commerce (AHK).

Practical firefighting training of the Kurzeme region brigade of the State Fire and Rescue Service were conducted at the Brocēni cement plant. Firefighters from Saldus, Kuldīga, Aizpute and Skrunda units participated.

Firefighters practiced their firefighting and rescue skills at a complex production facility, while SCHWENK Latvija employees improved their crisis response and cooperation with firefighters. The main benefits of joint training are  preparedness of people for such situations and their ability to prevent accidents through rapid and effective cooperation.

On September 10, SCHWENK Latvija received the Latvian Corporate Governance Award 2021 in the nomination for successful experience in creating a corporate culture.

The award in this nomination was presented to highlight a Latvian company that has been actively involved in promoting governance processes, developing a code of internal culture and ethics, adhering to sustainability principles in its day-to-day operations and successfully identifying, assessing and monitoring operational risks.

On September 9, SCHWENK Latvia was honored as the second best fair remunaration payer in the group of small and medium-sized companies, based on the latest research data of the personnel selection, development and remuneration research company Fontes. The study assessed employers in several stages, looking at whether the principle of gender equality is integrated – both in terms of remuneration and representation at the highest management level, whether all employees in one position have similar remuneration, or remuneration in the company is competitive in the labor market.

Linda Šedlere, SCHWENK Latvija Member of the Management Board Personnel and Administration Director acknowledged that “we ensure that every employee receives a fair and competitive salary based solely on her/his skills and knowledge, and the wide range of benefits is tailored to the needs of employees”.

Linda Šedlere, Personnel and Administration Director, and Evita Goša, Environmental and Legal Director, members of the Management Board of SCHWENK Latvija, have taken positions 94 and 95, respectively, in the Forbes annual business women’s ranking.

The top of the most successful business women is formed according to a special methodology developed by Forbes: company indicators such as net turnover and its changes compared to the previous reporting period, net profit, export volume are used to evaluate the top participants. The top includes both business owners who own at least 10% of the capital shares and managers who act as officials on the boards of companies.

Read more: forbes.lv publication 100 most successful business women (only into Latvian language).

On September 1st, 2021, SCHWENK Suomi Oy acquired 100% of the shares in Betoni Center Oy.

Betoni Center operates three RMX-plants in the capital region of Finland and one RMX-plant in Tervakoski, situated 70 km north of Helsinki. The company owns and operates an aggregate quarry in the same region. The acquired assets also include mixer- and pumping trucks as well as concrete pumps. The annual turnover of the company is 4 MEUR and employs 10 persons. The company will continue its operations under the Betoni Center name and brand.