Local panelboard for Mexican homes

Mexican forest company Proteak has begun operations at its MDF board plant, the first in the country.

Finnfund has provided financing of USD 10 million for the project, located in the south of Mexico.

Some of the equipment for its MDF line is from Finland. Dieffenbacher Panelboard Oy, based in Nastola, supplied machinery and process solutions via its German parent company, Dieffenbacher GmbH.

Mexico expects demand for building materials to grow because tens of millions of its people have inferior living conditions. Domestically produced MDF board will serve to promote the use of wood in local construction.

MDF is also an ecological alternative because the feedstock used by Proteak will come entirely from sustainably managed eucalyptus forests close to the plant.

The company has obtained international FSC certification for its responsible forestry. It has also endorsed the UN’s Global Compact to promote human rights, labour conditions and environmental responsibility, and to eliminate corruption.

Based in the poor state of Tabasco, the plant and plantation forests will, directly and indirectly, provide work, livelihoods and skills for several thousand people.