Experience our path.

History

  • 1960

  • 1970

  • 1980

  • 1990

  • 2000

  • 2010

  • 1960s. = 60s
  • 1970s. = 70s
  • 1980s. = 80s
  • 1990s. = 90s
  • 2000s. = 00s
  • 2010s. = 10s

The decorative glass fibre fabric works came into being in 1972. Valmiera vocational school No. 36 developed into an employee-creator for the factory. Production volumes and the variety of machines grew. Production is certified with a State Quality Mark. The culture of the production was at a high level. The number of employees approached 3500, including 21 nationalities. Leading employees gained experience abroad.

In the 1990s, the downfall of the socialistic economy system began. In 1991, the factory changed hands from Moscow to the Ministry for Industry and Energetics of the Republic of Latvia as a state-owned enterprise. The circumstances around the collapse of the USSR caused supply difficulties to the factory. The financial situation became tight. Production volumes and the number of employees dropped, enormous losses were  incurred due to high inflation rates.

1993 – the year of the crisis. Search for Western markets began. The government of the Republic of Latvia decided to privatise the „Valmieras stikla šķiedra” factory by attracting foreign capital. In 1996 the company became a part of the German glass fibre company Glasseiden GmbH Oschatz. Jürgen Preiss-Daimler, the owner of Glasseiden Gmbh Oschatz, became the main shareholder and strategic investor. As a result of the investment, production development accelerated, while the expertise of the German partner helped to adjust production to the market and find a stable niche within it.

In September 2001, a modern, one-stage glass fibre production facility was put into operation in Valmiera. In 2002 Vitrulan Textilglas GmbH became a second shareholder and partner of the company. Also on 2006 the company opened a new glass fibre facility. The building area of the new glass fibre plant was approximately 19 000 m2.

In 2012, the new glass melting furnace was constructed at VALMIERAS STIKLA ŠĶIEDRA, AS, ensuring an increase in production capacity and expanding product diversity. That year, the company was nominated as one of the best employers and one of the most sustainable companies in Latvia.

2013 – a historically significant year. First of all, VALMIERAS STIKLA ŠĶIEDRA, AS celebrated its 50th anniversary, since the first glass fibre thread was acquired in 1963. Secondly, in July of the same year, the company acquired P-D Interglas Technologies Ltd. in the United Kingdom, which became a subsidiary of VALMIERAS STIKLA ŠĶIEDRA, AS and was given a new name – VALMIERA GLASS UK Ltd. The subsidiary manufactures glass fibre fabrics for the aviation industry, thermal insulation and architecture.

Later VALMIERA GLASS GROUP was formed positioning the company on the market as a vertically integrated supplier of various composite materials to the aviation industry, architecture and other industries.

In March, 2015 the first manufacturing plant of US subsidiary P-D VALMIERA GLASS USA Corp. was inaugurated.

On April 2018, the US Phase II plant was inaugurated. This year, a new, unified visual identity has been developed and introduced for the VALMIERA GLASS GROUP.

2019 has been challenging year for the GROUP, - on June 17, after an extended preparation process and unsuccessful investment attraction, the Phase 2 of P-D VALMIERA GLASS USA Corp. is suspended. The US company starts a voluntary legal protection process, VALMIERAS STIKLA ŠĶIEDRA, AS also implements legal protection proceedings in Latvia. At the end of the year, the renovation of glass melting furnace No.3.0 for a high silica content glass production is successfully carried out.

On June 2, 2020, P-D VALMIERA GLASS USA Corp. assets are transferred to the new owner, and in early 2021 the US subsidiaries are liquidated. VALMIERA GLASS GROUP consisting of VALMIERAS STIKLA ŠĶIEDRA, AS in Latvia and VALMIERA GLASS UK Ltd. in the United Kingdom continues to operate in the usual manner.

In February 2021, Duke I S.à r.l. became the majority shareholder of AS VALMIERAS STIKLA ŠĶIEDRA, acquiring 83.14% of shares.