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SONAE ARAUCO
Group: Sonae Arauco
SONAE ARAUCO
Who we are
Sonae Arauco is a new company resulting from a strategic partnership between Sonae Indústria and Arauco. This 50/50 partnership involves the existing European and South African wood based panels and related operations of Sonae Indústria, namely all its production facilities of wood based panels, chemicals and paper impregnation, but excludes Sonae Indústria’s operations in North America and the laminates and components business, which will continue to be fully owned by Sonae Indústria.
With 13 plants located in four countries on two continents and with more than 2700 employees worldwide, Sonae Arauco is one of the largest wood-based panel producers in the world.
Wood-based panels are valuable alternatives to solid wood with some clear advantages, namely in terms of efficiency on the use of raw materials. Another particular advantage is their dimensional flexibility, which (in contrast to solid wood) allows for the production of tailor-made sizes that can be adapted to the requirements of client applications. Hence, today we see wood-based panels replacing solid wood in an increasing number of applications.
Our base products, typically denominated as "raw products and technical" are comprised of:
- PARTICLEBOARD (PB) a very versatile product, suitable for all general uses in the furniture and construction industries;
- MEDIUM DENSITY FIBREBOARD (MDF) an excellent substitute for solid wood and ideal for furniture, flooring and the building industry;
- ORIENTED STRAND BOARD (OSB) a product which is highly resistant and suitable for structural and non-structural applications in the construction industry, due to its natural wooden appearance it is increasingly being used for decorative purposes as well, mostly in shop-fitting and public spaces.
More than 50% of the “raw board” production is then transformed into value added products such as melamine and wood veneer faced board, sandwich panels with laminates, flooring and acoustic panels. These are used in a great variety of applications such as home and office furniture, kitchen and bath cabinets shelving, doors, wall panelling packaging and interior decoration.
Our values
PROUD INDUSTRIAL SOUL
With a long-term business vision and a solid growth ambition, we are a company born with strong roots to last through generations. We have the courage
to take risks and the financial strength to embrace them as new challenges, knowing that our knowledge and high quality standards will always take us further.
- Wood-based expertise
- Long-term business vision
- Solid growth ambition
WOOD-BASED LIFE IMPROVEMENT
We take wood innovation further to be a leading international company in the sector. We create sustainable and renewable wood-based solutions
for a better life and planet, moving beyond products to offer fit for purpose solutions that improve people’s lives.
- Sustainable and renewable
- Innovative
- Fit for purpose
WOOD-LASTING ALLIANCES
We believe in teamwork, safe workplaces, cooperation and long-lasting partnerships. Ethics and transparency are rooted in our business integrity and commitment with our stakeholders. Respecting the environment and the communities around us is part of our nature and at the centre of our priorities.
- Ethics and transparency
- Long-lasting partnerships
- Safety and good citizenship