Baltic Export, Good for Business, Innovations, Latvia, Markets and Companies, Technology

Latvia’s economic recovery is faster than expected largely due to an increase of exports. Quality, innovation, cost-effectiveness, flexibility and eco-friendliness demonstrated by Latvian companies will offer favourable conditions for the development of Latvia’s foreign trade.

EXPORTER OF THE YEAR 2010

JSC Grindeks

Grindeks is the leading pharmaceutical company in the Baltic States. The company produces an extensive range of original products, including the widely known Mildronāts® and Ftorafur®, as well as over a hundred generics and active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Products are exported to more than 40 countries; export comprising more than 96% of total turnover. The main markets are the Baltic States, Japan, USA, Russia and other CIS countries.

www:               www.grindeks.lv

BEST EXPORTER AMONG LARGE / MEDIUM COMPANIES

1^st place:          JSC Valmieras Stikla šķiedra (glass fibre)

Valmieras Stikla šķiedra is one of the largest chemical and textile sector enterprises in the Baltic States, manufacturing glass, clay, cement and non-metallic mineral products. Products comply with the highest international standards and are applicable in a variety of industries (e.g., automotive, building, shipbuilding, aerospace, chemicals, electronics, household appliances etc.).

www:               www.vss.lv

2^nd place:        JSC Balticovo (egg products)

Balticovo is the major producer of table eggs and egg products in the Northern Europe. Balticovo produces eggs, egg products and poultry meat for the food industry, catering and retail distribution. More than 60 % of production is exported to Germany, Poland, Rumania, Italy, Estonia, Finland, Denmark, Slovakia and other countries.

www:               www.balticovo.lv

3^rd place:         TTS-Avio Ltd. (metal fabrication and machining)

TTS-Avio is one of Latvia’s leading enterprises, specialising in solutions for transportation and material processing: metal working, production of pre-fabricated metal structures, processing of metal components. The company works as a subcontractor, manufacturing non-standard metal products and components to customers’ specifications.

www:               www.tts-avio.lv

Recognition:  JSC Brīvais vilnis (fish processing)

Brīvais vilnis is one of the largest and oldest fish processing companies in the Baltics. The company’s signature product is Riga Sprats in Oil, also one of the most exported items. Products are exported to over 30 European and Asian countries.

www:               www.brivaisvilnis.lv

Recognition:  NP Foods Ltd. (JSC Gutta and JSC Laima exporter company)

JSC Laima is the largest producer of confectionery in Latvia. The company offers a wide range of chocolate and candy products.

JSC Gutta is the Baltic States’ major manufacturer and distributor of juices made from natural fruit and vegetables, as well as nectars, juice drinks, bottled waters and sparkling soft drinks.

www:               www.npfoods.eu

Recognition:  S.B.C. Ltd. (metal structures design, installation)

S.B.C. Ltd. offers a full range of services to customers – from the design of metal constructions for industrial buildings, commercial and private houses to installation works and project supervision. 90% of production is exported to Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Estonia, including supply and installation of entire buildings.

www:               www.siasbc.lv

BEST EXPORTER AMONG SMALL COMPANIES

1^st place:          Biosan Ltd. (laboratory equipment)

The Biosan company develops and manufactures state-of-the-art biotechnological and biomedical laboratory equipment. The company mission is to develop modern, exciting, small-scale products for sample preparation in the fields of genomics, proteomics and cellomics.

Over the past 18 years, Biosan has devised and implemented technical and functional innovation into the production of laboratory equipment.

www:               www.biosan.lv

2^nd place:        Brabantia Latvia Ltd. (ironing boards)

Brabantia Latvia manufactures more than 20 different types of ironing board for both domestic and professional use. The company’s mission is to develop sturdy household products that retain their good looks and performance for more than ten years.

Brabantia Latvia products are mostly made for export to its parent company with further distribution via the Brabantia distribution network.

www:               www.brabantia.com

3^rd place:         UnitedPress Tipogrāfija Ltd. (printing house)

UnitedPress Tipogrāfija’s principal activities are the printing of monthly and special-interest magazines and advertising materials. Production services cover folding, die cutting, laminating, UV-varnishing, perfect binding, saddle stitching, wire-o binding, and simple finishing and manual services.

www:               www.unitedpress.lv

Recognition:  Ameri Ltd. (knitwear)

Studio Ameri is a knitwear company whose main aim is to produce original and elegant design clothing, with an emphasis on natural and healthy materials and environmental protection. High quality materials such as merino, viscose, mohair, cashmere and cotton are used in the production and creation of knitwear collections. Main export markets are Germany, Norway and Japan.

www:               www.ameri.lv

Recognition:  Attirance Ltd. (cosmetic products)

Attirance manufactures and distributes hand-made, natural bath and skin-care cosmetic products, offering more than 250 different products: soaps, bath products, body and facial care products. Attirance cosmetics are animal fat- and preservative-free. The company has also been offering franchises since 2005.

www:               www.attirance.com

Recognition:  Bucher Schoerling Baltic Ltd. (road sweepers)

Bucher Schoerling Baltic’s principal activity is the assembly of truck-mounted and compact road sweepers, and the assembly and export of chassis. The company started its business in 2005, producing tanks and other components for first-class road and airport-runway cleaning equipment. All production is exported.

www:               www.bucherschoerling.com

Recognition:  Saldus Pārtikas kombināts (confectionery)

Saldus Pārtikas kombināts mainly produces candies which are made of natural ingredients – milk-based Gotiņa candies, toffees, sherbets, soft fruit jellies and candy creams. Gotiņa is a totally natural product with no food additives. Moreover, each candy is hand-wrapped. Half of the amount produced is exported to Lithuania, Estonia, Germany, USA, Spain, the Netherlands and Finland.

www:               www.saldusgotina.lv

MOST INNOVATIVE PRODUCT

1^st place:          Baltic Scientific Instruments Ltd. (XRF analyzer CON-X 02)

Baltic Scientific Instruments specializes in the development and production of spectrometric devices, analyzers, detectors and radiation portal monitors. These products are used in the nuclear energy, environmental science, geology and mineral resource sectors, in medicine and research activities, customs control and other spheres. The new analyzer is used to identify and measure the concentration of elements and minerals in ores and materials on conveyor belts.

www:               www.bsi.lv

2^nd place:        Autonams Ltd. (vehicle security system Skybrake Touch / VLC 5501)

Skybrake Touch / VLC 5501 is the first anti-theft device created by Autonams for agricultural, forestry and road-construction machinery. The new computerised system prevents vehicles being started unless their unique PIN code has been entered. In developing the system, Autonams consulted with one of the world's leading manufacturers of farm equipment John Deere. Vehicle security system VLC 5501 was nominated and won the award for “Best New Product and Innovation” at the prestigious LAMMA Show in London.

www:               www.autonams.lv

3^rd place:         Jaunpagasts Plus Ltd. (protein for animal nutrition)

Jaunpagasts Plus technologists have designed and produced a unique bioethanol by-product Baltiprot – 50 in line with the specific manufacturing technique patented by JP Biotechnology Ltd. The new product is a pelletized protein concentrate intended for feeding all farm animals: poultry, pigs, cattle, fish and domestic animals, as well in the production of combined feeds. The company's innovative approach to problem solving and cutting-edge technologies made it possible to process what was previously waste into a beneficial animal nutrition product.

www:               www.jpplus.lv

Recognition: E Forma Ltd. (reading primer)

E Forma is a visual communication agency with many years experience in the development and design of marketing communication, as well as developing and implementing advertising campaigns. The interactive reading primer is original and unique because of its visual design and the pronunciation of letters, as well as the pronunciation of words starting with the corresponding letter. The new product will help to ease and shorten the learning process for the Latvian alphabet.

www:               www.dizains.lv

Recognition: AVIATEST LNK Ltd. (certification testing stand for SuperJet 100 aircraft)

AVIATEST LNK is the only laboratory in the Baltic States specialising in the full-scale testing of aircraft and helicopters. The company has many years of experience in the certification testing of new aviation equipment, monitored by scientists with PhD degrees and highly qualified specialists. The test programmes utilise multi-channel loading systems, state-of-the-art hydraulic equipment and sophisticated data-acquisition and processing systems.

www:               www.aviatest.lv

Recognition:  Telemetrica Ltd. (city-lighting control system)

Telemetrica has created an absolutely new and unique product Citylight.net which is a street-lighting control panel system. This new product gives the ability to control and conduct the whole city lighting process from an office or anywhere via the internet. Citylight.net is an innovative product both in terms of technology and its ease of use.

www:               www.citylight.net

BEST IMPORT SUBSTITUTE PRODUCT

1^st place:          Silvanols Ltd. (anti-inflammation throat spray)

Silvanols is a modern medicine production unit that meets good manufacturing practice requirements. The company’s main activities are the production of gels, balsams, syrups and drinks, as well as contract-packing, labelling, distribution and laboratory services.

Silvanols products are very well known in Latvia and the company is now expanding into other Baltic State markets.

www:               www.silvanols.lv

2^nd place:        Dinex Latvia Ltd. (exhaust systems and vehicle components)

Dinex Latvia is a part of The Dinex Group. A warehouse and distribution system has been established in Latvia in order to service the Baltic States as well as Russia with exhaust spare parts.

The company has developed an exhaust system to complement the type designed for various models of trucks and buses. These exhausts are of high quality and are therefore sold in the local market where they are very competitive with products imported from Turkey.

www:               www.dinex.lv

3^rd place:         DARO Cēsis Ltd. (candied fruits)

DARO Cēsis commenced producing and processing high quality sweetened dried fruits, berries and vegetables without artificial preservatives, colourings or flavourings in 2009. The company has developed a new but very promising business in cooperation with Latvia State Institute of Fruit-Growing – Latvia’s leading fruit-growing research institution.

www:               www.strategijas.lv

Recognition:  Baltās naktis Ltd. (bran cereal pillows)

Baltās Naktis offers a great variety of confectionary products for its customers from gingerbreads to award winning crispbreads and a brand new snack line. For a crispy breakfast – bran cereal pillows Dikļi – is a new healthy product with no added artificial preservatives, colourings and fat. Three different flavours are available: cranberry, mint and herbs.

www:               www.baltasnaktis.lv

Recognition:  BIKO-LAT Ltd. (wood pellets)

BIKO-LAT produces dried, planed timber, finishing and terracing materials, fences, garden furniture, wood windows and doors, as well as wood-panel houses. The company is one of Latvia’s leading exporters of timber products. Wood pellets are made of compacted sawdust, produced as a by-product of sawmilling and other wood-processing activities. Wood pellets offer an alternative fuel to natural gas and may be used in private households and in local authority-owned apartment buildings.

www:               www.byko.lv

BEST INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

1^st  place:         PAA Ltd. (bathroom equipment)

Latvian company PAA has been manufacturing technically robust, visually appealing baths and other bathroom accessories for more than 14 years. In 2009, PAA created a new design: the Claro stone sink with integrated, removable soap dish that visually obscures the trap and is suitable for small bathrooms. The product was created by a team of three designers – Peteris Treicis, Dace Garleja and Edgars Koks.

www:               www.paa.lv

2^nd place:        VARIS Toys Ltd. (wood toys)

VARIS Toys’ business manufactures high quality wood toy products. The main markets for VARIS products include Norway, the Baltic countries, Denmark and Japan. The toy consists of hardwood blocks with grooves and holes that can be combined in a variety of ways to form a channel down which three marbles run. The VARIS labyrinth was designed by Māris Peičs and his team.

www:               www.varis.lv

3^rd place:         Angel Glass Design Ltd. (dish collections)

Angel Glass Design is gaining growing popularity both in Latvia and abroad – in Germany, Italy, France, USA, Japan and other countries. Glass and crystal dishes are created in unique forms utilising state-of-the-art technologies. The designer of these collections is Artis Nīmanis.

www:               www.angel.lv

Recognition:  Advaita Team Ltd. (acupressure mat)

Pranamat Eco – a therapeutic massage mat – is a natural product created for personal use to “wake up” the body in a pleasant way. The key function of the mat is provided by lotus spikes made from thermoplastic elastomer material with no glue added. Pranamat Eco is available to customers not only in Latvia but also in Europe, Japan and the Philippines.

www:               www.advaitaArt.com

Recognition:  Ekokosmetika Ltd. (eco-cosmetics)

Norden Cosmetics sugar wax is an innovative waxing product made of natural ingredients and is offered to customers as a fully assembled waxing kit, designed by taking into account the user’s convenience and safety, packaged in environmentally friendly and recyclable materials.

www:               www.ekokosmetika.lv

Recognition:  Kalna Smīdes 1 farm (biological honey products)

Between 2007 and 2009, passengers at Riga International Airport were offered 200g souvenir honey jars produced by the Kalna Smīdes 1 farm. Recognising the packaging’s size and weight problems, the company amended its products in cooperation with Stora Enso Packaging to meet specific airport requirements. Since September 2010, the product has been part of the Latvian national carrier airBaltic food catalogue.

www:               www.biomedus.lv

Recognition:  Munio Ltd. (soy wax candles)

In 2007, Munio Candela commenced business by creating completely natural candles – healthy for both the environment and people – artistically designed and packaged in Latvia and inspired by ancient Latvian herbal remedies and unique ingredients available only during certain seasons. The product packaging is made of recyclable, unbleached cardboard, while marketing materials are produced using recycled paper. Major markets include Latvia, Japan, Denmark, France, Ireland and Italy. In 2010, candle production was commenced in Portland, Oregon, USA.

www:               www.muniocandela.com

Recognition:  Rauzas kompānija Ltd. (furniture collection)

The Mint furniture collection, designed by Jānis Rauza and Ieva Andžāne, has been one of the most successful Latvian furniture collections in recent years. The collection has been shown successfully at several furniture fairs, including 100% Design London 2010 and Baltic Furniture 2010. Mint takes into account the most contemporary market trends and the demand for simple, natural and comfortable furniture, suitable for general household use.

www:               www.rauzas.com

Based on information provided by the Latvian Investment and Development Agency.