Lamination starts at Egger's state-of-the-art plant following major investment

The EGGER Group, headquartered in St Johann in Austria, has revealed it is investing more than €200million in its 22nd plant in Markt Bibart in Germany, which will create around 70 new jobs. The wood-based material manufacturer says it is implementing extensive, multi-stage investment steps, which are due to be completed in autumn 2026. 

Another milestone has been reached at the Markt Bibart plant: the first short-cycle press has started production. Following the roofing ceremony for its production hall in August and the smooth installation of the facility, the lamination of decorative boards has begun – a first for the location, which previously only produced raw particleboard. 

”The start of the first short-cycle press marks the beginning of a new era for our plant in Markt Bibart," said Markus Scheran, plant director technical/production. "It brings us a big step closer to our goal of becoming a modern wood-based material plant. The speed at which we are developing our plant is unbelievable, and we are doing it during ongoing operation. A great achievement by the project team, all our colleagues on site and our partners."

Existing customers will continue to be reliably supplied with raw particleboard. Part of the production quantity will be laminated from now on. This investment will ensure sustainable utilisation of production capacity and give customers access to EGGER's comprehensive product portfolio of laminated particleboard with on-trend decors and textures. The new short-cycle press produces up to 8million m² of laminated particleboard per year.

The company says that additional pioneering project steps are planned until autumn 2026, including the creation of other lamination options with a second short-cycle press, the construction of a highly automated high-bay warehouse and a loading hall as well as optimisation of existing facilities.