Over more than 35 years, the TENAX Group, established in Dobele, has become one of the leading manufacturers of thermal insulation and construction materials in the Baltic states. One of the group’s fastest-growing business directions is SIA “TENAX PANEL” — a company established as a separate business unit in 2018, when sandwich panel production was split off as a distinct line of activity. “TENAX PANEL” specializes in the production of mineral wool and polyisocyanurate (PIR) sandwich panels for industrial construction and has demonstrated steady growth in recent years, even under challenging market conditions.
Exports to the Baltic and Northern European markets play a key role in the company’s operations, while its competitiveness is based not only on the price–quality ratio but also on continuous innovation — testing new materials, improving products, and developing technologies.
The company’s main export markets are the Baltic states and Scandinavia — Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland. TENAX PANEL is also gradually strengthening its position in the Polish market, where competition in this segment is particularly intense. Financial results in recent years confirm steady growth — in 2025, the company’s turnover reached EUR 33.5 million, of which EUR 25.3 million came from exports. Compared to 2023, when turnover was EUR 23.9 million, the company has continued to develop steadily, increasing both production volumes and the share of exports.
The company’s recent development has been closely linked to targeted investments in production capacity. Two adjacent sandwich panel production lines are currently operating in Dobele, and in 2024 the company launched a new PIR sandwich panel production line — a EUR 13 million investment project that significantly increases production capacity and export potential. Last year, the company also reached an important milestone — the production of one million square meters of insulation panels.
At the same time, the company emphasizes that long-term competitiveness in this sector depends not only on production capacity but also on the ability to continuously adapt to technological developments and market requirements. This is particularly evident in polyurethane materials, whose composition and requirements are constantly evolving due to regulatory changes and customer needs.
“Polyurethane technologies are an area where both materials and requirements are constantly changing — driven by market demand and regulatory requirements. Requirements related to fire safety, energy efficiency, and the chemical substances used are evolving, so the company must continuously monitor and adjust formulations to ensure the product maintains its quality and competitiveness,” explains the company’s senior researcher, PhD Miķelis Kirpļuks.
This approach is also reflected in the company’s research projects. Last year, “TENAX PANEL” received support from the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) through an innovation voucher project, within which tests were carried out to improve the formulation of the core filling (foam material) of polyisocyanurate (PIR) sandwich panels. The project explored solutions to reduce future dependence on currently used chemical substances that may become restricted under European regulations. In cooperation with the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, the use of graphite filler in the foam material was tested, analyzing its potential to improve fire safety properties.
“With LIAA support, we essentially did our homework for the future — to be ready when the technology needs to be implemented in production,” says PhD Miķelis Kirpļuks. “Tests confirmed that graphite filler can effectively reduce the material’s flammability; however, full-scale implementation in production would require significant technological adjustments and additional investment. Therefore, the company is currently evaluating whether to pursue this solution or explore other technological directions that would allow efficient adaptation to changing requirements related to material composition and fire safety. The innovation project has served as an important pre-research phase for future development decisions.”
The company acknowledges that in a highly competitive market, success depends not only on price but also on the ability to ensure consistent quality and flexible customer service. This combination has so far enabled TENAX PANEL to maintain stable growth in both the Baltic and Northern European markets.
Currently, TENAX PANEL employs nearly 100 people and continues to systematically strengthen its position in export markets. The company emphasizes that stable growth in recent years, investments in production, and continuous development of new solutions allow it to look confidently toward future growth, even in increasingly competitive conditions. Innovation is not viewed as a separate activity but as an integral part of everyday work, helping the company adapt to market requirements in a timely manner and maintain competitiveness in the international environment.
The programme is funded under the European Union Cohesion Policy Programme 2021–2027, within Specific Objective 1.2.1 “Strengthening research and innovation capacity and introducing advanced technologies in enterprises,” measure 1.2.1.4 “Support for improving the technology transfer system.”
