E-Piima's New Factory Complex Construction in Paide is Complete and the Plant Has Reached Full Capacity

Today, a ceremonial event took place at the new high-tech factory complex of E-Piim located in Paide to mark the official completion of construction work. During the ceremony, a gift made by Nordecon AS, the main contractor of the construction, was also unveiled for the factory family – a life-size metal sculpture of a cow titled "Maali," symbolizing the dairy industry.

Nordecon AS and AS E-Piim Tootmine concluded a construction contract in 2019, construction began in 2021, and major construction work was completed for the factory launch by the end of 2023.

The factory produces two different types of cheese, which are Continental cheeses – Gouda, Edam, and Tilsit cheeses – and as a new cheese type produced in Estonia, Cheddar cheese. From the cheese by-product whey, whey powders are produced.

"This is a significant export-oriented industrial investment that increases the competitiveness of Estonian dairy industry on the global market and creates greater certainty for dairy farmers in developing and expanding their business," said Jaanus Murakas, chairman of the board of E-Piim Tootmine, at the opening. "E-Piim is grateful to Nordecon for their professionalism and persistence in implementing a complex project during challenging times. In the case of modern dairy industry, this is a facility where the building and technologies are, in the literal sense, intertwined with each other, which requires daily cooperation with international technology suppliers. Any minor project or execution error could jeopardize the project – we are satisfied with the result."

"This construction object is in many ways significant in Estonia as a whole, starting from its scale and technological capacity, ending with the transformative period in which the entire process has occurred. In E-Piim's construction work, we have had to cope with challenges arising from the effects of the coronavirus, supply difficulties, and the Ukraine war," said Priit Luman, member of the board of Nordecon AS. "In cooperation with the client's team, we have had to manage considerable complexity in this process, and all the greater is our joy that the complex has now been completed and is in use for production at nearly full capacity."

As a gift from Nordecon, a sculpture titled "Maali" symbolizing the foundations of the dairy industry was installed in the entrance lobby of the factory complex office. The authors of the sculpture depicting an Estonian black and white dairy cow are Madis Raidaru from the agency MAST and metal artist Kalle Pruuden.

The factory complex built in Paide includes a two-story administrative building, production and storage space of considerable volume, cold storage facilities, and a seven-story powder industry tower section, with a total enclosed gross area of 32,446.9 m2. The main designer of the factory building is Novarc Grupp AS.

Access to the factory building is provided through the administrative block, where the entrance floor contains a lobby, changing rooms for factory employees, and rest and catering areas. Separate changing rooms are provided for production area workers and warehouse and logistics area workers. Production is located in the central part and southeast wing of the building. The powder industry building section's large-capacity drying tower technology is installed, in addition to the main floors, on five additional technological floors (total of 7 floors), with the highest reaching approximately 32m in height.

E-Piim (https://www.epiim.ee/ettevottest/) is a dairy cooperative operating in Järva-Jaani in Järva County, whose first dairy was opened in 1910 in Põltsamaa and the second opened in 1911 in Järva-Jaani. E-Piim is one of Estonia's largest cheese and butter producers and Estonia's largest cheese exporter.

Nordecon Group (www.nordecon.com) comprises companies focused on project management and main contracting of building and construction work. Geographically, the group's companies operate in Estonia, Ukraine, and Sweden. The group's parent company Nordecon AS is registered and based in Tallinn, Estonia. The group's consolidated revenue for 2023 was 278 million euros. Nordecon Group currently employs 430 people. Since 18.05.2006, the parent company's shares have been listed on the Nasdaq Tallinn Stock Exchange main list.