News
On 24 October, a ceremonial cornerstone was laid in the rural municipality of Kohila at the site of a future foundry. Construction is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2026. Once the new facility is operational, BLRT Valukoda will be able to triple its production capacity while further enhancing product quality.
Taking part in the ceremony were Algerd Andruškevitšus, Member of the Management Board at BLRT Grupp; Paul Gross, Managing Director of BLRT Valukoda; Allar Haljasorg, Mayor of the Rural Municipality of Kohila; Harry Rööpson, Head of General Construction at NOBE; Kaspar Peek, Head of Industry at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications; and Herkki Olo, Regional Investment Adviser for Harju and Rapla counties at the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency (EIS).
During the ceremony, Paul Gross placed the original hand-drawn blueprint of the new plant into a time capsule. “If this capsule is ever opened, anyone will see that it’s a genuine sketch, complete with a coffee stain,” he said. He also included last year’s issue of the Group’s magazine, BLRT NEWS, which mentions the land purchase and the planned investment. “This is so the next generation to know where it all began. As a matter of fact, this very 16-kilogram time capsule, cast by our own foundry specialists, is a symbol of our production,” he noted.
Harry Rööpson contributed a concrete bow tie along with a USB drive containing technical drawings, while the municipality added the October issue of the Kohila local newspaper.
This milestone is especially significant, as BLRT Grupp is the only company in Estonia to have preserved large-scale foundry operations, with a history dating back to 1958. Today, the enterprise manufactures cast-iron blanks for clients in Scandinavia and Estonia, who are increasingly seeking larger and heavier components. However, the equipment and production space currently available at BLRT Valukoda can no longer fully support this growing demand. This, in turn, led to the decision to build a new foundry that will meet both current and future customer expectations.
“Everything new is always welcome – especially when it is modern, innovative, efficient and environmentally responsible,” said Algerd Andruškevitšus, Member of the Management Board at BLRT Grupp, at the ceremony. “This plant is part of the Group’s long-term investment strategy and stands as clear evidence that, despite the challenging economic climate, we remain committed to strengthening and expanding our operations. Each year, the Group invests tens of millions of euros, and this facility will be one of the largest investments in foundry production in the Baltic states and Finland.”
He highlighted that, in addition to supporting the needs of its partners, the new plant will contribute to the development of the local economy by creating around 70 new jobs.
By expanding its technological capabilities, the plant will increase its annual output from the current one million to three million kilograms of castings. Advanced digital solutions will ensure consistently high product quality, enhance operational efficiency, and minimise environmental impact.
Construction of the plant is scheduled for completion in July 2026, with commissioning planned for the end of the summer. The total project cost will be around €14 million.
