Dotnuva Seeds announced the opening of a new modern seed processing plant in Latvia. The factory's technology was designed and implemented by specialists from UAB Dotnuva Baltic, a subsidiary of AB Akola Group, using equipment from Danish companies: Cimbria and BM Silo Ltd. Although Dotnuva Baltic has implemented larger projects in the past, this is the largest facility built by the company in the last three years, marking an important step in the innovation and development of such facilities in the Baltic region.
Contribution of Dotnuva Baltic professionals
Mindaugas Veiveris, Head of the Project Implementation Department at Dotnuva Baltic, says that the new Dotnuva Seeds seed factory is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment capable of producing top-quality seeds without causing mechanical damage. The greatest burden in implementing the project fell on the company's Project Manager Evaldas Lukošius, who designed the technology and automation processes for this factory, ordered the equipment, selected the contractors and, by effectively managing the installation work together with his team over a period of seven months, implemented this project.
E. Lukošius shares: "This factory has a much higher level of automation, allowing the operator to perform most of the settings on a PC, archive and analyse process parameters. The automatic control system allows remote monitoring of all machines, setting the required machine parameters for each batch of seeds and saving them. The factory is equipped with an advanced dust collection and aspiration system, which will ensure maximum dust removal during seed preparation and improve the quality of seed treatment. The latest technological equipment from the market leader has been installed," says E. Lukošius, Project Manager at Dotnuva Baltic.
One of Cimbria's most advanced projects in recent years
Michael Bjoern, Sales Manager at Cimbria, says that this plant not only strengthens the manufacturer's name in the Baltic region, but also demonstrates the potential of modern seed processing technologies, allowing for higher seed preparation quality standards and increased productivity. Every year, Cimbria participates in the development of numerous high-end seed processing facilities around the world, 50% of which are in Europe. These projects vary in scale, equipment and technological solutions.
‘The Dotnuva Seeds seed plant in Latvia is an important achievement for us as manufacturers – it stands out as one of the most advanced and strategically important Cimbria projects in recent years,’ emphasises Cimbria representative Michael Bjoern.
The new Dotnuva Seeds seed processing plant is designed for high-capacity processing of various types of seeds. Cimbria's combination of cleaning, sorting, coating and conveying systems ensures optimal throughput and minimal downtime. The modular design of the plant integrates process automation and energy efficiency solutions to ensure process quality and easy maintenance. In addition, the plant complies with EU seed processing standards and environmental requirements.
The factory is equipped with advanced Cimbria technologies that ensure high efficiency, accuracy and seed quality. The equipment effectively removes husks and other large impurities, ensuring accurate cleaning and a high level of purity. Broken or undersized seeds are accurately separated, ensuring accurate separation according to seed density, and unripe or damaged seeds are removed. The seeds are evenly coated with a protective coating that improves seed protection and yield. The seeds are handled gently, avoiding mechanical damage during vertical transport. Cimbria elevators ensure smooth and efficient horizontal and vertical seed movement, preserving seed integrity with minimal spillage and damage.
The manufacturer is delighted with its nearly 30 years of cooperation with Dotnuva Baltic. "Professionalism, technical competence and a clear vision have made this project a real success. Our partnership has always been characterised by open communication, mutual respect and a shared desire to improve," says M. Bjoern.
Only a few projects in the world can match the complexity and capacity of this project
The manufacturer BM Silo Ltd. (Denmark) also contributed to this project by supplying 48 large square silos and 10 smaller silos, all of which are integrated to optimise space and flow. This system ensures maximum flexibility in seed preparation and efficient logistics.
Lisbeth Barnbæk Nielsen, CEO of BM Silo Ltd., is delighted: "This project is important to us not only because of its scale, but also as a benchmark for innovation and collaboration. It strengthens our position in the Baltic countries and demonstrates our ability to provide high-capacity, customised storage solutions for advanced seed processing. We are proud to have contributed to the creation of one of the most modern and ambitious seed processing plants in the Baltic region. The Dotnuva Baltic team is visionary and professional. Their trust in our solutions and openness during planning and implementation made this process truly collaborative and successful.”
Every year, the manufacturer supplies 10–15 top-class facilities around the world with customised storage (tower) systems. According to the manufacturer, only a few of them match the complexity and capacity of the Dotnuva Seeds project.
Dotnuva Seeds to apply Lithuanian experience in Latvia
The first Dotnuva Seeds seed processing plant began operating in Dotnuva, in the Kėdainiai district, in 2003. At that time, Cimbria equipment was also installed in Lithuania by the Dotnuva Baltic Project Implementation Department team. Currently, the seed factory in Dotnuva produces about 27,000 tonnes of seeds per year, which is about 90% of its total capacity. Therefore, to ensure a smooth supply of certified seeds to customers in the Baltic countries, it was decided to increase production capacity in Iecava, Latvia.
Once the factory in Latvia is operating at full capacity, it will also be able to produce up to 30,000 tonnes of seeds per year. The entire complex in Latvia will cover an area of 4,550 square metres and will consist of a production unit, a warehouse and a two-storey administrative building with a laboratory, offices and technical facilities. The factory will produce legume and cereal seeds.
Project manager E. Lukošius reveals that the technology of the new factory has been designed taking into account the long-standing experience of the client, Dotnuva Seeds, in seed preparation in Dotnuva. Discussions about the seed preparation factory began several years ago, and the project went through prototype phasing before the final version was approved.
Arminas Grigalis, Infrastructure Manager at UAB Dotnuva Baltic, who led the construction project in Latvia, says that in projects of this level, it is most important to ensure not only the quality of production processes and products, but also to build a facility with a view to the future.
"Every construction project is a promise and a commitment to achieve the best possible result in the shortest possible time. This requires a common goal, speed of decision-making and the best project team – from the client to the contractor. I am glad that when building the seed factory in Latvia, we had all the most important ingredients for its successful implementation, so that the client, employees and business owner would be satisfied and proud of the result," says A. Grigalis.
