King pie was cut by Elpan Komotinis

St. Buyer: We already employ 45 workers, the goal is 100!!!

Vasilopita was cut by the management, Mr. Adamopoulos and Mr. Agorastos, employees and partners at "Arnemousi", hoping that it would be the first of the many celebrations that will follow.

The vice president and managing director of Alfa Wood Group, Mr. Agorastos Stelios, announces the milestones for the full reopening of the factory.

Management and employees are making every effort so that the factory of the former Shelman, now ELPAN, in the Industrial Area of Komotini, is put into full operation. In the last months, all the necessary preparatory work is being done in order to put the unit into full operation.

Management, employees and partners had the opportunity to take a short break from work and meet last Friday evening at the "Arnemoussi" restaurant in Komotini, for the first cutting of the factory's king pie under its new management, with the wish to be the first of many events to follow. Among others present were the lawyer-advocate of the former workers Giorgos Kymparidis, the member of parliament of Rodopis Ilhan Ahmet and the president of the Labor Center-former employee of Shelman Giorgos Chatziathanasiou. All three of them in recent years have worked with the goal of re-opening the factory. The new factory is called ELPAN and operates under the management of Alfa Wood Group, which was present at the event, conveying wishes to the workers as well as its public thanks, for the hard work of all the staff in the first months of reopening, despite the obstacles that appeared.

Timetable for full reopening

Mr. Stelios Agorastos, vice president and managing director of Alfa Wood Group – Wood Processing Industry, informed the event about the milestones until the full reopening of the factory, the jobs it offers and other elements of common interest.

As he announced, the first melamine film impregnation line has already started. The maintenance of the machinery of the industrial unit is in full progress. "We are in a very good stage, and soon the first tests will be carried out," he said.

Jobs and expectations

At the moment, according to Mr. Agorastos, the factory employs about forty-five people, while the goal is to reach one hundred. Of the workers already hired, 20-25 are from the former Shelman, while Alfa Wood Group management has hit out at former Shelman employees if they wish to work under the new management.
Every day, the workforce in the Komotini factory is strengthened with new employees, while there are also highly specialized positions.

And power generation on target

The Alfa Wood Group also operates factories in Larissa and Grevena, which will work together with the factory of VIPE Komotini, while emphasis will be placed on the production of materials to cover the domestic market, in order to limit imports. Finally, Alfa Wood Group at the Komotini factory, as confirmed by Stelios Agorastos, also aims to produce electricity from biomass and from solar panels for a total of 6 megawatts.

*The interview and the report were published by the website xronos.gr

See the entire interview here