Fibre of opportunities

Orsha Linen Mill completes the implementation of several large investment projects at once

For more than a decade, Orsha Linen Mill has been undergoing a massive modernisation. The upgrade comes with state support in several stages. During this time, the volume of investments has already amounted to more than than Br156m. The mill also invests significant funds at the expense of its own resources. The changes are visible to all stakeholders: consumers, business partners and the team.

Zero waste

In mid-October, a new boiler house will be put into operation at the enterprise. The object, built in a year on a free site, will work on the remnants of flax fibre. The mill mastered the production of fuel briquettes from industrial waste long ago. But if earlier they sold it to the population, now they decided to use it for their own needs. According to Orsha, the project will bring not only economic benefits, but also strengthen the image of the enterprise in the minds of foreign partners.

Tape equipment operator Daria Sakovets

 “With the launch of the boiler plant, the mill turns into waste-free production. We sell everything that we produce, and we dispose of what cannot be sold, receiving our own gigacalories to replace thermal energy from the local heating plant. We get the effect in several directions at once: we reduce the costs of core activities and improve our image in the minds of partners who have green energy in trend. For us, this is an important point — more than 75 percent of the linen mill’s products are exported. Deliveries go to 43 countries, now we are actively developing the markets of far-arc countries,” Deputy Director General Sergei Sidin notes.
Marina Murashko, who has been working as a flax equipment operator for almost 16 years, says that the company is changing every year, 

“Indeed, the mill was once grey and dull. But now, the organisation and working conditions have improved significantly thanks to modern equipment, many processes have been automated. We have a large team, and everyone sees the result of the work of the enterprise — in terms of a stable salary, a social package, which was provided in full even in difficult times. Events in the world are unpredictable, and the fact that peace and order is maintained in Belarus thanks to the leadership of the country is very important for each of us now.”

Something to be proud of

Another investment project that the company is currently focused on is the reconstruction of a former factory of art products. It was handed over to Orsha Linen Mill by the decision of the President in 2021 with a clear task to preserve traditional production.
Now the factory is completing construction and installation work. Of the 5.1 million rubles that are planned to be invested, 2.3 million have been spent. At the beginning of next year, one of the most modern sewing production facilities in Belarus will be launched here.

Boiler operator Ilya Makhankov

More than 100 new jobs will appear. Also, part of the seamstresses from the main flow will be transferred to work here. Among them is a young specialist Anastasia Shametko. The girl works on the enterprise since August 1st, “I came here in the footsteps of my mother — she works as a seamstress at a linen mill. She always spoke highly of working conditions, wages, and the team. I like sewing, so I had no doubts about the choice of profession and place of work. In addition, to continue the family dynasty at an enterprise whose products are known far beyond the borders of our country is something to be proud of. I seem to have settled in quickly at the mill after two months, I feel confident and ready to try my hand at a new sewing production. I would like to develop, and there, I am sure, will be such an opportunity.”

Innovative technologies

The area for bleaching cottonised fibre is an example of a well-thought-out strategy for the work of a linen mill. The project was implemented at their own expense and launched at the end of 2021. They searched for contractors themselves, developed an innovative bleaching technology. The initial raw material is short flax fibre, the processing and use of which has long been a headache for the entire flax industry in Belarus. Orsha Linen Mill was used to produce technical fabrics. But from year to year, the demand for it was declining, which threatened to reduce the entire division with a staff of almost 600 employees.

Weigher Aleksandr Saifudinov 

“The establishment of the production of cottonised fibre and its bleaching opened a window of promising opportunities. The fibre can be used in the medical industry as an alternative to cotton, which is constantly growing in price, for the production of cotton pads, swabs, and diapers. We will also be able to receive yarn for the production of blankets and bed linen,” Deputy Director General Sergei Sidin believes.
The project proved its relevance in a short period of time: the linen mill increased the volume of short fibre processing by 30 percent using the cottonisation method. Most of it is now used for yarn for the production of the final product, while other Belarusian producers mainly offer fibre for export as a semi-finished product.



Director General of Orsha Linen Mill Vladimir Nesterenko,
“The modernisation process must be continuous. This is the main condition that allows us to be at the top of the technological chain, meet the global trend and successfully compete in foreign markets. Plans for the next five to ten years are related to the replacement of equipment, the introduction of new technological chains, the development of our brands Linen from Belarus, VILINI and branded trade. Now, when every day we have to face various kinds of restrictions, any business must rely on fundamental things — investments, legal protection and a raw material base. This approach allows us to bring new demanded products to the market and become more competitive. And this is a clear proof of the fact that the company is developing steadily and has the potential of production and technological capacity.”

By Anton Popov
Photos by Anton Stepanishchev