Pfleiderer is presently in relatively firm talks to sell its Novgorod particleboard mill in Russia, which does business as Pfleiderer OOO. These talks come at the same time as ongoing efforts to sell its North American wood-based panels operations and laminate flooring activities pooled in Pergo. Unconfirmed reports indicate that talks to sell the particleboard mill had recently focused on Ikea’s
subsidiary Swedspan. Swedspan had already visited the particleboard mill, which started operating in July 2006, in January. The subsequent due diligence process is still under way. Swedspan is looking at technical capabilities as well as emissions, wood supply and the potential for expansion, for instance to add furniture manufacturing plants. However, Swedspan is also moving ahead with plans for a Greenfield project in Russia. Swedspan had looked for a site in the region between Moscow, St. Petersburg and Minsk, Belarus so that it could invest in its own location after talks to buy the Russian particleboard manufacturer OOO Gagarinskiy Fanerniy Zavod broke down in April 2011. Unconfirmed reports suggest that the company is now also considering a site in Nischni-Novgorod oblast, around 200km east of Moscow.