Belgium-based Haas Automation Europe (www.haascnc.com) has opened a new Haas Factory Outlet (HFO) for the Baltic region.

Located in Riga, the capital city of Latvia, the new facility is owned and operated by Abplanalp Consulting, the local Haas distributor with over 10 years’ experience selling and supporting Hass CNC products.

Like all HFOs, Abplanalp’s new operation will include a spare parts centre that will allow original Haas parts to be dispatched for delivery to a customer’s premises within 24hr. The new facility will also have satellite offices in Tallin (Estonia) and Vilnius (Lithuania).

Traditionally, the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have relied on the export of wood and timber for a large percentage of their collective GDP. However, in recent years, all three countries have grown in international recognition as high-income, industrial nations.

Mr Jens Thing, managing director of Haas Automation Europe, said: “It is predicted that this year and next, Latvia will have one of the highest economic growth rates among the EU members, and some of the lowest rates of unemployment.

“To ensure that is the case, companies will need to invest in productivity and innovation if the growth is to prove long term and
sustainable.”