Header Image

Sandis Babris –

Factory Director, Brabantia Latvia Ltd.

Sustainability and efficiency goals: conflict or synergy?

Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing administration, master’s degree in marketing and PhD in business administration. Since 2017, involved in practical implementation of Lean at SEB bank, Primekss Group and Brabantia Latvia. A long-standing lecturer at the University of Latvia and BA School of Business and Finance, co-founder of the Business Efficiency Association, expert and member of the board. Co-author of the books “Lean Solutions for Efficient Business” and “Lean in Practice”. Provided counselling and training about the Lean methods in a number of Latvian companies and organisations. Life slogan: turn problems into possibilities!

Brabantia Latvia is one of the three factories of Brabantia Group (Netherlands) and is situated at Pastende, Talsi County. Since 2008, they manufacture the premium class ironing boards and outdoor and indoor drying racks, which are exported with a 10- and 5-years warranty to more than 90 countries worldwide. The Latvian factory has 150-180 employees, and, in 2022, the turnover reached EUR 22.4 million. The Latvian factory has been using and implementing Lean and TOC methods extensively, earning BEA’s Efficiency Champion Award twice. In turn, Brabantia Group was established in 1919, and for four generations it has belonged to the Van Elderen family. The company has been awarded the Royal Dutch Company status, as well as this year it was certified as “B Corp” organisation, which certifies the company’s compliance with the highest sustainability standards.