LANA and ETORKI cooperatives have joined together

They look to the future with ambition, as shown by the new Murga work centre, scheduled to be inaugurated on May 11. This new facility will create multiple growth opportunities, opening new pathways for innovation and efficiency. It is also expected to make a significant contribution to the economic development of the region.

Strategic growth and priorities

Kepa Bastida, General Manager of LANA S. Coop., explained that the merger represents a major step forward: “We are doubling our current wood production capacity, improving the quality of our products, and enabling the production of higher value-added wood products to reach new customers and markets.”

He also highlighted the priorities of this new stage: “Bringing the new facilities into full operation and ensuring that the teams from both cooperatives operate as a single cooperative organisation.”

New positioning in the market

The production capacity will reach 300,000 m³ of sawn timber and 60,000 m³ of kiln drying per year. In Bastida’s words, the objective is clear: “We want to become the largest and most efficient sawmill in Southern Europe.”

He also stressed that these new capabilities will open up new opportunities: “It will be a stronger cooperative, allowing us to reach many customers and markets we had not been able to access until now.”

“We want to become the largest and most efficient sawmill in Southern Europe.”

Supply and quality guaranteed

Regarding raw material supply, the cooperative has direct control over sourcing:
“We purchase forest land and have our own harvesting teams, which allows us to ensure wood supply and select the quality material we need.”

Sustainability and local sourcing commitment

After highlighting the growing importance of wood as a sustainable resource, Bastida defended the commitment to local forests: “We all use wood-based products-does it make sense for these to be produced using timber from distant forests?” In his view, prioritising locally sourced raw materials is essential, as is already the case in other sectors.

Intercooperation as a key success factor

Finally, he underlined the value of intercooperation: “The first meetings started at the end of 2020, and as a result of that collaboration we have built the current project.” He added that “this merger strengthens both businesses and prepares us for the future,” noting that “we are already laying the foundations for a cooperative with more than 300 workers and a turnover of €150 million.” “And this is just the beginning,” he concluded.

Although this integration agreement represents a strategic step forward, both cooperatives have long-standing and well-established trajectories. To understand the scope of this union, it is useful to look at LANA and Etorki separately.

LANA: more than six decades in the wood transformation industry

Founded in 1960 in Oñati (Gipuzkoa), LANA S. Coop., part of MONDRAGON Corporation, began as a cooperative linked to forestry, livestock and dairy activities. Over time, it evolved into a specialised wood-processing company, making a key shift in the 1990s towards higher value-added products, such as three-layer formwork panels.

Through continuous investment in innovation, technology and internationalisation, LANA has expanded beyond the Basque Country, becoming a benchmark in the sector and exporting to dozens of countries. Its trajectory reflects a combination of cooperative identity, market adaptation and commitment to sustainability.

Etorki: integrated forest-to-industry wood solutions

Founded in 1984 and based in Murga (Álava), Etorki is a MONDRAGON cooperative specialised in the production and processing of radiata pine. Since its origins, it has focused on sustainable forest management and the efficient use of natural resources, integrating the entire value chain from standing timber acquisition to sawing and drying processes.

Over the years, it has developed a fully integrated industrial model supported by its own forestry operations, ensuring raw material supply and optimising production efficiency.

Thanks to its experience and production capacity, Etorki has become a reference in the wood industry, providing solutions for different industrial applications while maintaining a strong commitment to sustainable forest management.