Lantmännen Unibake Global Maintenance and Technicians Forum Held in Lithuania

The Global Maintenance and Technicians Forum, organised annually in a different European country, brings together colleagues from across the Group to share experiences, discuss key industry trends and strengthen collaboration.

For Lithuania, hosting the forum was a significant milestone. Specialists from more than a dozen countries – from Poland to the United States – attended the event. As the forum is hosted by a different country each year, it may be decades before Lithuania has the opportunity to welcome colleagues from across the Group again.

 Sharing challenges and best practices

Andrius Paužas, Maintenance Manager, who coordinated the visit in Lithuania, says that such meetings create value not only professionally, but also on a personal level.

"First and foremost, it is an opportunity to share experience. We discuss how different countries address technical challenges, what has worked well and what has not. The second important aspect is gaining a broader business perspective. We talk about the Group's strategy, the competitive landscape, changes in raw material and energy prices, negotiation approaches, as well as ongoing and planned projects. The third topic is efficiency and best practices that we can apply in our own operations," says A. Paužas.

According to Andrius, these meetings demonstrate that, regardless of where we operate, many of our challenges are remarkably similar.

Impressed by Lithuania and our bakery

During the forum, guests visited the Vilnius bakery and learned more about its production processes and technical solutions. According to A. Paužas, colleagues were impressed by both Lithuania and our bakery.

*"For many, it was their first visit to Lithuania. They explored Vilnius Old Town and the city centre and were pleasantly surprised by how modern, clean and European the city is. In the bakery, they were particularly impressed by the cleanliness and organisation. Some even asked whether we had prepared especially for the visit. We simply replied: no, this is how it is every day,"* smiles A. Paužas.

Building personal connections

The informal side of these meetings is equally important. Shared dinners, conversations and networking help build relationships that later make everyday collaboration within an international organisation much easier.

"What matters most to me is that these visits create personal connections between colleagues. Once you have met someone in person, it becomes much easier to reach out, ask for advice or solve challenges together. Whether it's a technical issue, a joint project or help sourcing equipment, those personal relationships become extremely valuable," says A. Paužas.

According to Andrius, the forum was a great opportunity not only to learn from one another, but also to showcase Lithuania and Vilniaus Duona to colleagues across the Group, highlighting our expertise, operational culture and the quality we deliver every day.