Knowledge Base & Customer Support
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
50 detailed answers to the most important questions about wood pellet quality, RUF briquettes, ordering, reduced 12% VAT, and reliable delivery across Latvia and Europe.
Hardwoodindustry (Reg. No. LV40203037417) is a certified Latvian wood biomass fuel producer with over 15 years of industrial experience. Our production plant and central distribution warehouse are located in Augšlīgatne ("Dižkoki"), Cēsis municipality, LV-4108, Latvia. Here we operate a complete wood processing and pelleting cycle, manufacturing premium ENplus® A1 certified products.
We are a 100% direct manufacturer. When ordering pellets or briquettes from us, you receive products directly from the mill without intermediary markups or hidden broker fees. This ensures freshly produced batches and complete quality accountability for every tonne manufactured.
Our mill capacity exceeds 45,000 tonnes of premium wood pellets per year. We utilize state-of-the-art German and Italian automated equipment with continuous monitoring of moisture, compression pressure, and cooling temperature. Every production batch undergoes certified laboratory testing prior to automated bagging.
Our feedstock consists of 100% pure virgin softwood sawdust and shavings (pine and spruce, plus birch for RUF briquettes) sourced from sustainable forestry. We never use recycled demolition wood, painted or varnished timber, bark, or furniture scrap containing synthetic glues.
No! Pellet manufacturing is an integral part of the sustainable circular bio-economy. We utilize sawmill and timber processing by-products generated during the lumber cutting process. This ensures full utilization of harvested timber and generates CO₂-neutral thermal energy.
Our office and warehouse in Augšlīgatne operate on weekdays (Monday – Friday) from 08:00 to 17:00. By prior arrangement with our logistics dispatch team, customer pickups are also possible on Saturdays.
Yes, individual consumers are welcome to pick up products using their own trailer or van. Our warehouse team provides complimentary forklift loading directly into your vehicle. We recommend booking your pickup in advance by calling +371 25929475.
You can contact our sales department by phone at +371 25929475, email sales@hardwoodindustry.org, or submit a request directly through our online store order form.
ENplus® A1 is the European Biomass Association (EPC) gold standard for premium heating pellets. It guarantees an ash content of ≤ 0.7% (Hardwoodindustry pellets achieve an ultra-low ≤ 0.38%), moisture below 10%, high calorific value, and zero chemical additives. This protects heating boilers from slagging and extends burner lifespan.
6mm pellets are the standard choice for domestic residential pellet stoves, boilers, and compact burners, ensuring smooth screw auger feeding and rapid ignition.
8mm pellets are typically utilized in larger commercial boiler houses, municipal heating plants, and industrial agricultural dryers with wider auger diameters.
8mm pellets are typically utilized in larger commercial boiler houses, municipal heating plants, and industrial agricultural dryers with wider auger diameters.
Our Premium 6mm wood pellets feature an ash content of ≤ 0.38% at 550°C according to certified laboratory tests. This significantly outperforms the ENplus A1 limit of 0.7%, meaning your ash pan requires emptying only once every 2 to 4 weeks!
Hardwoodindustry pellets maintain a moisture content of ≤ 6.8%. Low moisture is critical: the drier the pellet, the less thermal energy is wasted on evaporating water, and the more usable heat is delivered to your heating radiators and underfloor systems.
Our pellets deliver a net calorific value (Lower Heating Value - LHV) of ≥ 4.92 kWh/kg (~17.7 MJ/kg). One tonne of Hardwoodindustry pellets replaces approximately 500 liters of heating oil or about 4.5 loose cubic meters of seasoned firewood.
Pellet color depends on natural wood species (pine produces a golden-yellow hue, spruce a light cream shade) and drying temperatures. A subtle shade variation between light golden and pale beige has zero impact on calorific output or ash content, provided the pellets meet ENplus A1 specifications.
No, absolutely never! Pellets are formed under immense hydraulic pressure and frictional heat in ring-die presses. As wood heats up to approximately 80°C, its natural wood binder lignin softens and fuses the fibers together into dense pellets with zero artificial binders.
1. Water test: Drop a pellet into a glass of water — high-density pellets (density > 1.15 g/cm³) sink immediately and disintegrate within minutes into clean sawdust without oily chemical films.
2. Dust fines: The bottom of a 15kg bag should contain no more than a small pinch of dust.
3. Aroma: When snapping or burning, you should smell only clean, fresh pine or spruce aroma.
2. Dust fines: The bottom of a 15kg bag should contain no more than a small pinch of dust.
3. Aroma: When snapping or burning, you should smell only clean, fresh pine or spruce aroma.
Mechanical durability (DU) measures a pellet's resistance to abrasion and crumbling during transport and auger feed. Hardwoodindustry pellets achieve a durability of ≥ 98.9%, preventing burner auger blockages and dust accumulation.
Uncertified low-grade pellets typically contain high concentrations of bark, sand, and mineral silica. At high furnace temperatures, these minerals melt into hard glassy clinkers (slag) that obstruct air nozzles, damage electric ignition elements, and cause burner overheating.
RUF is a globally recognized precision hydraulic briquetting standard developed by German machinery manufacturer RUF. Dry wood shavings are compressed under extreme hydraulic pressure (up to 300 bar) into rectangular dense bricks without binders. Each 10kg pack contains 12 uniform briquettes.
Birch briquettes burn hotter and maintain a long glowing coal bed due to the higher density of hardwood fibers.
Softwood briquettes ignite faster and provide rapid warmth. Our product range includes pure birch and balanced birch/conifer blends for steady, reliable combustion.
Softwood briquettes ignite faster and provide rapid warmth. Our product range includes pure birch and balanced birch/conifer blends for steady, reliable combustion.
Depending on draft damper settings, a single RUF briquette burns with steady flame for 1.5 to 2.5 hours, followed by 2 to 4 hours of intense glowing ember heat, substantially reducing the need to restoke during the night.
Yes, RUF briquettes are ideal for traditional masonry wood stoves, sauna heaters, cast-iron fireplaces, and central heating boilers. Because their energy density is nearly 3 times higher than fresh cordwood, load 30% to 50% less volume by bulk to avoid overheating your firebox.
One pallet of RUF briquettes (960kg, 96 packs) occupies exactly 1 standard Euro-pallet footprint (1.2 x 0.8 m) and stands approx. 1.3 m high (~1.2 m³). To obtain equivalent usable heat from seasoned firewood, you would need 3.5 to 4.5 cubic meters of stacked cordwood.
Soot and creosote build-up are caused by high moisture content and incomplete combustion. Because our briquettes feature moisture under 7.5%, they burn almost completely with clear exhaust and minimal flue deposits.
Each 10kg pack is hermetically wrapped in durable polyethylene film. The entire pallet is securely stretch-wrapped with a water-resistant top hood for weather protection during transit.
The minimum order for delivery across Latvia is 1 pallet (pellets: 975kg / 65 bags; briquettes: 960kg / 96 packs). If picking up directly from our factory in Augšlīgatne, you can purchase smaller quantities by individual bags or packs.
Under Section 42, Paragraph 10 of the Latvian VAT Law, wood fuel deliveries to private individuals for residential home heating qualify for a reduced VAT rate of 12% instead of the standard 21%, making heating more affordable for households.
Domestic legal entities and registered organizations in Latvia are subject to the standard 21% VAT rate. Registered VAT payers can reclaim this amount as input VAT according to tax law.
Yes. Corporate buyers registered in other European Union member states with an active, valid VIES VAT registration number qualify for 0% intra-community reverse charge VAT.
1. Bank Wire Transfer (Proforma Invoice): We issue an official proforma invoice sent via email after order placement.
2. Online Payment Gateways: Secure card payments via Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
3. On-Site Payment at Factory: Payment cards and cash with fiscal cash register receipts upon factory pickup.
2. Online Payment Gateways: Secure card payments via Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
3. On-Site Payment at Factory: Payment cards and cash with fiscal cash register receipts upon factory pickup.
Yes! Our pricing structure automatically provides tiered volume discounts:
• From 3 pallets: -€10 / pallet
• From 6 pallets: -€15 / pallet
• Full truckload (23–24 pallets): wholesale factory pricing with optimized dedicated freight.
• From 3 pallets: -€10 / pallet
• From 6 pallets: -€15 / pallet
• Full truckload (23–24 pallets): wholesale factory pricing with optimized dedicated freight.
Ordering takes less than 1 minute: visit our Shop, choose your product and pallet quantity, click "Place Order Now", enter your delivery address and contact information. Our logistics manager receives your request immediately and confirms details within 1 business hour.
Yes, absolutely. All orders are processed with official accounting documentation. Your proforma invoice is generated electronically in PDF format and delivered to your email.
In selected domestic delivery regions, on-delivery payment via mobile POS terminal can be arranged. Please confirm this option with our sales representative during order confirmation.
We deliver across the entire territory of Latvia without exception: Riga, Pierīga (Mārupe, Ādaži, Jūrmala, Salaspils, Ogre), Vidzeme (Cēsis, Valmiera, Sigulda, Smiltene, Madona), Kurzeme (Liepāja, Ventspils, Kuldīga, Talsi), Zemgale (Jelgava, Bauska, Dobele), and Latgale (Daugavpils, Rēzekne, Jēkabpils).
Standard delivery within Latvia takes 1 to 3 business days. Before dispatch, our delivery driver or logistics coordinator contacts you by phone to schedule an exact arrival time window.
Residential deliveries are made using 2-axle or 3-axle delivery trucks equipped with a hydraulic tail-lift and an electric or manual pallet jack. Full truckload commercial orders are transported using curtain-sider semi-trailers.
If there is a solid, smooth, level surface (asphalt, concrete, paving stones) without steps or steep slopes leading to your garage or shelter, our driver will gladly roll the pallet inside with the pallet jack. Pallet jacks carrying 1 tonne cannot roll over grass, loose gravel, or soft soil; in such cases, the pallet is positioned on the nearest solid pavement.
Delivery trucks (length 9–11 m, gross vehicle weight 18–26 t) require a driveway at least 3 meters wide with minimum 4-meter vertical clearance (free of low tree branches and wires) and safe turning or reversing room. If access is restricted, please notify us during ordering!
Yes, for customers with pellet storage silos or underground bunkers, we provide specialized silo tanker deliveries with blowing hoses up to 30 meters and dust extraction for clean filling.
Yes, customer collection from our factory at "Dižkoki", Augšlīgatne is free of delivery charge. Free forklift loading into your trailer or van is provided by our warehouse personnel.
Yes, we regularly export certified wood pellets and briquettes to Estonia, Lithuania, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, France, and Italy in full truckload (FTL, 23–24 tonnes) or intermodal container lots with complete CMR documentation.
Our pallets are securely packaged; however, should you notice transit damage upon unloading, note it on the delivery receipt and photograph it. Hardwoodindustry guarantees immediate replacement or prompt refund credit for damaged items.
Store pellets and briquettes in a dry, ventilated indoor room (garage, barn, boiler room, or dry cellar). Keep pallets on wooden skids off damp concrete floors and maintain a 10–15 cm gap from exterior walls for air circulation.
In a dry environment within undamaged original packaging, pellets and briquettes can be stored for 2 to 3 years or longer without loss of calorific value. They do not degrade, mold, or lose energy density over time.
Yes, pallets can be stored under an open shelter provided they are protected from rain, snow, and wind-driven moisture. We recommend covering them with a breathable tarp while keeping the bottom aerated to prevent condensation under direct sunlight.
In direct contact with liquid water, pellets absorb moisture rapidly, swell, and disintegrate into wet sawdust. Swollen pellets must never be placed into an auger hopper as they will jam the feeder screw. Wet bags should be dried out or repurposed as garden mulch.
When using our ENplus A1 pellets with ash content under 0.38%, the ash pan typically requires emptying only once every 2 to 4 weeks depending on heating demand. Check the burner grate monthly and actuate turbulators weekly to preserve peak boiler efficiency.
Yes, outstandingly so! Because Hardwoodindustry pellets are manufactured from 100% natural, virgin wood with zero chemical binders or perfumes, they are completely safe for animals, highly absorbent, and naturally odor-neutralizing.
Because our fuel is pure virgin wood without contaminants, its clean wood ash makes an excellent natural mineral fertilizer for gardens! Rich in potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, it can be spread onto lawns, around fruit trees, or mixed into compost to balance soil acidity. Ensure ash is completely cooled before disposal.
Didn't find an answer to your question?
Our biomass fuel and logistics specialists are happy to provide free advice and calculate the most cost-effective delivery solution for your home or business.