[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":135},["ShallowReactive",2],{"naujienos/the-journey-of-a-lithuanian-company-from-a-start-in-the-garage-to-the-aspiration-to-be-the-global-scale-company/en":3},{"status":4,"data":5},true,{"image":6,"id":14,"seo":15,"title":12,"date":90,"url":86,"fullUrl":26,"text":91,"excerpt":25,"more":92,"tags":133,"temos":134},{"src":7,"is_svg":8,"ratio":9,"width":10,"height":11,"alt":12,"caption":13},"https://web-prod.inovacijuagentura.lt/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/gvidas-krolis-marius-rumbinas-1.jpg",false,0.6652631578947369,3800,2528,"The journey of a Lithuanian company – from a start in the garage to the aspiration to be the global-scale company","",7115,{"title":16,"robots":17,"og_locale":23,"og_type":24,"og_title":16,"og_description":25,"og_url":26,"og_site_name":27,"article_publisher":28,"og_image":29,"twitter_card":34,"schema":35,"breadcrumbs":78,"description":13,"language":87},"The journey of a Lithuanian company – from a start in the garage to the aspiration to be the global-scale company - Inovacijų agentūra",{"index":18,"follow":19,"max-snippet":20,"max-image-preview":21,"max-video-preview":22},"index","follow","max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview:-1","en_US","article","Sustainability, innovations, and of course, a lot of work – having built their business on these cornerstones, two Lithuanians successfully developed their company started in a garage to the leader in Lithuania and the region. But they do not hide that it is not the finish for them – they aspire becoming the global-scale players.","https://www.inovacijuagentura.lt/en/naujiena/the-journey-of-a-lithuanian-company-from-a-start-in-the-garage-to-the-aspiration-to-be-the-global-scale-company/","Inovacijų agentūra","https://www.facebook.com/inovacijuagentura",[30],{"width":31,"height":32,"url":7,"type":33},"3800","2528","image/jpeg","summary_large_image",{"@context":36,"@graph":37},"https://schema.org",[38,53,55,65,69],{"@type":39,"@id":26,"url":26,"name":16,"isPartOf":40,"primaryImageOfPage":42,"image":44,"thumbnailUrl":7,"datePublished":45,"breadcrumb":46,"inLanguage":48,"potentialAction":49},"WebPage",{"@id":41},"https://www.inovacijuagentura.lt/en/#website",{"@id":43},"https://www.inovacijuagentura.lt/en/naujiena/the-journey-of-a-lithuanian-company-from-a-start-in-the-garage-to-the-aspiration-to-be-the-global-scale-company/#primaryimage",{"@id":43},"2024-02-27T10:00:00+00:00",{"@id":47},"https://www.inovacijuagentura.lt/en/naujiena/the-journey-of-a-lithuanian-company-from-a-start-in-the-garage-to-the-aspiration-to-be-the-global-scale-company/#breadcrumb","en-US",[50],{"@type":51,"target":52},"ReadAction",[26],{"@type":54,"inLanguage":48,"@id":43,"url":7,"contentUrl":7,"width":31,"height":32,"caption":12},"ImageObject",{"@type":56,"@id":47,"itemListElement":57},"BreadcrumbList",[58,63],{"@type":59,"position":60,"name":61,"item":62},"ListItem","1","Home","https://www.inovacijuagentura.lt/en/",{"@type":59,"position":64,"name":12},"2",{"@type":66,"@id":41,"url":62,"name":27,"description":13,"publisher":67,"inLanguage":48},"WebSite",{"@id":68},"https://www.inovacijuagentura.lt/en/#organization",{"@type":70,"@id":68,"name":27,"url":62,"logo":71,"image":76,"sameAs":77},"Organization",{"@type":54,"inLanguage":48,"@id":72,"url":73,"contentUrl":73,"width":74,"height":75,"caption":27},"https://www.inovacijuagentura.lt/en/#/schema/logo/image/","https://web-prod.inovacijuagentura.lt/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ia-logo-main.svg","1886","786",{"@id":72},[28],[79,82,85],{"url":80,"text":61,"id":81},"/en/",7576,{"url":83,"text":84},"/en/news/","News",{"url":86,"text":12,"id":14},"/en/naujiena/the-journey-of-a-lithuanian-company-from-a-start-in-the-garage-to-the-aspiration-to-be-the-global-scale-company/",[88],{"url":26,"code":89,"locale":89,"default":8},"en","2024-02-27","\u003Cp style=\"text-align:justify\">The company Bagfactory manufactures bags. Though, some people may consider them as small things of daily use and low importance, but actually, it is the opposite. Changes in the small things we use every day lead to great changes, which require also innovative scientific solutions. \u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align:justify\">\u003Cstrong>Pioneers in the world \u003C/strong> \u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align:justify\">“We wanted to be the first in the world to produce a non-disposable non-woven bag from 100% recycled PET bottles. We realised that without external help we will not succeed, as our goal required technology that did not exist yet. We could not do without scientists’ help here. And we received help from people from Kaunas University of Technology (KUT), Professor K. Baršauskas Ultrasound Science Institute,” says Gvidas Krolis, who together with Marius Rumbinas founded Bagfactory company, speaking about one their latest projects. \u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align:justify\">Together with the KUT scientists, ultrasound material joining technology was developed for automatic production of non-woven bags. To implement this innovative project, the company submitted a project to the Innovation Agency seeking for European Union financing. \u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align:justify\">“The technology was developed, which because of its innovativeness not only enables the Lithuanian company to be the leader of the sector, but also deals with real problems, helps developing more sustainable production and cleaner environment. Despite its early stage, we can already see the potential benefits it will bring for society,” says Agnė Vaitkūnienė, Head of Investment Management Department of the Innovation Agency that financed the project. \u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align:justify\">\u003Cstrong>The first ambition – moving production from Asia to Lithuania \u003C/strong> \u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align:justify\">The business of  Krolis and  Rumbinas was launched in 2006. It started from an export-import company in China, acting as intermediary between manufacturers in this country and clients from Central Europe and Nordic countries. \u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align:justify\">“At that time, retail chains used exclusively disposable plastic bags and hardly anybody thought about the need for their alternative. But we believed that the alternative was not only needed, but actually we could offer it. We were working on it, tried our best and managed to introduce in the region and offer a non-disposable bag model to retail chains. \u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align:justify\">However, we also saw that production in Asian countries cannot satisfy our needs – we had different approach to production, its environmental impact, product quality. So we started thinking about producing everything in Lithuania. But it was complicated, as labour in Asia is much cheaper. Only production automatization could help here, but at that time, no suitable solutions existed yet,” says Gvidas Krolis, Managing Director of Bagfactory. \u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align:justify\">But after some time, the entrepreneurs took the challenge and launched own production in Lithuania. It was an immense challenge – not only master knowledge of production processes but even bigger investments were needed. \u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align:justify\">'We started in the garage from the money borrowed from friends, relatives. It was very hard. We believed that our work has future. The time showed that we were right, but at the time when we started our production, nobody in the Baltic States needed our products yet', says Mr. Krolis. \u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align:justify\">\u003Cstrong>'We are the patriots of Lithuania'\u003C/strong> \u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align:justify\">The first technological step of Bagfactory proved right – transfer of production from Asia to Lithuania was successful. When the time came for another technological step – development and adaptation of ultrasound technology for bag production from recycled bottles – we did not need to borrow from relatives and friends, as we received help from the Innovation Agency. \u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align:justify\">“The European Union is firmly moving towards circular economy, when efforts are made to renovate, repair every item, or to make a new product from recycled material. Minimised use of initial raw materials is pursued. Back in 2017, we declared that we want to make our production circular, for example, to supply non-disposable bags to retail chains, then collect the non-disposable bags that are no longer in use and to make new ones from them. Big quantities of PET bottles are thrown away in the world. To produce non-woven yarn from them and to use it for production of new non-disposable bags.  \u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align:justify\">But it required immense investment. Recycling, then preparation of raw material from it are separate factory tasks with their own technologies. And its price may be tens of millions of euros. We hope we will have them one day. But we decided to start from technology development – from the possibility of automated and fast production of bags from recycled bottles. And we have it', says Mr. Krolis. \u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align:justify\">According to him, the company’s plans entail not only further development but even more joint projects with scientists.  \u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align:justify\">“We travelled far from the garage. And we plan to travel even further. We are the patriots of Lithuania and believe we can make a product not inferior to a product made in any other Western country. We are not inferior. In packaging field, we can offer something that nobody else in the world can.  \u003C/p>\n\u003Cp style=\"text-align:justify\">We work hard, move forward and do not intend to sop. Our goal is to be an important player on the global market,” points out the Managing Director of Bagfactory speaking about the company’s ambitions. \u003C/p>\n",[93,102,111,125],{"image":94,"title":97,"url":98,"id":99,"text":100,"temos":101},{"src":95,"is_svg":8,"ratio":96,"alt":97,"caption":13},"https://web-prod.inovacijuagentura.lt/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/kosmoso-memorandumas-su-polsa.jpg",0.6669921875,"Lithuania Strengthens Cooperation with Poland and the United States in the Space Sector: Important Memorandums Signed","/en/naujiena/lithuania-strengthens-cooperation-with-poland-and-the-united-states-in-the-space-sector-important-memorandums-signed/",6748,"Lithuania’s space sector continues to strengthen international partnerships and expand cooperation with key players in the global space industry. Innovation Agency Lithuania has recently signed two significant memorandums of understanding – with the Polish Space Agency (POLSA) and the U.S. space infrastructure company Vast. These agreements open new opportunities for Lithuanian businesses, research institutions, and international projects.",[],{"image":103,"title":106,"url":107,"id":108,"text":109,"temos":110},{"src":104,"is_svg":8,"ratio":105,"alt":106,"caption":13},"https://web-prod.inovacijuagentura.lt/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/shutterstock-2539768243-1.jpg",0.7490234375,"Lithuania Ranks First in Europe in the Global Entrepreneurship Index","/en/naujiena/lithuania-ranks-first-in-europe-in-the-global-entrepreneurship-index/",6892,"The latest Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2025/2026 global report shows that Lithuania is the leading country in Europe in terms of the quality of its entrepreneurial environment and ranks among the world’s strongest economies in this field.",[],{"image":112,"title":114,"url":115,"id":116,"text":117,"temos":118},{"src":113,"is_svg":8,"ratio":96,"alt":114,"caption":13},"https://web-prod.inovacijuagentura.lt/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/karolina-urbonaite.jpg","Lithuania’s Startup Ecosystem Surpasses €16.4 Billion in Value: Investments Jump 1.7x in 2025","/en/naujiena/lithuanias-startup-ecosystem-surpasses-e16-4-billion-in-value-investments-jump-1-7x-in-2025/",6999,"The total value of Lithuania’s startup ecosystem reached €16.4 billion in 2025, according to the latest Dealroom report initiated by Startup Lithuania, a division of the Innovation Agency. In just one year, Lithuanian startups attracted €220 million in venture capital investments from 77 unique investors. The ecosystem’s growing maturity was further confirmed earlier this year with the addition of a new unicorn to Lithuania’s startup map — Cast AI.",[119,122],{"id":120,"name":121},577,"Growth",{"id":123,"name":124},579,"Innovation",{"image":126,"title":128,"url":129,"id":130,"text":131,"temos":132},{"src":127,"is_svg":8,"ratio":96,"alt":128,"caption":13},"https://web-prod.inovacijuagentura.lt/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/modix-fgf-3d-spausdintuvas-2.jpg","Mission-Driven Innovations: Science and Business Shaping Lithuania’s Future","/en/naujiena/mission-driven-innovations-science-and-business-shaping-lithuanias-future/",6904,"Some important scientific research activities and innovative business-developed products may sound complex – unsurprisingly, as they are developed by people who dedicate their entire lives to these fields. Yet behind these sophisticated terms lie concrete solutions that will eventually make each of our daily lives easier. Where science and business join forces, more accurate disease diagnostics for the health of us and our loved ones are developed, cybersecurity tools are created to protect the country, and climate-neutral production technologies and materials emerge to help preserve our nature and resources.",[],[],[],1780325203193]