About Us

In 1998 Konstantin Malik founded a company named “Vidpochinok” (that means “Recreation” in English). From the very beginning the company specialized in charcoal distribution and also different products for barbecue.

In 2000 own production was established. The charcoal has been obtained by one of the primitive means using the simplest home-made charcoal kilns produced from the used fuel storage tanks. The quality of charcoal was very low, conditions and pipes were horrible, and the base of production needed modernization.

Our first, own developed, charcoal kiln was implemented in 2001. It received the name in honor of the designer’s wife – Alyonka. CK-1 “Alyonka” was a primitive steel vertical charcoal kiln with internal coolant supply. All the processes of charcoal burning (drying, pyrolysis and cooling) took place inside this kiln. Next year CK-2 “Alyonka” was produced. Its construction included unloading hatch, replaceable protecting shield and other functional elements which made it easier to use.

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Charcoal kiln made of tank cistern (2001)

Due to successfully selected overall size the charcoal, produced by the CK “Alyonka”, had better quality than the charcoal produced by the analogue kilns. Besides, the kiln could be easily repaired and taken apart for further transportation. The charcoal kiln “Alyonka” attracted the attention of many charcoal producers from Ukraine and near-abroad countries. And this resulted in the necessity to organize the production area of the charcoal kilns manufacture.

In 2002 the first welding and fitter’s area was opened, where the charcoal kilns production was the main specialization. The production of steel constructions (gratings, gates, fences etc.) was established on the base of this area.

From 2001 to 2006 more than100 “CK-2 Alyonka” kilns, which still operate all over Ukraine and in many other countries, were produced. Since then a lot of charcoal burners call this type of kilns “Alyonka” or “Kastryulya” (which means “saucepan” jokingly).

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CK-2 “Alyonka” in service (2004)

In 2005 LLC “Vidpochinok” went into liquidation and on its base the new company “GREENPOWER” was established. Ivan Malik headed the new company. Household metalwear sales department continued its work under the trade mark “MIR KOVKI” (“The world of blackmithing”).

According to the situation on the market where the enterprise worked, decisive actions and global changes were necessary.

The areas of charcoal burning constantly were subjected to inspections of different “authorities” and charcoal kilns were produced without any agreement and engineering document. Consequently we decided to produce charcoal kilns that meet all the requirements of legal and regulatory framework. Since 2002 and to the present day all equipment of “GREENPOWER” company subjects to necessary certification and tight control of Quality Control Dept.

It’s known that all the charcoal producers tend to reduce the quantity of small fraction fines, to rise the mechanical strength of charcoal and also to use the woodworking industry wastes as raw material. Besides the next problems arise while using the “Alyonka” type kilns:

Large quantity of atmospheric emissions
Charcoal quality depends on the size of kiln and professional skills of charcoal burner
Presence of overburned and underburned charcoal
Because of absence of “Drying” regime the charcoal turns out of law mechanical strength and with large quantity of siftings
One can’t use small pieces of wood or joinery scraps because of overburning
It’s impossible to use soft wood as raw material

In 2003 we started developing new charcoal kiln, construction of which could be able to solve all the above mentioned problems. Charcoal kiln CBK-5 developed by the soviet scientists in 1958 was taken as a basis. The CBK-5 construction was labour-consuming and expensive as a result.

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