This step won‘t be the last

Rothoblaas has established itself as a reliable timber construction supplier on the international market thanks to its commitment and willpower for further development. When developing new solutions, the company from South Tyrol primarily relies on the collaboration with universities and institutes and the participation in their research projects. This ensures the constant expansion of the company‘s own product range for the sector.

But also entering completely new markets is a continuous endeavor of the timber engineering specialists. Only recently, Rothoblaas founded a branch overseas.

"After years of growth in our activities in Canada, we have founded the Rotho Blaas USA in February 2019 and started hiring employees in May 2019," Hannes Blaas, CEO Rotho Blaas USA, explains.

Double- to triple-digit growth

"Less than a year later, we found ourselves in the midst of a pandemic, and growing our network in times of social distancing was, to put it mildly, challenging. But a motivated on-site team, supported by our colleagues at the company headquarters, along with our experience in international business development and a strong demand for solid wood solutions enabled us to stay on a positive course and achieve double- to triple-digit growth in times of great uncertainty.

Again, the company stayed true to its principle of being accessible to customers locally. "A lot of our competitors try to serve US customers from abroad instead of investing in the country itself. We have a different philosophy: Rotho Blaas USA is an American company, and we try to forge real, long-term relationships with our partners. Our aim is to create local value through a local organization." This is the only way, he says, to pick up and address a great variety of country-specific ideas which are then analyzed and evaluated by the in-house technical department. And this attitude is rewarded, Blaas reports: "Within the solid wood industry, our customers have recognized that we offer a great range of solutions that help them tackle their everyday challenges."

Standards in the US market

While in some respects, the standards in the US market differ, there are also some similarities with the European approach, Blaas is convinced and adds: "Cross-laminated timber was invented in Europe. To some, it seems as though a transfer of knowledge from EU member states to the USA has taken place. But what gets overlooked is that cross-laminated timber was merely reborn in Northern America thanks to a few bright and enterprising minds."

Even though lightweight timber frame construction is the predominant construction method in the US for small- and medium-scale residential projects, in the large-scale construction sector, North America showed itself to be a pioneer alongside the United Kingdom and Australia. "A development that made cross-laminated timber possible in Europe as well." Rothoblaas believes that this effect can also be observed in quite a few building components. "This helps to advance the quality of sustainable construction technology. Rothoblaas is making a small, yet important contribution. With innovative solutions, personal support and the necessary infrastructure, we want to accelerate the introduction of glulam technology in this country."

ICC-ES certification needed

Once foot is set in a market, obligations arise. Ten years after Rothoblaas‘ first project in the United States, and two years after founding its US subsidiary, the company decided to subject its construction screws to an ICC-ES assessment. "Rothoblaas is now at a point where such verification has become indispensable, if only to give our construction engineers easier access to our products." A different decision would have led to limitations with regards to optional construction participation. "Some projects would have been out of reach for us because an approval via regulatory compliance massively facilitates an efficient design and permitting process. On top of that we know that establishing modern timber construction in the US entails facilitating the access to our prefabricated components for the broader engineering community. Only by means of an efficient supply chain does wood have a chance to compete in those areas of the construction industry where today, concrete and steel are dominating," Blaas comments.

Product specifications with reference value

The ICC-ES evaluation report covers more than ten screw categories to increase flexibility and efficiency in structural design. Furthermore, this is probably the most comprehensive report in Rothoblaas‘ repertoire, and the first on the US market that explains the company‘s product specifications in such great detail.

It provides engineers with reference values for modern solid wood screws that can be inserted parallel to the grain (i.e., endgrain wood) and in any other angle between 0 and 90°. Another aspect that was defined in this report – one of the most important points for the company – is the static capacity of the screws for the most common North American wood species.

EVO coating tested

We are particularly proud of having conducted a comprehensive testing campaign in which we confirmed the performance of the EVO-coated screws in pressure-treated wood," Blaas adds. EVO is the term used to describe a special coating that allows for outdoor use even under demanding weather conditions. Furthermore, the EVO-coated screws have excellent characteristics for use in ACQ-treated wood, which is one of the most challenging applications, according to Rothoblaas. This coating is now available for a wide range of screw types to cover each and every possible use case: partially threaded, fully threaded, flat head and metal-wood screws as well as washers.

The ICC-ES evaluation report was just one of many steps the Rothoblaas team has been taking every day at all levels to advance sustainable construction technology in North America. "And it certainly won‘t be our last: The ICC-ES is updated annually and Rothoblaas will continue to foster innovation in the US."

First system building in North America

For Rothoblaas, the first system building in North America that utilized the "Spider" connection system is a confirmation of their path and vision. The system for the construction of flat slabs from cross-laminated timber that rest directly on columns, making ceiling joists superfluous, is proof that nothing is impossible with Rothoblaas‘ technology. The Spider system enables a certain design freedom, giving rise to a column-to-floor system that does not need any beams to create large open spaces and wooden ceilings with visual surfaces. "In combination with moment connections at the panel edges using Xepox epoxide resin, the timber construction company SmartLam and the architects Fast+Epp were able to realize an inspiring building in the Aggie Park for the Texas A&M University," says Blaas. The seven-layer CLT panel forming a flat roof of 150m² and an open wood ceiling is a particularly noteworthy detail here.

Solid wood seminar in early December

Furthermore, an important date is coming up: For the sixth time, the timber community is coming together at the Rothoblaas headquarters for the company‘s solid wood seminar. Peter Lang, co-owner of Rothoblaas, promises an extensive program with lectures and case studies. The event is aimed at planners, structural engineers and timber construction enthusiasts alike, in short everyone interested in networking within the sector and expanding it. "The sixth international edition," Lang continues, "includes the most renowned national and international speakers from the timber industry. The main topics will be hybrid structures, seismic design, durability, fire resistance, acoustics, sustainability, and circular economy. There will be ample opportunity to address and discuss the future of timber construction." Another item on the agenda is a tour of Rothoblaas‘ new automated warehouse. Added incentive to attend the seminar: It is being held just before the International Wood Construction Conference (IHF) in Innsbruck which is only a one and a half hour drive away.