Planned growth in stages – entering CLT production, doubling glulam output etc., etc. …

Now comes the next step: “We have entered the cross-laminated timber production. It is a logical step since we’re dedicated to massive construction timber products”, comments Ante. “Transforming log wood into sawn timber has never been enough for us. We have been operating in the processing sector for decades and have been machining wood for our clients since the 1970s.”

The engineers are available already

Many timber companies don’t dare to take the step towards producing CLT because they fear what it entails, i.e. engineering, an in-house technical office and completely different distribution channels. “We are able to manufacture already thanks to our team of engineers and technicians”, Ante is convinced.

Multi-stage CLT production start

“We started small with a Fankhauser vacuum press. At the moment, we are negotiating the expansion of our production capacity to 50,000 m³ a year. All suppliers are involved here”, explains managing director Jörn Kimmich. The company wants to have everything signed and sealed by the end of September.

Then, starting in 2020, industrial production will be started with an annual 50,000 m³. Ante-Holz intends to produce CLT in the company’s headquarters in Bromskirchen-Somplar as well as in Rottleberode in Saxony-Anhalt. “We want to stand on our own two feet. The 50,000 m³ a year are only the first step. More will follow.” The company already has the product approval for “Ante CLT”.

“Thanks to our experience in engineering and machining we can also start in the short term. When it comes to wall and ceiling elements with wood frames or glulam, which we have been offering for a while now, distribution is similar”, explains Kimmich. Ante-Holz is a 100% loyal to trade. As to construction projects, which require CLT or various elements, for example, the “local timber construction offices” are now among Ante-Holz’s clients as well.

Additional investments required

Such a big step, like entering the CLT production, is accompanied by numerous investments on the part of Ante-Holz. Drying capacity, for example, is increased through eight Mühlböck drying chambers. “Apart from the outermost sideboards we dry everything. In the future, we want to dry, glue and plane all of the main products. In other words: With the exception of the outermost sideboards and the scantlings for packaging, everything is processed in-house”, says Kimmich.

Towards the end of this year, Maschinenfabrik Springer from Friesach, Austria is going to build the new log yard in Bromskirchen. Cutting capacity is raised to 1.85 million sm³ this year (950,000 sm³ in Bromskirchen, 900,000 sm³ in Rottleberode). In Rottleberode, planing capacity will reach 150,000 m³.

The higher drying and planing capacities make it possible to double the pellets production capacity. Thanks to two additional pellets presses (CPM on every production site) overall production will amount to 300,000 tons a year. Furthermore, the glulam production capacity in Bromskirchen will double to 100,000 m³ a year thanks to three used Minda presses.

US pioneer always present

Ante-Holz has been exporting to the US already since 2001. “Due to our focus on processing, this market was never as important to us as it is to sawmills which concentrate entirely on export”, reminds Kimmich. Ante-Holz is present also during “unfavorable times”, but the company is able to adapt quantities to any given price and sales situation.

So far, the garden timber segment has been more attractive this year. According to Ante, the company was able to generate “+25%” in 2019. Most of the products are manufactured in a subsidiary in Poland. The success in this segment requires new planing capacities. And thus the circle closes again in this fully integrated company.