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Curved CLT elements from Ainet: The company based in East Tyrol offers its customers the possibility to build in curved cross-laminated timber © Holzbau Unterrainer

holzbau unterrainer

Something wooden, something massive, something curved!

Article by Holzkurier (translated by Eva Guzely) | 14.12.2020 - 08:35
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Timber halls produced by Unterrainer blend in harmoniously with the surrounding landscape © Holzbau Unterrainer

With the establishment of Holzbau Unterrainer 14 years ago, a promising upward trend began which has continued to this day. Already in 2010, the young company invested in a cross-laminated timber press with an annual production capacity of 20,000 m³.

Managing director Leonhard Unterrainer had this idea already during his training where he first came into contact with CLT. “I quickly became aware of the advantages and, most of all, the potential of this new style in timber construction,” recalls Unterrainer.

Today, the company focuses on single-family houses, commercial and non-residential buildings. Within a certain radius, Unterrainer takes on CLT projects from the board to the finished building. Beyond it, the East Tyrolean company supplies ready-made joined elements.

“Other timber construction companies appreciate our deep understanding of the problems and challenges of modern timber construction and especially our delivery times,” Unterrainer tells us. He also mentions time as an important criterion in the decision-making of private investors and public property developers. On the construction site, CLT has an advantage over other solid construction systems thanks to the short assembly times.

Radius timber

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In industrial and commercial construction, cross-laminated timber is a sustainable, economical and architecturally sophisticated alternative. It also offers employees a healthy working atmosphere © Holzbau Unterrainer

In addition to classic CLT, Unterrainer is mainly known for his specially developed radius timber, i.e. curved CLT with a radius of 2 meters or more. The construction elements’ maximum dimensions are 13.5 by 2.95 meters. The elements are produced in the same press as the standard CLT, with special pressure elements guaranteeing the desired curvature.

Radius timber is available in spruce and larch. The annual output is around 1,000 m³. “For the timber industry, the market is too small and the expense is too great, and that made it a successful niche for us,” explains Unterrainer. Radius timber is mainly used for residential buildings. For the construction of halls, Unterrainer also developed a modular barrel roof for halls of any length. The 2.95-meter long barrel roof segments are made of 160 mm thick, curved CLT and can carry a snow load of 450 kg/m² with a span of 20 meters. Here, too, speed is Unterrainer’s strong suit: For the construction of 1200 m² of hall space, the company estimates that around eight days are needed for the assembly.

Healthy growth

In total, Unterrainer currently produces around 10,000 m³ of straight and curved cross-laminated timber a year. With the investment in a new joinery machine, the company wants to raise the output to 12,000 m³ a year. “Our customers appreciate our quality and our service. Demand is extremely high and I don’t think that this will change in the near future,” says Unterrainer, in conclusion.