rothoblaas

Know-how as a factor of success

Article by Holzkurier (translated by Eva Guzely) | 11.11.2019 - 17:35
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They like to aim high: Technical Director Luca Sestigiani, CEO Robert Blaas, Head of Division Europe Loris Agostini, Rothoblaas partner Peter Lang (from left) © Rothoblaas

This year, Rothoblaas opened its 17th subsidiary and currently employs around 400 people. In the coming years, various expansion measures are planned at the company’s headquarters in Kurtatsch in order to be able to respond to the ongoing growth in a structured manner. In the development of new solutions for the timber construction sector, the South Tyrolean company focuses on the cooperation with universities and institutes and on the participation in their research projects so as to be able to guarantee a continuous expansion of its own range of products for the industry.

“We often leave our comfort zone in order to find new solutions for timber constructions which go beyond the current limits”, explains Peter Lang, partner of founder Robert Blaas and sales manager for Northern European markets, who is also heavily involved in innovation processes. “It is a constant challenge, a game in which we have made many good moves but also some wrong moves, of course. Every now and then you concede a goal, but that motivates us.”

The world is our home

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Rothoblaas’ product range covers many areas. In addition to connectors and fasteners, the company also offers products to support air and wind tightness, solutions for acoustic well-being, fall protection systems for the residential and industrial sectors as well as woodworking machines and tools © Rothoblaas

Rothoblaas has established itself on the international market thanks to its commitment and its determination to further development. “We have established ourselves around the world: With our tightly branched distribution network, we serve about eighty markets and are able to meet the needs and requirements of different markets and construction systems worldwide. We quickly got used to thinking globally. Today, we can say that we feel at home in the world”, tells us Robert Blaas. And the world seems to feel at home at Rothoblaas. Every year, the company welcomes visitors from all five continents in Kurtatsch. In recent years, demand for and interest in technology from the Alps soared especially in North America. “We are seeing a rethink in North America. Contrary to popular opinion in Europe, there is a strong trend towards efficient and sustainable building. Our commitment has paid off for us”, says Hannes Blaas, sales manager USA.

Rothoblaas develops and sells five product lines: Apart from fastening systems, which contributed considerably to the company’s fast growth, Rothoblaas also develops products to support air and wind tightness, solutions for acoustic well-being, fall protection systems for the residential and industrial sectors as well as woodworking machines and tools. “For each of these areas, we gather advice from all over the world. We consider all suggestions, from the more conventional to the most innovative ones. It is good for business to have your eyes everywhere”, says Lang with a smile.

New constructive solutions

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Customers are not left alone with Rothoblaas’ many products: The South Tyrolean Company offers detailed product information and training events © Rothoblaas

Thanks to this approach, the company gathers numerous ideas, which are then analyzed and assessed by its internal technical department. At the moment, more than 50 projects are being run simultaneously – most of which in collaboration with external research institutes. The specific expertise of Rothoblaas’ employees is crucial for the further development and the market launch of products. Civil engineer Ernesto Callegari, who is responsible for the further development of connection systems at Rothoblaas, emphasizes: “In recent years, the timber construction sector has been eager to resemble traditional concrete constructions. Buildings are getting higher and higher, and open-space areas are getting bigger and bigger. No one is prepared to content themselves with the achievements which were made so far. People want more. In this context, we are dealing with problems which the conventional construction industry already solved a long time ago. The timber construction sector now has to find simple solutions for complex problems.”

In addition to very complex research projects, Callegari also supervises projects which build on findings made in other sectors. One example is the connector “Shark”. “In this particular case, we want to introduce to the woodworking industry a technology which was developed in the automotive sector in Canada.” The production process consists of a special surface treatment of the metal connectors. During this treatment, hooks form which act as a “scattered nailing” in the wood element. This project is being carried out in close collaboration with Dr. Roland Maderebner of the University of Innsbruck. “The goal is to apply this type of surface treatment to products which are already part of our product range in order to increase their performance”, continues Callegari.

An equally interesting project is the slot connector, an extruded aluminum profile. Its dimensions are such that it can be inserted into a milled opening between two adjoining panels so as to create a connection for shear forces on the panel level and thus to achieve high stability and rigidity. Rothoblaas is carrying out this project in collaboration with C.N.R. Ivalsa represented by Dr. Andrea Polastri.

The connector “Spider” is also worth mentioning. It is a solution which required a long and demanding research phase. “At timber construction industry events, we are always present with this solution in order to receive input from experts and direct users. This is crucial for further development”, tells us Callegari. “Spider” is a new system for the construction of flat slabs made of CLT, which directly supports columns and eliminates the need for joists. The system is currently in the final stages of ETA certification.

Callegari’s enthusiasm is more than obvious when he speaks of his “creations”. “At the same time, we are working to develop a gluing technology which we can use to create connections between rigid CLT slabs. This is a connection system which complements Spider, requires the use of our “Xepox” epoxy resin and makes it possible to build flat slabs which are supported directly between the columns with a big distance. This is a major step forward for the timber construction sector because today, it is no longer possible to achieve comparable results with metal connectors alone”, says Callegari.

We are dealing with problems which the conventional construction industry already solved a long time ago. The timber construction sector now has to find simple solutions for various complex problems.


Ernesto Callegari, civil engineer

Timber construction screws – an endless development process

This year, Rothoblaas also presented its updated range of screws. The latest catalogue “timber construction screws” has many of them to offer: screws for carpentry, timber engineering, outdoors, and for wood-metal-connections. All of the screws are tested and certified and comprehensive data are available, also for their use in CLT, glulam, LVL and hardwood. “We extended our already wide range of screws and added many new and specific variants of some of our existing screws to our product range”, confirms Michele Dal Ri, Target Manager at Rothoblaas. In addition to new screws for hardwood, new products for the fixing of metal plates, screws with a length of more than 1 meter as well as new screws with EVO surface treatment were introduced. EVO is a special type of coating, which makes it possible to use screws even in demanding outdoor weather conditions. “In addition, we extended our range of screws for terraces and facades: Now, we can provide the optimal solution for virtually any condition, from the coastal area to the living room. In general, we strive to provide our customers with ever more specialized, efficient and sustainable solutions”, explains Dal Ri.

Customers can now enjoy a wide range of products. Thanks to the technical data sheets provided by Rothoblaas, customers also have a significant advantage in the construction planning. Those data sheets are important elements for the company and distinguish Rothoblaas from its competitors. “We realized that there is still some reluctance in our sector when it comes to providing empirical data on fasteners and connectors for engineered timber, even though CLT, glulam and LVL are widely used today. At first, we were reluctant too, but at some point we decided to make as much data as possible available on each product. Not to mention that we really like to be the first ones, no matter in which area”, says Dal Ri satisfied.

Rothoblaas is the first company ever to provide its customers with empirical data on the performance of connection systems for CLT and LVL.


Michele Dal Ri, Target Manager at Rothoblaas

More quality of life thanks to sound insulation

The pursuit of perfection does not exclude any area, even when it comes to the transmission of sounds in timber constructions. Rothoblaas describes itself as a pioneer in the field of acoustic comfort as well. “Up until a few years ago, it was difficult to find soundproofing solutions specifically designed for timber and CLT constructions. That is one of the reasons why we started to do research in this area early on. We wanted to improve the quality of the construction. Room acoustics is a young area of expertise, the examination of which is complex. The research activities involved considerable investments, but they gave us the opportunity to be one step ahead of the market”, explains Alice Speranza, Rothoblaas Product Line Manager. “However, we are convinced that there is still a lot to be done before we reach the level of development we are aiming for.” Since measures which aim at improving room acoustics often have an effect on the statics of a construction, finding a balance between these two aspects is a challenge for the research department.

In this context, the so-called Flanksound Project was launched in 2016, a project carried out in collaboration with the University of Bologna to investigate room acoustics on a structural level. The aim was to find out what happens in a timber construction during acoustic transmission and to incorporate acoustic comfort already in the planning phase.

In 2018, Flanksound 2, the second project phase, was started in cooperation with the University of Padua. Part of the study is carried out using a test construction built at the university, another part on selected construction sites and buildings which have already been completed. “This time, the goal is to understand the dynamics of sound once the construction is clad with all coatings and other materials”, continues Speranza. “The project is still ongoing because the area to be studied is almost infinite and the number of variables of insulation materials and coatings is incredibly big. This research phase confirmed some expectations which are known from the conventional construction sector. At the same time, however, some surprising discoveries were made, as we did not expect, for example, that certain solutions could affect the end result so much or so little”, explains Speranza.

Partner construction sites wanted

These research projects are resource- and time-consuming, but the results add value to the development of the timber construction sector. “Working on a structural level with soundproofing profiles or the decoupling of elements through suitable solutions actually have an advantage which is not only recognizable on a structural level, but also increases the acoustic performance when the construction is covered with the coatings. In particular, when implementing solutions with exposed CLT panels, the method of construction is the only level on which preventive action can be taken before additional materials are added layer by layer.

“The project Flanksound 2 is in constant evolution. For this reason, Rothoblaas is looking for construction sites and partners with whom we can work together to expand the existing database and deepen our knowledge of soundproofing technology. It is the only way to harmonize acoustics with the best static performance possible”, concludes Speranza.

Rothoschool – first hand know-how

At Rothoblaas, passion for research, the challenge and the conception of innovative solutions are at the core of everyday work. Promoting the timber construction sector on all levels is the declared goal of the Rothoschool. From its humble origins as a carpentry course, the idea of improving the quality of constructions has evolved. Today, it is a forum for research and practice, a meeting place and a space for exchange between experts from all over the world. Rothoschool is not profit-oriented, however it is so successful that various seminars are held in several countries.

“It's a bit like a sports car race”, explains Lang. “Automobile manufacturers’ racing departments investigate new solutions and materials and apply them to motor racing in order to achieve more efficient results.

Over time, these innovations attract attention and eventually they are integrated into consumer models. Basically, this is what we do: With the help of highly qualified employees, institutions and partners, we look for solutions and delve into even highly complex technical processes. We transform this complexity into products which are easy to use and then pass on the knowledge which underlies these innovations to all of those who want to improve their way of using and building in wood.”

We transform this complexity into products which are easy to use and then pass on the knowledge which underlies these innovations to all of those who want to improve their way of using and building in wood.


Peter Lang, Rothoblaas partner

Counting on the right partner

In the seminars, the aim is to impart the necessary knowledge to the participants in the easiest way possible so as to be able to get the best out of the Rothoblaas products. As a result, the experts’ way of working is optimized. “It is in our interest to further the future global standard for timber design and constructions”, says Lang.

The courses are held at the company’s headquarters in Kurtatsch or at selected locations around the world, where Rothoblaas collaborates closely with local associations. “In order to be able to provide a broader perspective, these training events are held by Rothoblaas employees, researchers and architects. We are always looking for renowned partners who accompany us during these events to ensure the best possible training. Being able to count on the right partners is particularly important”, concludes Lang.

Upcoming Rothoschool seminars and training events

Mass Timber Seminar | UK Edition:
2 - 3 Oct. 2019 (London/UK)

Cursus Kruislaaghout:
31 Oct. - 1 Nov. 2019 (Eindhoven/NL)

CLT cours:
15 Nov. 2019 (Mons/BE)

Mass Timber Seminar | Sweden Edition:
20 Nov. 2019 (Göteborg/SE)

International CLT Meeting:
2 - 3 Dec. 2019 (Kurtatsch/IT)

Cross-Laminated Timber Seminar:
29 - 31 Jan. 2020 (Kurtatsch/IT)

For more information, course data and costs please visit:
www.rothoblaas.com/school