“I have the impression that we are finally picking up speed,” says Jürgen Ante about the situation of the timber construction sector in Germany and beyond. The owner and manager of ante-holz is convinced that the percentage of timber constructions will continue to increase in all relevant areas, such as single and two-family houses, additions of stories and, most of all, large-scale projects. “Today, wood is increasingly present in people’s minds. Cross-laminated timber is becoming a normal, versatile product for architects,” explains Ante.
In light of these developments, the final decision to invest in a big CLT plant was made in April – despite numerous uncertainties caused by the coronavirus pandemic. In Berga, near ante-holz’s site in Rottleberode, a plant with an annual capacity of 100,000 m³ is to be put into operation in 2021. “Of course, we have reassessed the overall situation due to COVID-19, but it quickly became clear to us that we want to realize this project without waiting. Cross-laminated timber is the perfect product for our portfolio,” tells us the second manager Jörn Kimmich.
No cold start
Already in 2019, ante-holz entered the CLT production with two vacuum presses at its headquarters in Bromskirchen-Somplar. Now, the presses are largely automated and ensure a possible annual output of 30,000 m³. “With these machines we were able to gain important experience in production and enter the market with manageable quantities,” says Kimmich.
As an equally important factor for a successful entry into the sector, ante-holz complements the necessary knowledge in engineering, which is considerable as well. The company has been running its own technical office for years which offers extensive planning services.
Flexible and high-performance
The new plant will be equipped with an integrated plant solution by Ledinek in combination with Hundegger joinery machines. For Kimmich, the edge gluing of all longitudinal and crosswise layers is a special feature of the production line. In addition to a more stable production process, this has positive effects on the properties of the finished panel, i.e. on air and sound permeability. The maximum panel dimensions are 3.6 by 16 meters.
“We wanted a high-performance plant for all types of buildings and all surface qualities required by the market,” he says about the decision to invest. In the future, the company wants to offer not only surfaces in industrial and industrial visible quality but also in residential visual quality. The start-up is scheduled for the second quarter of 2021 and in 2022, ante-holz wants to produce at capacity.
CLT for everyone
In sales, HBS Berga does not want to set any limits. HBS Berga’s main customers are direct processing and timber construction companies. For collaboration, the unfiltered flow of information and the exchange of technical data are important. For now, the company plans to approach nearby customers and in a second step, it wants to focus more on export markets. In addition to cross-laminated timber, the company also produces solid structural timber and glulam for timber constructions. With the extensive joining and planning services, ante-holz is moving away from being a classic timber company and more towards becoming a timber construction system supplier. With these developments, Ante and Kimmich are confident that their company is well-positioned for the coming years: “Whether the customer is a carpenter, architect or group of investors, whether the project involves a single-family home or a prestigious multi-story building – we can serve every customer in the best possible way.”
