Reference

Timber industry and timber construction in Thuringia

Timber industry in Thuringia: short distances, high quality, long tradition! Wood grows abundantly here and is gaining increasing importance as an economic factor.

Central location in Europe

Successful companies

Location rooted in tradition

Skilled workers and training

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overview

Thuringia offers excellent conditions for the further development of the timber industry: The region boasts a high-performance infrastructure, short distances, and a strong network of research, education, and practical application. Four universities specializing in timber industry and timber construction promote knowledge transfer and strengthen the skilled workforce.

The industry is characterized by modern production processes and high-quality wood building materials, which are used in a variety of ways in residential and commercial construction. Crafts and industry cover a broad spectrum – from classic building materials to innovative applications in furniture and interior design.

Of particular note is the service-oriented timber design and construction, which combines functionality with aesthetics and offers customized solutions for building owners and architects. This is complemented by industrial prefabrication, enabling efficient and sustainable construction.

Investors benefit from a dynamic industry with close ties between business and science – ideal conditions for innovation and growth.

400 Companies along the value chain

4 Universities with a focus on timber industry and timber construction

Core competencies in the timber industry

Production of modern, high-quality wood building materials
Versatile woodworking in crafts and industry
Furniture manufacturing from handcrafted quality to industrial scale

Service-oriented wood design and construction
Industrial prefabrication in the construction sector

Prof. Erik Findeisen Professor of Forestry Studies, Forest Technology and Forest Utilization (Specialization: Forestry), Erfurt University of Applied Sciences | Spokesperson of the WIR! alliance "Holz-21-regio"
"The goal is to establish Thuringia, and in particular the Thuringian Forest, as a European model region for wood-based value creation, showcasing innovations from Thuringia. The Holz-21-regio alliance supports this endeavor and unites partners from business, science, administration, and tourism. Research and development projects thus connect strong economic sectors with the forestry and timber industry. This results in new products, services, and technologies for a climate-friendly, efficient economy and structural change in rural areas – from climate-resilient forest conversion to modern timber construction. The alliance is already supported by citizens from the region and is also receiving promising feedback nationally and internationally."

Successful in Thuringia Examples of timber construction in Thuringia

Hohe Tanne GmbH from Großbreitenbach
With the construction of its new production building, Hohe Tanne GmbH in Großbreitenbach is taking a sustainable approach. The climate-neutral company building was constructed entirely of wood. The energy concept is based on geothermal energy, low-temperature heating, and waste heat recovery. It also features an innovative lighting concept and separate light control in each room. To date, the company saves approximately 870 tons of CO₂ annually as a result.
Further information
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Tiny House Hotel Wiesenglück - Relaxation in the Eichsfeld Nature Park
Located in the Eichsfeld Nature Park, this family-run business offers modern tiny houses that combine sustainability and comfort. The eco-friendly accommodations create a cozy atmosphere and blend perfectly into the natural surroundings.
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Oberhof luge track
With the new roof over the luge track in Oberhof, Thuringia demonstrates how sustainable, high-performance construction and regional timber industry can work together. The structure, made of individually manufactured plywood shells and larch wood slats, is locally produced and largely prefabricated. This creates added value directly in the Thuringian Forest.
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Timber Construction Schools
With the new school buildings in Bendeleben and Ilfeld, Thuringia is focusing on sustainable educational construction using almost 100% timber. A specially developed building system combines proven technologies into a flexible modular system, whose components are optimally tailored to the delivery and transport dimensions of timber building elements. The structures are manufactured regionally and strengthen the value chain within the Thuringian timber industry. Thanks to the high degree of prefabrication and resource-efficient construction, CO₂ emissions are significantly reduced.
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Our Success Stories

skilled workers Carved from good wood - skilled workers with potential

Academic education

Thuringia promotes early education and training to safeguard the innovative strength and competitiveness of the timber industry. Interdisciplinary training creates ideal conditions for modern products and processes along the entire value chain – from forestry to construction applications.

Interdisciplinary timber construction

At the Bauhaus University Weimar and the Erfurt University of Applied Sciences, the focus is on resource-efficient planning and construction with wood. The curriculum imparts in-depth knowledge about wood as a material, its applications, and the design of complex structures – always with a view to sustainable solutions and efficient construction processes.

Forestry to secure the future building material wood

ThüringenForst and the Erfurt University of Applied Sciences jointly offer practical training and continuing education for forestry professions. In light of climate challenges, a special focus is placed on forest monitoring, the conversion of forests to climate-resilient forests, and reforestation – supported by modern technologies and research.

From biotechnology to bioeconomy

Interdisciplinary biotechnology makes biomolecules, cells, and entire organisms usable for technical applications. The development of new biotechnological processes and production methods opens up diverse fields of application, such as in medicine and pharmaceuticals, fine and basic chemicals, biofuels, food, and enzymes for a wide variety of uses. The Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences Jena and the Friedrich Schiller University Jena are paving the way for a bioeconomy with their research approaches.

Universities

Training and further education in forestry

Foresters and forestry specialists in Thuringia are centrally located at Gehren Forestry Education Center Qualified by ThüringenForst. In addition, the institution offers attractive further training courses for forest owners and other interested groups.

Research and Development

Ideal conditions for innovation.

Thuringia offers ideal conditions for research and development in the timber industry. Numerous research institutions contribute their expertise and research approaches to the further development of the timber sector.

Research institutions

IAB - Institute for Applied Building Research Weimar gGmbH
Thuringian Competence Center for Wood, Resource Management and Sustainability (HRN)
Forestry Research and Competence Centre (FFK Gotha)
Materials Research and Testing Institute at the Bauhaus University Weimar

You can find an overview of the research institutions in Thuringia here.

Thuringian R&D Portal

Networks and initiatives in Thuringia

Holz21regio

Holz21regio pursues innovative projects to shape the future of the timber industry. The goal is to provide producers with information for efficient production planning, enabling them to better assess their timber needs and capacities. One focus is on timber construction methods for the serial production of buildings, similar to assembly line manufacturing. To promote healthy forest management, sensors and warning systems for drought and pests are deployed. AI assists in the automatic detection of forest damage, allowing for rapid responses to diseases. These and other technological developments help gather valuable information that supports the planning and implementation of technical innovations in the timber industry.

Further information

State Advisory Board for Forest and Timber Thuringia eV.

The Thuringian State Advisory Board for Forests and Timber (Landesbeirat Wald und Holz Thüringen e.V.) is a registered association dedicated to promoting the use of timber from sustainable forestry. Its goal is to establish timber as a climate-friendly raw material, material for construction, and energy source. The board brings together leading representatives from the forestry and timber sector and is active in areas such as developing regional value chains, promoting education and training, and positioning the industry in the political and public spheres.

Further information

Thuringian Chamber of Architects

The Thuringian Chamber of Architects sees architects as having a responsibility to design and plan sustainable and future-proof buildings. Timber construction offers excellent opportunities in this regard, generating added value through material selection, innovative design, efficient construction, and sustainable operation. In cooperation with the Chamber of Architects, timber construction is being promoted more strongly in all areas – from industrial buildings to schools and kindergartens, and on to private residential construction.

Further information

Working Group Thuringian Timber House

The Thuringian Timber House Association combines architecture with a holistic ecological concept. Timber houses are built in a natural way – with conscious consideration
Use of healthy building materials and avoidance of wood preservatives, assembly foams and solvent-based adhesives.

Further information

Timber Construction Atlas Thuringia

The Thuringian Timber Construction Atlas is an online portal resulting from a collaboration between the Thuringian State Advisory Board for Forests and Timber (Landesbeirat Wald und Holz Thüringen e.V.) and the IBA Thuringia. Originally conceived as a mobile exhibition, the atlas now offers comprehensive information on timber construction in Thuringia and presents outstanding projects from the region.

Further information

Selected companies Success “grown” in Thuringia.

In the heart of Germany, extensive forest resources meet a modern, high-performing timber industry. The value chain – from sawmills and further processing to innovative timber building materials and end products such as building components and furniture – is closely integrated in Thuringia.

Eco Timber GmbH & Co. KG

Develops and produces custom-made prefabricated timber elements for industrial and residential construction. Using high-tech joinery and engineered timber construction, the company combines industrial prefabrication with on-site craftsmanship, reducing lead times and increasing quality.

Pollmeier Massivholz GmbH & Co. KG

Specializing in hardwood sawmills, development and production of timber construction materials, in particular "BauBuche" (construction beech). These building materials are characterized by high load-bearing capacity in slender structures and enable specific solutions in modern timber construction.

Mercer Timber Products GmbH & Mercer Rosenthal GmbH

Mercer's production facilities include a pulp mill, a lignin production facility, and a highly efficient sawmill that uses only wood from domestic, sustainably managed forests.

MACHTS Handwerks GmbH

The company manufactures solid wood houses, ecological buildings, solid wood furniture, and custom-designed bedroom furniture, and performs the prefabrication of doors and staircases to the highest standards of craftsmanship. Only high-quality and sustainably sourced wood is used.

Beyer Timber Engineering

As a specialist company for nail plate trusses, formwork construction and timber framing, Beyer combines traditional craftsmanship with modern timber construction and offers tailor-made solutions for engineered timber construction.