Informed customer, good customer

In its courses, Rothoblaas offers different levels of specialization. The introductory course about the world of solid wood, for example, is location-independent and is called “RothoSchool On Tour”. The speakers are mostly experts from the respective region, some are from Rothoblaas’s headquarters in South Tyrol. The course typically lasts one day (8 hours) and provides participants with a solid foundational knowledge of all aspects of construction, from general concepts relating to passive house construction and sustainability to specific topics, such as fire resistance, sealing, airtightness and soundproofing. Local building regulations and guidelines are part of the program, as are national and international examples and case studies.

Multi-level program

Rothoblaas also offers a second level of specialization called “Theory in Practice”, which does not require any special knowledge despite its strong emphasis on practical aspects. In this two-day course, participants learn about timber construction in theory and put it into practice on a real model. Topics covered include the construction phases of a building, the handling of elements, fastening, sealing, airtightness and much more.

Third level of specialization

The third and final level of specialization is intended exclusively for civil engineers and architects and is called TEEW, i.e. Technical Educational Engineering Weeks. It is a 60-hour course offered in two forms: The Italian version takes place on five weekends, while the international version of the course is held during two intensive, separate weeks (summer and winter). Both versions are designed to provide comprehensive, in-depth and professional training in the structural planning of wooden buildings.

National editions at the highest level

Finally, there is a fourth level where the highly technical content goes hand in hand with great networking opportunities. Most lectures are designed to bring professionals up to speed on the most important topics in the timber construction sector, on markets and the future of the sector. This format is called “Mass Timber Seminar” with national editions in English, German, French and Spanish, as well as a prestigious international edition in English, which takes place at Rothoblaas’s headquarters in Kurtatsch an der Weinstraße in the province of Bolzano.

Thus, Rothoblaas’s training courses address all levels of specialization and aim to spread the culture of timber construction. At the same time, their goal is to encourage perfection and challenge professionals to deepen their skills and extend the boundaries of timber construction. The Rothoblaas training path is an educational pyramid which offers further courses, as the topic of timber construction itself is constantly evolving. Every year, there are new standards and more efficient solutions.

Build the (im)possible

And even those who have completed the most advanced course are presented with an additional challenge: “Build the (im)possible”. This competition invites builders and draftsmen to create on paper what was considered impossible up until recently. Perhaps this is the secret of Rothoblaas’s success in training and further education: To make ambition contagious, to never say that something cannot be built in wood but rather to ask what can be done to build something in wood.

The keys to success

The insight to invest in the further education of their customers, partners and employees is certainly one of the keys to Rothoblaas’s success. Another is closely linked to training, to be precise to research and development. Rothoblaas is convinced that its good reputation is based on the development of innovative products which are ahead of the times. After all, it is those products that allow the timber construction sector to become increasingly sophisticated in terms of its strength and overall performance.

First and foremost, connectors, such as the now classic full threaded screw, Spider and Pillar, TC Fusion and Alumega, have to be mentioned. Rothoblaas is convinced that its connectors and initiatives, such as the “Build the (im)possible” competition, have played an important part in making it possible to build wooden houses with more than 20 floors. In fact, the upcoming edition will focus on one of these innovative products: Alumega. This pinned connector standardizes beam-to-beam and beam-to-post joints for post-and-beam systems, even with large spans.

The Alumega connector’s ability to absorb tolerances and movements means that deflection does not result in unwanted clamping moments, thereby reducing the risk of damage in the event of an earthquake or strong winds. In addition, assembly is made easier, which reduces assembly times. Its modular structure also makes it possible to solve all connections on timber, concrete and steel. “Less than a year ago, Ursula von der Leyen said that we would need three million new skilled workers, planners and draftsmen in timber construction in the coming years. We started training them over 20 years ago, but we still have a long way to go to reach this number. Our best allies in the fight against climate change are certainly our forests, but even more so our young people,” Peter Lang, Rothoblaas product strategist and network ambassador, says.