Crafted CLT panels

“We produce regionally and mainly use wood from the Black Forest that we process for carpenters in southern Germany,” master carpenter, managing director and owner Moritz Weschle says, outlining his idea of wood with short transport distances. Or, as the company’s slogan says: “Cross-laminated timber from Black Forest wood – completely in its element”.

Optimized panel dimensions

What do you learn from having processed tens of thousands of cubic meters of CLT for over a decade? “I was never fully satisfied with the panel dimensions. I wanted more flexibility. SBS customers can now enjoy this flexibility,” Weschle comments, referring to panel lengths of up to 16.2 meters. “With this length, it is still easy to organize the transport.”

With up to 3.85 meters, the width is also unusual. “Only few companies can do that,” Weschle says and smiles. In public buildings in particular, 3.5-meter-high rooms are very common. “Our elements are perfect for that,” he emphasizes. The maximum thickness is 30 cm.

Edge-gluing for residential visible quality

“SBS also stands for edge-glued residential visible quality,” the master carpenter from Ortenau continues. The surface consists of 1.25 meter single-layer panels, followed by the relief joint. “Better to have one planned, narrow expansion joint than many unplanned ones,” Weschle knows from experience. The front sides of the panels are elongated via finger jointing. SBS offers cross-laminated timber in the qualities “residential visible”, “industrial visible” and “non-visible”.

Quick start

The start of SBS’s production in Friesenheim is worth mentioning. “On May 2, 2020, we started laying the pile foundation, on August 3, we started assembling the machines and on January 4, we produced the first cross-laminated timber elements. This was only possible thanks to our own timber construction company, Weschle Holzbau und Planung, which took over the construction of the 4,000 m² big production hall as general contractor,” Weschle tells us.

The plant’s annual capacity is 25,000 m³ in a two-shift operation. “We used the first 400 m³ we produced for a four-story building in Freiburg,” Weschle says and adds: “The building was the last of six multi-story buildings that my timber construction company built there.” For him, Freiburg is an absolute pioneer region when it comes to timber constructions. This is where he realized commissioned projects and orders, and a considerable number of Weschle’s timber construction customers come from this region, too.

Gradual growth

According to Weschle, the next phase of expansion is already being planned and can take place even at short notice on the three-hectare site in the industrial district of Friesenheim. The two-shift operation is to start in the middle of this year and the plant is to work at full capacity in 2022.

Of course, supply is also a crucial topic for SBS. “We want to have four to five regular suppliers to ensure a continuous supply,” Weschle says, explaining his plans. He explicitly highlights the sawmill Sägewerk Finkbeiner, among other things because of the “ideal log wood” it cuts.

Freiburg instead of the US

Weschle is convinced that his customers appreciate the regional character of his company. “SBS is not engaged in exports. In terms of origin, orientation and attitude, we are a medium-sized company. We have the same mentality as our customers,” he describes what is important to him.

“We are able to deliver. If necessary, people can also come by and pick up what they want,” Weschle says, confidently.

Award-winning timber buildings

One of the biggest and most spectacular buildings ever built by Weschle Holzbau was a 40 x 70 meter building, which was one of the main buildings of the state garden show in 2017. Eventually, it found its true purpose as an award-winning kindergarten.

One of the most efficient buildings was the company’s own industrial hall. A 3,800 m² big roof rests on concrete and timber pillars, and prefabricated timber frame construction elements form the walls.