news from the world of wood: issue 08/2015

Nº8 01/2016

RESIDENTIAL // High performance in a multi-storey timber construction

MODULAR CONSTRUCTION // Satisfied pupils and a school room on the move

FREE FORMS // Maggie’s Manchester with Foster + Partners

SILO SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION // Big, bigger, Wankdorf

NEWS

www.blumer-lehmann.ch

01/2016

02 /EDITORIAL

Dear customers and friends of timber construction,

P. 08 Kräzern St. Gallen Rental apartmentson the Bildweiher

Chäserrugg New summit buildingby Herzog & de Meuron

P. 04

Our news is now presented in a fresh concept. The idea is to give more space to the many different, challenging and fascinating projects that we are fortunate enough to develop, plan, produce and assemble on your behalf – and thus present the many exciting construction projects in even more impressive fashion.

We hope to provide you with an exciting overview of the past year, and we would like to thank you and all our partners for a successful 2015.

Best wishes for a wonderful 2016,

Katharina Lehmann


01/2016

CONTENTS/03

Maggie’s Manchester Space for relaxation

P. 13

RESTAURANTS /TOURISM

04 Chäserrugg

05 Hotel Schwägalp

06 Hotel Säntispark

HOUSING

07 Apartment buildings

Trimmis and Rapperswil /

Single-family home Ronwil

08 Apartment buildings

St. Gallen and Grub

CONVERSIONS /RENOVATIONS

09 Haldeneck Zurich / Kobesenmühle /

Conversion single-family home

St. Gallen

AGRICULTURE

10 All about poultry farming

INDUSTRY

11 hosberg AG / Sportgarage Leirer

FREE FORMS

12 Yeoju maintenance / Acme

Architecture and Design Office

13 Maggie’s Cancer Centres

MODULAR CONSTRUCTION

14 A moving year:

flexibility and speed

OFFICES /ADMINISTRATION

16 Münchwilen District Court

GENERAL CONTRACTOR

17 Living in Vögelinsegg /

Immobilien St. Gallen AG

SILO SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION

18 Bern Wankdorf

20 St. Petersburg / Tettnang /

Small silo St. Gallen

21 Brine technology move / Basic brine

facility / On the move for our

customers / St. Petersburg or Moscow?

NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF WOOD

22 A new technology centre

24 SmART Timber

25 Ongoing investment /

electric charging station

INTERNAL

26 Living for timber construction /

Race to the top

27 Anniversaries / Training

28 Woodrock in Erlenhof

29 Summer party / Excursions

30 Fascinating wood – interview

31 Highly distinguished!

Bern WankdorfMammoth

silo project

P. 18 P. 28InternalWoodrock in Erlenhof


04 /RESTAURANTS// TOURISM

Working at an altitude of 2,262 metres above

sea level is not a run-of-the-mill activity for

our assembly people. Our team faced some

challenging, but equally exciting weeks working

on the Chäserrugg. The panoramic view from

the new mountain-top restaurant is indescriba-

ble. In keeping with local architectural customs,

wood was used as the primary building materi-

al. Mountain architecture involves many special

challenges. The construction of the roof was

one of them. Wind speed and snowfall can be

extremely high at this altitude. To ensure the

functionality of the structure, a scale model

of the building and the surrounding landscape

were tested in a wind tunnel. In view of the

massive loads on the roof, enormous cross-sec-

tions of normal laminated timber were used.

Summit Building Chäserrugg by Herzog & de Meuron High-altitude timber construction

Bearing structure

The selected structure in this case was a timber

construction comprising a conventionally

erected bearing structure combined with pre-

fabricated wooden frame elements. The con-

struction used traditional carpentry joints such

as mortise and tenon and offsets augmented

by special timber engineering connectors.

Timber construction on a concrete foundation

Beyond the large roof and the special support,

purlin and rafter geometries, the building

makes the unmistakable statement of a «timber

construction on a concrete foundation».

As simple as the end result may appear, the

execution required the utmost care at every

stage of the process. For example, the striking

three-armed concrete foundation for the

branching vertical and diagonal supports on

the east façade of the existing structure

presented a particular challenge.

Pellets can be conveyed too

The summit restaurant is heated with pellets.

The pellets are transported to the mountain-

top restaurant in 800 kg sacks by the cablecar.

To convey the pellets to the boiler room,

a low-pressure conveyor system was installed.

The pellets are poured into a charging hopper

next to the cableway station, metered by

means of a rotary valve and pumped into the

boiler room with compressed air through

the 35-metre pipe system. We were able to

implement this innovative construction thanks

to the integrated timber construction exper tise

at Erlenhof. The conveyor system was provid-

ed by BL Silobau AG.

01/2016


05

The new hotel replaces the ageing infra-

structure at Schwägalp. The new construction

and the resulting intervention in the natural

environment has changed the appearance

of Schwägalp for the better. The terrain, once

occupied by the traditional, massive mountain

inn, now presents a gentle Alpine landscape.

The hotel is a hybrid construction comprising

reinforced concrete and timber. «We were

able to build and assemble the entire roof con-

struction. The outer walls consist of shell

elements with pre-installed windows, which we

clad with a larch façade,» explains project

manager Felix Holenstein. The massive timber

Hotel SchwägalpNew perspectives

construction elements were transported

to Schwägalp on flatbed lorries. The large roof

beams and elements were placed directly

on the shell and installed by us. The first floor

and the three hotel room floors above that

have a wooden façade, in which to integrate

the Appen zell-style decorative elements.

The working conditions were not always easy

due to the heavy rain, but that did not stop

our team.

What was the greatest challenge for you and

the assembly team?

«There were a variety of different challenges:

the weather presented us with serious chal-

lenges, with sudden winter storms in August,

severe rainfall, strong winds and then the sum-

mer heat. So a little bit of everything. Then

there was the complex logistics with the cable-

car – 500 m3 of construction timber and

200 m3 of slats and cladding were, as befits

a mountain railway region, transported by

rail rather than by helicopter.»

What’s the biggest difference to work on

the ground?

«Initially, we were out of breath more than

usual, but with time you get used to the

altitude.»

What kind of experience was it for you

personally?

«The place, the architecture and the whole

team performance were very impressive and

I’m very proud of that. In spite of the many

challenges, it was a great experience to be

a part of this fantastic project.»

Did you sleep on the mountain?

«No. But there were some days when the wind

picked up so much in the evening that we

weren’t sure if it would be possible to make it

down to the valley. The worst case scenario

would have been an evening walk to Iltios.»

//Stefan Bischoff

site manager for the Chäserrugg project

Stefan Bischoff, our site manager at Chäserrugg, reports on his experiences during the 51-week

timber construction process.

01/2016


06 /RESTAURANTS// TOURISM

Hotel Säntispark Update one year on

What distinguishes Hotel Säntispark from

a construction perspective from other hotels?

«Sustainable construction, as a central theme

of Migros Ostschweiz, was implemented with

great thoroughness at Hotel Säntispark, and

the unquestionably impressive design by archi-

tect Carlos Martinez embodies the diversity

of Hotel Säntispark, as well as the harmony be-

tween the existing building and the new con-

struction. The new section of the hotel was

also the first four-storey hotel timber construc-

tion in the canton of St. Gallen.»

Why did you decide to go with a timber

construction?

«Timber construction has a number of advan-

tages over solid construction. As a renewable

resource, wood is an ideal, sustainable con-

struction material. Large-scale wall, roof and

ceiling elements can be prefabricated with

high precision and high quality in the workshop

without being subject to weather conditions.

This significantly reduced the assembly time

required.»

The timber construction plays an important

role in the cosy rooms as well. What were your

considerations there?

«Using wood as a construction material and

design element automatically creates a

pleasantly cosy ambiance – that was one of

the decisive reasons. And the desire to spend

the night in the new rooms flows not only from

the interior design and furnishings, but also

from the wooden slat pattern that envelops the

timber construction and creates a feeling of

security. Using a modern CNC machine, this fa-

çade was given a subtle wave pattern that

gives the new construction a sensual note.»

You talk about how sustainability is a real pri-

ority for Hotel Säntispark. What role does tim-

ber construction play in that?

«Cladding elements made of wood achieve

very good insulation values even with minimal

wall thicknesses, as the wall is not just a static

construction element but can also be filled with

insulating material. This results in significant

savings in terms of resources.»

How would you describe the collaboration

with Blumer-Lehmann AG?

«Blumer-Lehmann AG was the ideal partner

for Migros Ostschweiz and fulfilled all our

wishes perfectly.»

Have you received customer feedback about

the new construction?

«Our guests feel very comfortable in the new

building and enjoy the generous dimensions

of the rooms, their brightness and the pleasant

room climate, due not least to the wood con-

struction material.»

Have you heard from the staff as well?

«The entire Hotel Säntispark team enjoys being

able to work in such a pleasant environment.»

//Vera Wichmann

Director

Hotel Säntispark

SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION IS A CENTRAL THEME FOR MIGROS OSTSCHWEIZ AND WAS IMPLEMENTED WITH GREAT THOROUGHNESS AT HOTEL SÄNTISPARK.

01/2016


HOUSING /07

Two timber construction residential buildings

with a total of 11 apartments and space for the

Trimmis Catholic parish church were construct-

ed in Trimmis Oberdorf. Previously, an old

school building occupied the plot. Due to the

new regulations of the Civil Engineering

Office of Grisons, the distance to the road had

to be increased. This pushed the gable of the

new buildings to the south. The architecture

Trimmis apartment building Good planning is the key

The apartment building on the slope above

Rapperswil exudes an almost majestic

presence. The view of the castle, framed by

the lake, is breathtaking and unobstructed.

The three-storey apartment building has three

rental apartments of a superior standard.

The construction is dominated by wood and

concrete. Wood plays a crucial role. It performs

the load-bearing functions as well. Five pairs

of V-shaped braces create a framework in

the centre of the building that supports all inte-

Rapperswil apartment building Wood as a load-bearing element

rior loads. The statics and structure remain

visible. The wall and roof cladding comprise

knotless, A-grade three-layer panels and lend

the space warmth and texture. The façade

formwork was pre-greyed and has a playful

shimmer thanks to a pearlescent effect.

The façade consists of a vertical, full-surface

groove and ridge formwork with fluted

architraves that create a 3D effect.

The specifications in regard to conservation

pro visions were strict, while the demands of

the owners for a clear and modern architectur-

al style were high. The result is an impressively

resolute and convincing marriage of exposed

concrete and wood. The supporting structure is

made of wood – the carport of concrete and

Single-family home in RonwilModern architecture integrated into the townscape

the house itself, with its pressure-treated

façade, are a unified whole. We planned and

implemented this single-family house in

Ronwil, Waldkirch, for the son of an employee,

as the general contractor from the planning

application to construction.

is striking, yet fits perfectly into the green

landscape, thanks to the wood construction

material. One of the buildings resembles a

broken-off piece of rock, and integrates very

well with the surrounding space. The con-

struction line of the two buildings runs in an

irregular line along the road. This has the

advantage that they block as little sunlight

and views from the surrounding buildings

as possible.

The operating costs of the two apartment

buildings were reduced to a minimum, thanks

to targeted measures such as optimal

insulation. The two buildings were designed

by different architects, which presented

challenges for our project managers and

tim ber construction engineers.

01/2016


08/ HOUSING

In Grub in the canton of Appenzell Ausser-

rhoden, three apartment buildings with 24

attractive apartments were built in the tradi-

tional Appenzell style. Yet the timber con-

struction behind them is all the more modern

and the energy concept all the more

innovative for that. As we are considered

pioneers in forward-oriented timber construc-

tion and sustainability, we were pleased

to be commissioned with the exciting project.

The wood ensures a naturally regulated room

climate by being able to absorb and release

moisture, and is also highly energy-efficient

and economical.

«The harsh winter of 2014 necessitated a

postponement of construction,» says project

manager Martin Eggenberger. After the passing

of the bleak midwinter in Grub, the work

could be continued without further ado. The

topping-out took place in spring 2015.

Apartment building Mattenbach Grub

An ageing apartment building was to be torn

down and rebuilt according to modern residen-

tial standards. The owners gave intensive

consideration to sustainability and wood as

a construction material. We were involved from

the earliest planning stages with an advisory

mandate and the tender for the timber con-

struction. From the outset, the aim was to de-

velop the statics without activation of the

concrete cores. «The communication between

all involved parties was very open, the plan-

ning precisely coordinated and the ultimate

execution outstanding,» says project manager

Daniel Ehrbar. The project was planned with

the St. Gallen architectural firm Forrer Stieger

and specialist planners from the region over

a six-month period. We used 40 tonnes of

wood in implementing the new construction.

The urban, modern wood element con -

struc tion consists of two structures with five

residential floors each (the upper four in

timber construction) with 28 rental apart -

Kräzern St. Gallen apartment building New rental apartments on the Bildweiher

ments and a large underground garage.

The frame construction of the walls consists of

multiple layers of cladding in accordance with

noise and fire-protection requirements.

The exposed wood ceilings consist of high-qual-

ity Lignatur ceiling elements. The tight con-

struction deadlines were met according to plan,

enabling our team to complete the assembly

work before Christmas.

The timber construction is made from spruce

wood. The façades were clad with pres-

sure-treated spruce. «The planning work took

eight months; the production was completed

in two months,» notes Martin Eggenberger.

«The project proceeded successfully in every

way. The collaboration with all parties

was very pleasant. You can always do the best

work in an uncomplicated environment.»

© Forrer Stieger Architekten AG

01/2016


case was on the agenda. In the process, the

insulation of the walls on the upper floor was

repaired, the doors refurbished, the lime plas-

ter renewed in the brick-lined interior tim-

ber-framed walls, and the windows replaced.

Our team expected a major challenge.

The surfaces all had to be adapted to the

original style of the house. In order to change

the appearance of the building as little as

possible, the spruce was processed by our sis-

ter company Lehmann Holzwerk in such

a way that visually almost no difference to

the earlier state is perceptible.

CONVERSIONS//RENOVATIONS /09

We completely renovated and added an attic

floor to a residential and commercial building

in Zurich. As the ceilings in the existing building

were not all load-bearing, we had to work

toge ther with the structural engineer and the

architects from LOMO AG to devise suitable

solutions for the floor plan and design. Our

man date extended to consulting, planning and

building. The assembly was, as is common for

timber construction, very short and could

be completed in the winter months. The entire

building was renovated with new windows

and external thermal insulation.

Addition of storey HaldeneckConversion in tight urban surroundings

The historic Kobesenmühle in Niederhelfen-

schwil can look back on 317 years of history.

The artist and thinker Wilhelm Lehmann spent

most of his life in the house. So, too, did his

daughter Verena Lehmann, who just last year

found a new home in a nursing home in Bis-

chofszell. The foundation trustees then decided

to renovate the building and rent it out again in

autumn 2015. «The timeframe was in place

from the outset,» says project manager Peter

Holenstein. Thus, contact was made with the

cantonal Department of Monument Preserva-

tion and the municipality at an early stage.

«The delight and energy of everyone involved

Kobesenmühle listed buildingResidential home carefully renovated

was evident from the beginning. That made the

collaboration extremely pleasant,» says Peter

Holenstein. Blumer-Lehmann AG was responsible

for the planning and implementation, and

coordinated all the trades. In roughly six months,

the house was renovated in keeping with the

style and the relevant conservation regula-

tions.

Preserving the style

The existing structure of the house was in

astonishingly good shape, but renovation work

was unavoidable. The renovation of the north

façade and the interior panelling of the stair-

Conversion in St. GallenA fine little house with a fresh update

With this small, idyllically located house in

St. Gallen, it was time to renovate the façade

and the roof. Blumer-Lehmann AG was the

general contractor and coordinated the electri-

cians, heating engineers, plumbers, roofers

and scaffolders. We renewed the roof insula-

tion and façade, and replaced the façade.

The house now looks fresh and friendly again.

01/2016


Our agricultural customers can choose from

a range of different solutions for poultry farm-

ing: for years we have sustained strong

partnerships and produced and installed the

first hosberg stall many years ago. We have

developed a standardised, contiguous stall sys-

tem that offers customers great individual

design options. The system is characterised by

efficient and on-schedule planning, production

and installation processes. Our partners are

Globogal AG for stall solutions and Koch AG for

roofing solutions. Our timber construction

en gineers and project managers create the stat-

ics for the supporting structure, and the

design and work plans, manage the construc-

tion process and the in-house production

of CNC components. Thanks to the high degree

of prefabrication, the installation hours on-

site are reduced to a minimum.

Based on numerous projects, we create

a structure each for laying hens, breeding

and feeding.

In Brütten, ZH (1), the owners were thrilled

with our planning and implementation.

Between building approval procedures and the

fast-approaching cooping date, the time for

the construction phase was dwindling. Thanks

to the smooth cooperation of all parties, the

owner was able to get his birds in the coop on

time. The hosberg organic laying henhouse

with entrance and coffee space consists of

a supported girder variant. The prefabricated

wall elements were delivered to the site

ready for installation and were up within a few

days.

The girder system of the hosberg organic

breeding house in Cunter, GR (2) was optimised

for the location at 1,200 metres above sea

level. The natural and sustainable timber con-

Comprehensive services in the field of poultry farming

struction also offers advantages over steel

construction in terms of its structural proper-

ties. With the wood cladding around the

entrance space, the project integrates well into

the natural surroundings and reflects the phi-

losophy of an organic, sustainable agriculture.

In beautiful Wasen (3) in Emmental, a new chic-

ken feeding hall has been erected with some

600 m2 of floor space and an entrance and vis-

itor space. The owner placed his trust in us be-

fore we had any personal contact with him. His

confidence gave us an additional motivational

boost. The timber load-bearing structure con-

sists of a 20-metre free-span, three-joint frame

with external buttresses. The column-

free design offers great flexibility for the use

and outfitting of the space. The roof and

wall cladding with sandwich panels is a func-

tional and low-maintenance solution.

IN BRÜTTEN / ZH, THE OWNERS ARE THRILLED WITH OUR PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION – WE’RE PLEASED TO HEAR IT.

10 /AGRICULTURE

01/2016


INDUSTRY /11

We’ve had a partnership with hosberg AG

for several years now. Our companies are bound

by a commitment to sustainability and innova-

tive drive. hosberg is the market leader in

organic egg sales and has a wealth of experience

in the production and sale of organic eggs

and organic egg products. Thanks to the success

of recent years, a new warehouse and logistics

centre was required. From the pre-project

phase onwards, we worked closely with the

owners and architects to help develop and opti -

mise this three-storey industrial building with

its projecting mezzanine and attic floor. Thanks

to precisely prefabricated wall elements, the

hosberg AGWow – what a new logistics centre for our partner of many years

installation time was just five weeks. In the

entire construction project, some 520 m3 of

wood were used in the form of supports,

panels and cladding. This amounts to nearly

450 tonnes of captured CO2 and thus

promotes sustainability.

Sports cars need space when they’re moving –

and also when they’re protected in the garage.

For the well-known Sportgarage Leirer, which

represents Ferrari and Maserati, we put in

a pit stop in stone and accompanied the own-

ers and the project management throughout

the development, planning and implementation

of the timber roof structure. The 22-metre

free-span primary structure consists of eight

two-hinged arched trusses with ties. The

550 m2 roof was clad and insulated with prefa-

bricated wooden elements. The high-tech

vehicles are now surrounded by a high-tech

material, wood.

Sportgarage Leirer AG, Stein ARFrom 0 to 550 m2 with wood high-tech

The supports for the hosberg AG logistics centre were the first to be produced

at Lehmann Timber Code AG’s new TW Mill plant.

01/2016


12 /FREE FORMS

In 2015, one of our teams serviced the Haesley

Nine Bridges Golf Club in South Korea for

the second time since its completion in 2009.

An article in the club’s magazine reported on it

– anyone for a freestyle translation? On the

basis of visual, geometric and structural tests,

On the way to the top: for the global, fast

growing and highly successful London-based

architecture and design office Acme, we

planned and produced a free-form staircase

from the ground level to the first floor.

Our tasks included consultation, 3D planning,

production and logistics. The architects

and designers installed the staircase them-

selves. According to unconfirmed rumours, the

staircase at Acme is now regarded as a des-

tination in itself.

Yeoju maintenanceCanopy still in tip-top form

everything was reported to be in top condi tion.

And the club is as enthusiastic as ever.

All we can say with certainty is that our audit

found everything to be in good shape –

and the building continues to delight its users.

Acme Architecture and DesignStairway to heaven

01/2016


13

The Maggie’s Cancer Centres in the UK support

people diagnosed with cancer in their daily

lives. The trained personnel care for the pati-

ents with emotional and medical expertise

throughout the 17 centres around the country.

The experts advise cancer patients in nutri-

tional matters, among other issues, and create

a space in which people can talk to others

who are in the same situation over a cup of

tea. In the «design and build» contract, we

were responsible for the timber construction of

the new centre in Manchester. The planning,

geometry and structural engineering were

defined BIM-ready in collaboration with the

customer and the architects. The result of that

collaboration is a fascinating timber construc-

tion with groundbreaking architecture.

The architectural idea was based on a bird’s

rib-cage. Initial models of the components were

created using a 3D printer. The 1:1 scale mock-

up made of wood impressed the architects,

who, together with the owner, visited us in

St. Gallen in advance. Together, we viewed

some of our projects; for example, the Hotel

Säntispark. During a visit to a typical St. Gallen

Erststock-Beizli, our guests joked about the

sloping floors and wondered, tongue-in-cheek,

if traditional timber construction in eastern

Switzerland still used the same methods.

The general contractor is Sir Robert McAlpine.

Jobs outside Switzerland are always a special

treat for our team. Working together with

foreign partners and sourcing materials always

yield a few challenges. The collaboration

with Forster + Partners architectural firm wor-

ked perfectly. The supporting structure to -

day presents itself as a filigree framework with

17 axes. The surfaces of the components are

made of spruce and have a furniture quality.

The roof, inner and outer walls, and the ceiling

were produced in a timer frame construction.

The entire structure was prefabricated and

installed by a mixed team of British and Swiss

specialists. We actively assisted and advised

the customer throughout the project.

«The team from Blumer-Lehmann AG managed

to integrate the centre into the green surround-

ings. We decided to go with wood as the

main component of the construction,» says

Diego Alejandro Teixeira of the world-renow-

ned architectural firm Foster + Partners.

Sustainability was very important to the custo-

mer. «Thanks to the expertise of our partner,

we were able to create a therapeutic space in

harmony with the environment,» continues

Teixeira. Our professionalism and attention to

detail are a perfect fit with the quality stand-

ards of Maggie’s Cancer Centres.

Maggie’s Manchester with Foster + PartnersCreating a space to unwind

//In structural architecture, wood

performs not only covering and pro-

tective functions, but also provides

the supporting structure and is

strikingly evident in the architecture.

The static structure of the building

is an important aspect of the architec-

ture and is usually digitally planned

and implemented using CNC techno-

logy.

Acme Architecture and DesignStairway to heaven

01/2016


14/MODULAR CONSTRUCTION

An eventful year in modular construction

in brief: satisfied pupils, teachers and building

partners, «flexible standards», a school room

on the move, and a short 115 days for a new

school building from planning to key handover.

Quotes and impressions regarding the

construction and operation of school pavilions

from a publication by Letzi school district

in Zurich:

«Since 2009, enrolment in our school dis-

trict [with 14 schools, approx. 700 teachers and

4,000 pupils, Ed.] has risen by 500 children.

Even before the rise in pupil numbers, space

re quirements for teaching and to meet the de-

mand for day-care had also been on the rise.

As school president, I was frequently asked the

following questions: were we not able to

predict that a new school building would be

necessary? Why does it take so long before

a new school building is ready?

Is teaching in ‹containers› qualitatively good

for my child?»

«Because residential buildings have a sig-

nificantly shorter planning and implementation

phase than public school grounds and because

both the number and ages of children are

known only when they move into apartments,

temporary space shortages in schools can

occur in fast-growing neighbourhoods.»

«But the number of school-age children is not

the only factor is determining the space

required by schools. Education policy, peda-

gogical and social conditions are just as

important. School models, forms of learning

and teaching, changed working and family

models – these are all factors that have led

A moving year in modular constructionThe flexibility and speed of modular construction

to an increase in school space requirements

in addition to the growing numbers of pupils.

So space requirements rise not only due to

growing numbers, but also due to the increased

space requirements per child. Both develop-

ments occur in parallel and reinforce each other.»

«To bridge the time between the project

design, approval and construction – the whole

process takes more than 10 years – school

pavilions have been erected on school grounds.

These pavilions are good school rooms.

They are not only quick to implement, but also

cost-effective and reusable.»

Quotes from pupils:

«I like the classroom in the pavilion because

it’s quieter.»

«I really like our new classroom. It has a nice

cosy corner. I like the rows of desks and

the many windows.»

«YOUR SCHOOL IS NICE IS ONE OF THE MOST FREQUENTLY USED PHRASES BY THE CHILDREN. AND THEY’RE RIGHT– THE PAVILION IS TRULY NICE, COSY AND HAS EVEN BECOME A BIT LIKE HOME TO US.»// Quote from a teacher

«Our classroom has a nice smell. It also has

fresh air because there are so many windows.

I like the chairs, the desks, the decorations,

the pictures in the classroom, the chalkboard

and the plants.»

01/2016


15

Flexible standards

The flexibility and speed of modular construc-

tion is due to the standardisation of individual

modules. For example, we offer different

modular constructions for various purposes and

which also differ in their architectural accents.

Nevertheless, customers still have a wide range

of options to make individual adjustments.

For the municipality of Samstagern (1), we

planned and implemented an 800 m2 modular

school space for the school and kindergarten.

The inviting wood façade is a special feature of

the architecture. Since both school buildings

are within the immediate vicinity of high-voltage

power lines, we also protected them against

radiation. At the topping-out of the new pavilion,

the school caretaker told us enthusiastically

how nice and interesting the construction phase

was and how pleasant it was to work with us.

Thanks for the flowers, and we can warmly

return the thanks for an excellent collaboration

– and the confidence of the owners. The city

of Opfikon (2) received three identical, two-

storey pavilions with a footprint of 31 metres

by 8.5 metres. The façade set the tone with the

primary colours red and white. As the munici-

pality is located near Zurich airport, the pavilions

were designed to provide effective protection

against noise to ensure optimal learning

conditions.

The class(room) trip: from metal to wood

Our modular and temporary structures, as the

name implies, remain at a location for a certain

period of time and are easy to modify.

The temporary structure at the Hotelfachschule

Belvoirpark (28 modules) had served its pur-

pose, so it was dismantled and reassembled in

Adliswil with eight additional modules and

a new room arrangement. The dismantling,

transport and reassembly took just three days.

At the new location, there was also a meeting of

metal and wood pavilions. A few years ago,

a temporary metal schoolhouse had been built

there. When the need to expand capacity

arose, they opted for our modular timber con-

struction for the second project. We’re very

pleased to have been able to win over yet

another customer to timber construction.

The two dissimilar siblings now stand next to

each other in Adliswil.

A new school building in just 115 days

Around the world in 80 days. That’s fast. A new

school built in just 115 days. That’s also pretty

speedy. In these 115 days, the one-storey pavilion

for the municipality of Niederrohrdorf, consisting

of 10 modules was planned, approved and

produced, and the keys handed over to the school

authority. The pavilion can be expanded up to

three storeys with no problem at all. If enrolment

numbers continue to rise as quickly as they

have been, that will soon be the case.

01/2016


16 /OFFICES//ADMINISTRATION

The District Courthouse in Münchwilen is

a building of great historical value. It was built

in 1906 with solid exterior walls and timber

ceilings. The use requirements for the listed

building have changed over recent decades,

however. It was time for a renovation.

The courthouse was expanded through an

annex. «We were allowed to make changes to

the timber joists in the existing building.

We also handled the insulation of the screed

and the entire floor structure. In the annex,

the task was to produce and install the suppor-

ting interior and exterior walls in a wood ele-

ment construction,» says project manager Felix

Holenstein. His brother Peter, who also works

for us, was responsible for the renovation.

The new construction comprises a ground floor,

District Courthouse in MünchwilenWood and concrete in harmony

two upper floors and an attic, with the sup-

porting structure consisting of a timber

frame structure with wood-concrete composite

ceilings. The installation was conducted on

a floor-by-floor basis as there were repeated

interruptions due to the concrete work for

the dividing walls. The wood element construc-

tion was inserted between the exposed

concrete annex and the old building.

«EXISTING THEMES, SUCH AS ‹COLOURATION›, ‹STRUCTURE AND ARRANGEMENT› AND ‹ORNAMENTATION AND CLADDING›, FROM THE OLDER BUILDING WERE REINTERPRETED IN THE ANNEX. WOOD PLAYED A VITAL ROLE IN THE NEW BUILDING.» // Felix Holenstein /Project Manager

01/2016


GENERAL CONTRACTOR /17

Planning for the industrial building in St. Gallen

Winkeln started in November 2014. The

objective of the project was to build a flexible,

economical industrial building from wood.

To ensure optimal use of the building, a cost-

effectiveness analysis was carried out before

commencement of the project. The analysis

made it possible to determine the ideal size

and shape of the industrial building.

The results were extremely illuminating and

will make timber construction of industrial

buildings even more attractive in the future.

After the long planning phase and the

Immobilien St. Gallen AG Industrial timber con struc tion on the rise

optimisation processes, the building structure

ultimately went up very quickly on the site.

The ground floor is a timber frame construc-

tion with insulated sheet metal sandwich

panels, while the first floor is constructed of

wood elements and clad with a sheet metal

façade. Also striking are the solid stair and lift

core, and the red-coloured staircase.

«WE ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY AND DEVELOP ECONOMICAL SOLUTIONS. THE WAYS OF GETTING THERE ARE UNIQUE IN EACH CASE.»// Migga Hug / Division Manager GU

ervation of the old tree stock, the architectural

differentiation from the large clinic buildings

and the orientation of the apartments towards

the spectacular views of Lake Constance,

the city of St. Gallen and the Appenzell region.

The three buildings form an inviting courtyard

with old linden trees, a fountain and seating

opt ions where residents can meet each other.

The architecture has a modern urban style and

fits perfectly into the Appenzell surroundings.

Looking good: living in Vögelinsegg

We reported on the project in Vögelinsegg in

Speicher, AR, in the previous news issue.

We are involved in the project as site manager

and timber builder. The digging has already

begun and official sales will start in the coming

weeks. More information is available at

www.voegelinsegg-wohnen.ch.

The project

Vögelinsegg Wohnen AG, in which many long-

time residents of this extraordinary town are

involved, is building three apartment buildings

in timber, compliant with the Minergie stand-

ard, with a total of 30 residential units with

2.5 to 6.5 rooms. The plans even include wood

stairways. The concept from architect Hubert

Bischoff impressed the jury with its pain-

staking approach to the surroundings, its pres-

01/2016


18/SILO SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION

Just how much dedication our employees pour

into their work is demonstrated by the con-

struction of the new silo facility in Bern Wank-

dorf. Sascha Aerne is beaming. «It will take

a bit of time and a few hours with the silo facil-

ity in operation before I fully realise what

we’ve achieved,» says the project manager, as

he looks back over the past year. «It’s the most

special and biggest project that I ever had

the chance to do,» he continues. He is talking

about the largest salt silo system constructed in

this manner in Europe to date. The project

started in 2005 with the first contact with the

owner. Nine years later, the tender phase

began. «We were delighted when we received

the project. We started the planning in Febru-

ary 2015.»

The three salt silos have a capacity of 900 m3

each. BL Silobau AG pulled off another world

première in the process. «We implemented

a 78-metre conveyor system with a capacity of

up to 50 tonnes an hour,» notes the project

manager. The silo facility is part of a three-year

reconstruction of the work yard, which is being

gradually demolished during operations and

new buildings going up in the freed-up space.

«The silos therefore had to fit in with the over-

all concept,» explains Sascha Aerne. In ad dition

to the technical requirements, the architectural

expectations were exceptionally high: the

façade was adapted to match the work yard

with grey-black rhomboid formwork, while the

steel base and the chromium steel parts match

the façade and are colour-coated. Even the

screens for controlling the systems, labels and

pipes are in line with the architectural concept.

A total of 250,000 screws were used with 4.5

tonnes of chromium steel and 100 tonnes

of wood, and 35 semi-trailer loads delivered the

material to the construction site. «The major

project went very well. The planning and

construc tion time just flew by.» At the topping-

out, the team had excellent luck with the

weather. Thanks to an optimal process, Sascha

Aerne and his team managed to finish the tim-

ber and steel construction ahead of schedule.

The customer’s feedback was accordingly

pleasing. «The customer was overwhelmed by

the efficient execution of the construction

on site. The collaboration with the owner and

the site manager was simply the best.» Ten em-

ployees from BL Silobau AG were involved

in the mammoth project. Among the challenges

presented by this project were the planning

and structural engineering of the three silos, the

conveyor technology with a 32-metre height

difference, and the complex logistics in a very

tight space. The facility is fully automated.

Mammoth project in Bern: three 900 m3 silos

«THE CUSTOMER WAS OVERWHELMED BY THE EFFICIENT EXECUTION OF THE CONSTRUCTION ON SITE. THE COLLABORATION WITH THE OWNER AND THE SITE MANAGER WAS SIMPLY THE BEST.»// Sascha Aerne /Project Manager

01/2016


19

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROJECT IS A QUANTUM LEAP. THE TECHNOLOGICAL LEAP IS A GOOD 30 YEARS. WITH THE NEW FACILITY, VEHICLES CAN BE LOADED MORE EFFICIENTLY AND SALT MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN MADE SIG NIFICANTLY SIMPLER.// Andri Sinzig

project manager / ASTRA branch Thun

Andri Sinzig, project manager for ASTRA,

talks about the project and the collaboration

with BL Silobau AG.

How was your experience of the building

project?

«The project first became more concrete

in 2009. Six years passed between the project

idea to the start of construction, which

seems rather long for a project of this size.

These years were extremely exciting, however

– it’s a great honour, as an infrastructure

builder, to lead such a large-scale construction

project. And the phase of the project definition,

the architecture competition and the subse-

quent development of the construction project

will definitely stay with me. And the initial

results are very impressive too.»

Has anything made a particular impression

on you?

«Over the course of the project, I was in con-

tact with many very different people.

So far we have had no major interpersonal pro -

blems, which was not a foregone conclusion.

The planning and construction industry has out -

standing professionals who know how

to apply their expertise to get the job done.

It makes the work a real pleasure!»

How did you find the collaboration with

Blumer-Lehmann?

«The team from Blumer-Lehmann acted in a

cooperative and fast manner throughout.

In the planning phase in particular, it was cer -

tainly not always easy for Blumer-Lehmann

as we had B Architekten AG on board, a design

conscience that has its eye on everything

down to the smallest detail. During the construc-

tion phase, Blumer-Lehmann delivered a

flawless performance. It always met all the

specifications in terms of deadlines, costs

and quality. I have nothing but praise for its

work.»

What advantages will the new facilities yield

for the winter road service department?

«For area unit 1, the implementation of the

project represents a quantum leap. The techno-

logical leap is a good 30 years. With the

new facility, the vehicles can be loaded more

efficiently and salt management has been

made significantly simpler. The space require-

ments for storage have been optimised –

and the storage quantity raised at the same

time. And last but not least, the project also

promotes job security. A full range of benefits

that will undoubtedly make the work much

easier for area unit 1.»

01/2016


The town of Tettnang in Baden-Württemberg

opted for an impressive array of our pro -

ducts and received a complete winter facility

consisting of a new 1,200 m3 salt warehouse

with a modular conveyor system, a 250 m3 silo,

Complete facility TettnangWith everything – and a lot of salt

a Quanto brine facility with a capacity

of 10,000 litres per hour, and a brine tank with

a volume of 40,000 litres. BL Silobau AG was

brought in as the general contractor. The salt is

removed from the silo and weighed auto-

For the parks department of the town of

St. Gallen, we further developed our small silo:

the two small silos, one each for gravel

and salt, were outfitted with hatches, enabling

them to be conveniently loaded from the

Small silos for St. Gallen Compact design, big hatch

Russia is not known for its balmy winter nights.

The hard winters are therefore a perfect

match for our robust silo and system techno-

logy. After an initial wooden silo job in

St. Petersburg in 2013, requirements called for

additions. For the construction of two new

work yards, we delivered highly automated salt

Highly automated silos in St. PetersburgWhen temperatures plummet in Russia

silos with a volume of 200 m3 each, conveyor

systems with a capacity of 40 tonnes per

hour, brine mixing facilities for calcium and so-

dium chloride, and brine tanks with filling

stations. Installation began in October 2015.

matically. With ideal facilities in place,

we wish everyone safe and enjoyable drive

on Tettnang’s roads this coming winter.

20 /SILO SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION

01/2016

top with a truck-mounted crane shovel.

With the manual segment slidegate, it is very

easy to load the spreading vehicles.


21

Blumer-Lehmann GmbH, our specialist in brine

technology, has moved. Only a few kilometres,

mind, from Untermeitingen to Klosterlechfeld

(the Bavarian towns are just two kilometres

apart), but the effect is sure to be much greater

than the distance. The larger production floor

and additional storage space enable much

more efficient implementation of even larger

projects.

Move within the neighbourhood has a big effect

The facility in Scharbeutz is a good example:

in addition to the existing salt hall, we deliv-

ered a new brine facility, including a technical

room, consisting of a brine producer and

three storage tanks with 40,000, 30,000 and

20,000-litre capacities. The electrically

operated roof on the brine generator enables

the salt to be fed into the brine producer

with a wheel loader. All pumps and control units

are located in the adjacent technical room.

In addition to two smaller loading stations, a rapid

loading station was installed for full-wet

brine spreading vehicles. The station has a con-

veyor capacity to the spreading vehicle of

more than 60 m3 per hour.

We have expanded our line-up of brine facilities:

our Basic brine mixing facility automatically

produces a concentrated brine, and combines

a high brine mixing capacity (2,000 litres

per hour) with a very compact design. The facility

is integrated into the supporting structure of

Basic – but not missing a thing

Two of our silos that we built some time ago had

to be moved to new locations this year.

In Loveresse, JU, we moved the silo facility

(two × 150 m3), built in 2009, to the other side

of the grounds due to the newly planned

work yard. The two 17-tonne silos were moved

in one fell swoop to the new foundation with

a large crane. The new work yard will also

receive a conveyor system and a Basic brine

facility in 2016.

In the tourist town of Saalfelden near Salzburg,

the winter road services base was moved

within the municipality. To execute the move,

the 250 m3 silo was broken down into ele-

ments, reassembled and brought back online at

a new location in the village in just a few days.

Service and maintenance On the move for our cus-tomers all around Europe

a salt silo and requires no additional floor

space. Its functions include multiple electronic

measurements of the brine concentration,

warehousing the brine in tanks and pouring the

brine directly into spreading vehicles.

We’re still in Russia but in Moscow, some

7,120 kilometres from St. Petersburg.

Here, Blumer-Lehmann AG is a general contrac-

tor in a very exciting job that we are not at

liberty to discuss in detail at this time.

And St. Petersburg once again? We received the commission for all timber

con struction with a new roof structure

for an old building and a new construction with

a very complex and high quality interior.

The image shows our assembly people install-

ing the roof in this latest international

project.

01/2016


22 /NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF WOOD

Lehmann Timber Code AG manufactures

components for current developments in tim-

ber construction: thanks to digital design,

impressive feats of engineering and develop-

ments in timber-based materials, we are

now able to construct timber designs that just

a few years ago would have been possible

only with other materials. A growing number

of top architects are now looking to the natural

high-tech material and the immense range

of design possibilities it opens up. An increas-

ing number of landmark projects have been

implemented with structural architecture,

where timber serves not just as cladding and

protection but also provides the structure itself

in a striking architectural form. A who’s who

of international architects have shown great

appreciation of timber, including Norman Foster,

Zaha Hadid, Herzog & de Meuron and that

pioneer of sustainable construction and holder

of the Pritzker award, Shigeru Ban.

New company, new location and a world

première machine

«We needed space for the complex production

of these timber components that we no

longer had at the seven-hectare Erlenhof site.

So we checked out various locations in

Switzerland and abroad and were fortunate to

find a suitable location nearby at the site

of the former Frey machine and engine factory

on Bischofszellerstrasse in Gossau. A clear

commitment to working in Switzerland,» says

Katharina Lehmann, describing the starting

point for the development of the new company

– the seventh company now under a single

holding structure. The grounds comprise some

9,000 m2, formerly home to two halls.

The larger of the two halls was half dismantled,

rebuilt and expanded, while the smaller hall

was retained. The building application was sub-

mitted in October 2014. Construction work

began in December of the same year. The move

into the new hall took place in April 2015,

and in July the new machine and the company

were ready for operation. An ambitious

schedule.

«The heart of the production facility is a

60-metre long and six-metre wide CNC

machine. The machine is a TW Mill from Techno-

wood that we have adapted to our needs in

close and intensive cooperation,» says

Martin Antemann, CEO of the new company.

The Leh mann Timber Code AG combines

digital expertise with traditional craftsmanship.

Using CAD/CAM software and powerful,

intelligent CNC production technology, the com -

pany produces, mills, processes and pre-

assembles complex components – customised,

multi-curved components and large dimen -

sion components for projects in Switzerland

and abroad. The CNC system consists of

a free-standing gantry with three five-axis

units and eight dollies for moving the

components.

Lehmann Timber Code AGA new CNC technology centre

All six sides of a component can be processed

without any further clamping. The size of

the manufactured parts is limited only by the

means of transport – road, rail, water or air.

The CNC system can process pieces up to a size

of 5.5 metres in width and 27 metres in length.

A processing height (Z-axis) of 1.35 metres is

possible.

Modern digital production processes:

IT and craftsmanship, hand in hand

The large production space, the globally unique

machinery and the newly developed software

components result in maximum efficiency,

quality and reliability. The immense flexibility

and performance of the machinery require

a high level of software expertise to provide the

essential high-quality code and correct infor-

mation. Needless to say, Lehmann Timber Code

AG also specialises in the preparation of

this data. The IT system is designed to allow all

information associated with the geometric

features to be imported and supplemented with

production and quality-related data. All data

can be exported into the usual formats or further

modified in additional process stages.

Follow

Lehmann Timber

Code on LinkedIn

01/2016


23

Consulting: as a specialist for component

production and form-making, we cover every-

thing from project development, feasibility

studies and design to the CAD/CAM processes.

Form-making: we put our comprehensive

expertise to use in timber construction projects,

and we develop or process all CNC machine

data into positive or negative forms. We assist

our customers in the development of forms for

custom and industrially produced parts.

Component production: we are a material and

system-independent partner for the production

and supply of special components and prod-

ucts in the timber construction field. Our timber

framing centre uses high-end CNC processes

that deliver the highest precision, flexibility and

speed.

Prototyping: our knowledge is not only signifi-

cant for architectural milestone projects in

timber construction engineering, 3D modelling,

high-quality code and error-free information

for CNC machines are also critical for prototyping

large and small parts and in management of

3D printing. We use 3D models from customers

or develop them ourselves.

Martin Antemann describes the four products and services of the new company

Complex timber construction components are planned

and produced quickly, flexibly and precisely with digital processes –

from the idea to the machine.

01/2016


24 /NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF WOOD

The name says it all in the new product line

from Lehmann Holzwerk AG: smart processing,

design-conscious, creativity, intended for

interior and exterior architecture. SmART Timber

unites the themes of wood, design, art and

architecture. The product line currently inclu-

des sight screens, structured wood and

3D façades.

Sight screens create a private space in a crea-

tive, design-conscious way. Indoors or out-

doors, in the office or at home, mobile or fixed,

playful or plain. An attractive and striking

attention-grabber that protects any type of

area from view.

With structured wood, you can design custom

surfaces for interior and exterior design

purposes. Our structure planing machine pro-

cesses any type of wood, lending it a three-

dimensional look for decking, floor strips,

façades, walls and ceilings.

With 3D façades, everything from elegant

structures to playful patterns and even letter-

ing is possible. With special shapes and the

interplay of light and shadows, every façade

has its own character.

More information is available at

www.smart-timber.ch.

SmART TimberNomen est omen

THE SMART TIMBER PRODUCT LINE INCLU DES SIGHT SCREENS, STRUCTURED WOOD AND 3D FAÇADES. THEY CREATE A PRIVATE SPACE IN A CREATIVE, DESIGN CONSCIOUS WAY. INDOORS OR OUT DOORS, IN THE OFFICE OR AT HOME, MOBILE OR FIXED, PLAYFUL OR PLAIN.

01/2016


25

Lehmann Holzwerk AG has made major invest-

ments in the sawmill over the past year

and optimised various processes. Among other

things, a hammer mill was added for pellet

production; it enables us to crush and process

wood chips, a by-product of the sawmill,

into pellets. This means a 50% increase in annual

production, from 12,000 to 18,000 tonnes.

We use by-products exclusively from our

sawmill and planing operations, which enables

us to guarantee a high and consistent level of

quality. We will soon also increase the capacity

of our drying chambers, which we operate

with heat from our own power plant, thus bo-

os ting the efficiency of the drying process.

We continue to invest in the raw material – Swiss wood, naturally

Why we use Swiss wood

We continue to advocate the use of Swiss

wood with great passion – one of Switzerland’s

few – and locally renewable – resources.

We appreciate the diversity of possible uses,

our well-tended forests, the little grey

energy used thanks to short transport routes,

and of course the economic significance

of the many jobs in the forestry industry and

the economy as a whole. This is particularly

true in more rural areas of Switzerland. Here

at Erlenhof, we use wood in a completely

sustainable manner – from the sawmill and

every facet of timber construction to

the production of pellets and briquettes, and

heat and elec tricity in our power plant.

WE CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE THE USE OF SWISS WOOD WITH GREAT PASSION – ONE OF SWITZERLAND’S FEW – AND LOCALLY RENEWABLE – RE SO U R CES.

Sustainability all the way – e-mobility comes to Erlenhof

Our employees have taken to moving around

on electric scooters – or using the trusty

old plant bicycles, which are as popular as ever.

Transport at Erlenhof is increasingly made

without the use of the combustion engine –

thanks to our new electric forklifts. Thus, our

fleet of electric vehicles is growing larger

all the time.

Electric charging station with Swisscharge

There is now even a public electric charging

stat ion from the Swisscharge network

on our grounds.

More information is available at

www.swisscharge.ch.

We wish everyone a pleasant and safe

journey – with wood in the tank.

In its spectacular new buildings in Biel, which we

have the privilege to implement, the Swatch Group

is opting for Swiss wood.

01/2016


26 /INTERNAL

As part of our 140th anniversary celebrations, in addition

to the Woodrock concert evening, we organised various events

for our customers and partners. Blumer-Lehmann AG invited

guests to join us on a tour of our highlights. The two-day timber

construction trip took guests on an eastern Switzerland tour

of some of our project highlights of the past 18 months:

from Hotel Säntispark up to the heights of Hotel Schwägalp and

the mountain-top building in Chäserrugg, before heading

back down to Lake Zurich and the enchanting Himmapan Lodge

at Knies Kinderzoo.

Race to the top

Life in the service of timber construction

Richard Jussel, CEO of Blumer-Lehmann AG,

has helped shape our company for 32 years.

In addition to acquisitions, customer relations

and leadership of the company, he regards

his most important responsibility as the inter-

nal project development at the beginning

of a contract. We asked him a few questions.

What drives you?

«I have spent my entire life working with

wood and have seen many innovative develop-

ments emerge. What has always excited

me is the creative ideas of the architects and

planners, which we are then able to implement

at the highest level with our many years of

experience. The appeal, or the fascination,

is always in the design. It might be a modular

construction, a prefabricated building or

a special free-form project. Beyond the key

elements of digital planning and production,

craftsmanship remains a crucial factor.»

Do you have time for hobbies?

«When I was younger, I was an active boxer.

And when I was 15, I began taking pictures of

tree bark. I’ve assembled some 20,000 photo-

graphs from around the world since then.

Every tree bark is unique.»

What have been the important investments

at Erlenhof in recent years?

«In our company, major investments always

have to be made – in technology and,

above all, in our employees and their capa-

bilities. From a technical standpoint, we’ve

prepared ourselves for the future with our new

production hall, which allows us to produce

modular units and elements much more

efficien tly, and with our latest sister company,

Lehmann Timber Code AG, which has a state-

of-the-art CNC competence centre.»

01/2016


25 years

Ralph Lehmann

Stipo Valentic

Dörig Christoph

Marius Looser

45 years

27

The majority of our employees stay with us for

many years. We do our best to create good

working conditions and offer fulfilling activities,

but we don’t take years of loyal service for

granted, so thank you for your dedication and

your contribution to the success of our op-

erations.

Thanks for your loyalty!

Among the employees who have entered a new

phase of their lives with retirement, a few –

by modern standards – worked for an exception-

ally long time with us. Many thanks and all

the best to you. You’ll always be welcome at

Erlenhof.

Best wishes for this new phase of your life

Thomas Metzger

Roman Schoch

Marco Schiess

Roland Meier

20 years

15 years

Jakob Frischknecht

Berno Hochreutener

Roger Hochreutener

Beat Casanova

Jris Frieden

Stefan Frei

Hansueli Preisig

Thomas Keller

Robert Huser

10 years

National Future Day 2015 – as it is every year

at Erlenhof. We hope that our «young pros-

pects» had a lot of fun watching, discovering

and actively doing. See you next year!

National Future Day 2015

Magnus Ledergerber

after 49 years

with the company

Marius Looser

after 45 years

with the company

Werner Büsser

after seven years

with the company

We warmly congratulate our young professionals on

the successful completion of their apprenticeships.

We’re delighted for you, and wish you all the best and

much enjoyment in your career paths.

From left: Hansueli Frei, Christian Giger (apprentice support Blumer-Lehmann AG), Christoph Müller, Florian Daberkow, Reto Friemel, Fabian Göldi

(carpentry EFZ, Blumer-Lehmann AG) // Daniel Stricker, Daniel Eisenring (sawyer EFZ, wood processing EBA, both Lehmann Holzwerk AG) // Beni Herbert, Jessica Gloor (apprentice support Lehmann Holzwerk AG) // Melanie Schilliger (clerk EFZ, Lehmann Holzwerk AG).

Generally, we have 20 apprentices and interns in our companies

01/2016


28 /INTERNAL

In 2015, our group of companies celebrated its

140th anniversary. The Woodrock concert evening

on 22 August provided a suitable backdrop for

the occasion. We would like to thank everyone who

helped make this event a success, and all guests

for their attendance. Together with our employees,

customers and partners, we look forward to the

coming years and new challenges.

Woodrock 140th anniversary event

01/2016


29

For once, our traditional summer party did not take place

at Erlenhof: for the first time, we used the new production hall

of Lehmann Timber Code AG on Bischofszellerstrasse

in Gossau, and at the same time celebrated the topping-out

ceremony for the new hall. There’s no shortage of space

in the hall, as the dimensions and space requirements of the

new TW Mill CNC facility are impressive indeed.

Summer party and topping-out Lehmann Timber Code

Our teams on tour

Team and company excursions are a traditional

part of our annual programme – to strengthen

team spirit and expand our horizons.

This year the GU/Modular Construction1 depart-

ment made its way to the World Expo in

Milan – as usual a veritable Eldorado for timber

construction as the ultimate form of inno -

va tive temporary construction.

The excursion2 for the project managers and

sales team from Blumer-Lehmann AG first

stopped at Daimler in Sindelfingen. They were

able to experience first-hand what «lean

production» means. At the Center of Excellence,

test-sits and daydreaming were the order

of the hour. Our fleet, in spite of spur-of-the-

moment investment requests, was not entirely

switched over to high-end Mercedes models.

This was followed in the afternoon by a visit to

the Himmapan Lodge at Knies Kinderzoo,

which we constructed.

01/2016


What have been the most striking changes

over the past 140 years?

There's an old German saying: you have

to keep changing to stay true to yourself. What

has remained the same over all these years

is the passion for wood and the enjoyment

of how versatile this natural material is. Much

has changed over the years: what was once

a waterwheel-powered sawmill has become an

integrated group of seven companies in the

wood industry and timber construction sector.

From logs to the sawmill and wood pro c es s ing,

timber construction in every facet, to the

supply of energy with pellets and our own bio-

mass power plant, today we cover the entire

value creation chain and use wood completely

in a sustainable manner.

Has wood and timber construction gained

a different connotation – has it become a trend?

Wood and timber construction has always been

important throughout human history – but

the meaning of wood has changed repeatedly,

and particularly over the past century,

timber construction has continually reinvented

itself through many technological advance-

ments. Today, timber construction, in terms of

sustainability and technological possibilities,

clearly represents the future of the construction

industry. And as a regional, CO2-material,

wood is an eminently important resource –

not least for Switzerland.

Was something organised for the employees

as well? Special excursions, a party, etc.?

The Woodrock event was not just for our

customers and partners, but also for our em-

ployees, their families and friends. The idea

was to have a party for everyone at which we

could all just relax and have a good time.

And we also had our traditional summer party,

which this year was also the topping-out

ceremony for the new hall at Lehmann Timber

Code AG.

For the 140th anniversary, a book on the

history of the operations at Erlenhof has been

published. Could you give us a brief summary

of its contents?

The 56-page book presents an overview of

the last 140 years. From the early days, when

only a small part of Erlenhof was used for the

sawmill, to today, when we are pushing the

boundaries of Erlenhof and our newest compa-

ny had to settle outside the Erlenhof grounds.

The book recounts stories about people,

the various companies, our fields of activity,

which have become ever more diverse in

recent years, and, above all, our ideals and our

family-based corporate culture. Many exciting

episodes from the rich history of a family-

run business.

How was the book received?

The book was very well received because

it was the first time that we had told the history

from the very beginning to today in such

detail. Many people who are close to the com-

panies and the Lehmann family combed

through their archives and contributed to

the book. It has turned out to be a very beauti-

ful and informative documentation of our his-

tory, into which many people put much effort.

As part of the anniversary celebrations, the

Woodrock event was held with numerous con-

certs. How did the idea take shape? Who were

the guests? And how were the concerts re-

ceived by the audience?

Woodrock has become something of a tradition

at Erlenhof. The first time such concerts were

held 10 years ago, it was organised rather

spontaneously and we had many more guests

than anticipated. This year, we discussed

how we wanted to celebrate our anniversary

in a fitting and authentic way, and came to

the conclusion that we wanted to have music

and a diverse mix of guests, including cus-

tomers and partners, employees, their families

and friends. One thing was very important

to us: the event should invite people to relax

and have a good time. The feedback was very

positive. The concerts, from local rock bands

who were there at the première, to internation-

ally performing jazz acts, provided a won -

der ful open-air atmosphere in which one could

either engage with the music or step back

and chat with partners and friends. 1,200

guests celebrated into the early hours. Thank

you!

// Raphael Imhof

Head of Marketing and Communications

140 years of passion for woodFrom the early days to the present

30 /INTERNA

01/2016


31

For the third time following 2009 and 2012,

the Prix Lignum was again awarded on

a Switzerland-wide basis this year. Its aim is

to raise awareness and promote forward-

looking work with wood. For the five regions –

West, Middle, North, East and Central –

the juries awarded three prizes and a number

of honours. In September, two of «our’ projects

were honoured: in the North region, the new

construction for Tamedia AG was given an hon-

ourable mention. In the East region, our own

production and assembly hall was commended.

The official evaluation of our production hall

is as follows:

Space for industrial production

For a more efficient production of elements

and modules, the timber construction company

Blumer-Lehmann built a new production

facility. It demonstrates: industrialisation is con-

tinu ing in great strides, which in turn is

making timber construction even more com-

petitive and capable. With 4,000 m2 of space,

the building provides space for modern

element production and pre-assembly, a fully

automated warehouse and offices. The new

building is precisely calibrated to its purpose:

it optimises processes and follows the material

flow. The 45 degree angle of the roof allows

abundant light into the interior, which creates a

pleasant working environment. The sloping

roof and the offset arrangement of the sections

of the hall give the space a lighter feel than

the volume would suggest. The supporting

Prizes and awardsHighly distinguished!

structure was developed by the company itself.

A girder system with steel tension rods spans

the 80 metre long hall. For longitudinal bracing,

the company constructed an arch of wooden

beams arranged in a parabolic structure. The

supporting structure is light and intuitive, and

the noise-insulating roof elements create

a friendly atmosphere. The functional building

was efficiently planned, the details are co-

herent and the structural solutions are sound.

Thus, the building demonstrates that even

large halls and façades can be built using wood

– and at absolutely competitive prices.

The new Tamedia AG building was honoured

as follows:

High-flown timber

The Tamedia media company has treated itself

to a new headquarters in Zurich that aims

for the stars. The Japanese Pritzker prize winner

Shigeru Ban designed a baroque, sweeping

timber frame that exudes charisma from behind

a glass façade. The building is a special design;

the usual rules of timber construction do not

apply here. The unusual thickening of the lifting

beams and a beech wood bolt ensure rigid

connections without a single metal part. All wood

components were milled from laminated

beams with millimetre precision by a comput-

er-controlled system. The spruce beams are of

the highest quality. The ceilings are painted

white to accentuate the timber frame. The glass

façade extends into the timber frame as a

three-metre wide zone, forming a climate buff-

er where the stairway and open or closed

meeting rooms are located. The building not

only points the way to a bright future, but also

shows what can be done with wood when

planners are able to let their imaginations take

flight. It is a milestone achievement, a prestig-

ious building and a construction masterpiece

that embodies the passion for timber construc-

tion.

One of our projects also gained praise from the

International Olympic Committee IOC:

At the IOC/IAKS awards, the new Sportzentrum

Sargans building took second place in the

«Indoor facilities for sports, leisure and recrea-

tion’ category. Particular praise was reserved

for the sustainability of the timber construction

and the local craftsmanship. The Sportzentrum

Riet, with a four-section wood sports hall,

opened in summer 2012. We’re absolutely de-

lighted – the Olympic motto «citius, altius,

fortius» (faster, higher, stronger) is also a great

fit with the capabilities of timber construction.

1 //The new Tamedia building in Zurich

2 // The longitudinal bracing of our own production hall

3 // Regional sports centre in Sargans

01/2016


PUBLISHING DETAILS

Publisher

Blumer-Lehmann AG

Erlenhof, 9200 Gossau

Concept and design

Pinax AG für Marketing

und Kommunikation

Text

Pinax AG für Marketing

und Kommunikation,

Raphael Imhof

Editor

Raphael Imhof

Printer

Walpen AG, 9200 Gossau

Print run

Print edition in German:

7,500.

Available as a PDF

in English and French.

news from the world of wood: issue 08/2015

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