Upload
phamnga
View
214
Download
2
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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.
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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
www.blumer-lehmann.ch
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.