Time to take stock – 10 months characterized by partnership, research and innovation
On the 30th of June 2025 – and therefore roughly 10 months after the takeover of management by Andreas Ringhofer – the 27thgeneral assembly of the holz.bau forschungs gmbh took place in the construction technology center of the TU Graz. Besides the presentation of a very positive annual financial statement for the fiscal year 2024, as well as an overview concerning the ongoing R&D-plans, it was a special highlight of this meeting to be able to officially welcome the new strategical partners of the holz.bau forschungs gmbh.
In recent months, the hbf was able to enter perennial R&D -cooperations with the Schmid Schrauben Hainfeld GmbH, the voestalpine Wire Rod Austria GmbH and last but not least, with the WIEHAG Timber Construction GmbH, which all enrich the partner structure immensely, especially concerning connection technology in timber engineering. Along with this, the holz.bau forschungs gmbh will not only, as before, visualise and process the process chain timber construction product – from forest to installation of the timber component into the building -, but also the process chain timber construction screws – from iron mining to screw application on site – in the form of realisation of collective R&D – activities with our consortium of companies. This falls under the umbrella of strategic R&D thrusts “Resource-Efficient Usage of Material”, “Assemble, Click, Connect & Disconnect” as well as “Constructing in Existing Buildings” in the context of recyclable construction (Rebuild – Recycle – Reuse).
Managing director Andreas Ringhofer personally thanked the long-standing partners of the holz.bau forschungs gmbh, Hasslacher Holding GmbH, Mayr-Melnhof Weiterverarbeitungs Holding GmbH, Holzcluster Steiermark GmbH, VH Holding GmbH, Johann Offner Beteiligungs GmbH, Michael Weinig AG as well as Stora Enso Wood Products GmbH at the end of the event for their trust.
Following the general assembly, the revived summer-barbecue – the holz.bau forschungs gmbh together with the institute for timber engineering and timber technology as well as the concrete and timber construction drafting room of the TU Graz – provided the perfect setting to exchange ideas, network, discuss and ring in the summer.