Fotocredit: Advantage Austria Beijing.
China, with its booming population and rapidly growing economy, faces increasing demand for construction, yet encounters significant challenges in energy consumption and carbon emissions. Austria, renowned for its expertise in innovative and sustainable timber construction and passive house technology, stands ready to provide impactful solutions. The collaboration between China and Austria in sustainable construction holds great promise, especially as China pursues carbon neutrality by 2060.
Austria's abundant forests and advanced timber industry blend traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technologies, showcasing a diverse range of timber products. Notably, Austria's leadership in cross-laminated timber (CLT) underscores its commitment to sustainability, positioning the nation at the forefront of global sustainable construction.
In light of these opportunities and on the occasion of the official visit of the Austrian Federal Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management, Mag. Norbert Totschnig, ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA Beijing organized a trade mission on timber construction from February 29th to March 1st, 2024.
The program included meetings with institutions such as the China Forestry Academy and the Beijing Forestry University, both leaders in timber construction education in China.
During a visit to the renowned China Architectural Design Institute, which has also designed the Olympic Village and the National Sliding Center in Yanqing with timber elements, the Austrian companies could present their solutions and expertise.
The highlight of the trade mission was the Sino-Austrian Wood Construction Zero-Carbon Building Technology Conference, jointly organized with the Technology & Industrialization Center of the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. After the opening through Minister Norbert Totschnig, expert presentations and lively B2B discussions underscored the potential for collaboration between the two nations.
The following 6 Austrian companies used the opportunity and joined the trade mission to explore cooperation opportunities in the timber construction sector in China:
- Rubner Holzbau GmbH
The „Rubner Holzbau GmbH” in Ober-Grafendorf, Austria, has been part of the engineering wood construction business unit of the family-owned Rubner Group headquarted in Kien/ South-Tyrol since 2006. With a total of around 550 employees in Ober-Grafendorf and 5 other locations in Italy, Germany and France, Rubner Engineering Wood Construction produces around 250,000 m2 of roof and façade element, around 85,000 m2 of special components made of glued laminated timber and 10,000 m2 of cross-laminated timber each year. The largest foreign sales markets include Great Britain, Australia/ New Zealand and the Asian Region. - HASSLACHER Holding GmbH
The HASSLACHER group is a globally active innovation leader in the field of intelligent and integrated system solutions for modern timber construction. The family-run enterprise has had its roots for generations in the use of wood as a wonderfully renewable raw material and for more than 120 years has stood for a pioneering spirit, performance, quality, sustainability, and social responsibility. Together with its 2000 employees, the HASSLACHER group produces innovative products in the areas of sawn timber, profiled timber, glued laminated timber, cross laminated timber, and structural finger jointed solid timber for the European and international market. True to our motto “From wood to wonders.”
- Pfeifer Holding GmbH
The Pfeifer Group specializes in the production of wood products for clearly defined purposes: timber construction, concrete formwork technology, the packaging industry, sawn timber, and planed goods. Supposedly waste materials, such as sawdust, are refined into sources of sustainable bioenergy. In order to expand further, especially in the timber construction segment, the group is seeking contacts with timber construction companies, construction companies, timber merchants, architects, planners, and engineers. - Raimund Beck KG Wire Staples Company
The BECK group is one of the world’s leading premium manufacturers of fastening systems and innovative fastening solutions. Founded in 1904, the family-owned company, now in its fourth generation, is globally active with customers in more than 50 countries. LIGNOLOC® is the first collated nail system made of wood that perfectly combines performance and sustainability. Ideal for all timber construction companies who want to implement their projects metal-free but also highly efficient. LIGNOLOC® is processed by a pneumatic nailer and is perfect for use in industrial manufacturing and ecological timber construction. - Mayr-Melnhof Holz Holding AG
With over 170 years of expertise in working with wood, Mayr-Melnhof Holz has established itself as a reliable leader in the industry. Their commitment to quality is rooted in secure supply chains, traceable sourcing, and transparent quality assurance processes. Operating five high-performance sawmills strategically located in densely forested regions across Leoben (AT), Paskov (CZ), Insjön (SE), Blyberg (SE), and Mora (SE), they ensure consistent access to high-quality logs for production. Well-stocked warehouses at each location guarantee swift delivery times, contributing to the enduring value of Mayr-Melnhof Holz's products. - Neue Bauphysik und Energiedesign GmbH
“Neue Bauphysik und Energiedesign GmbH” is headquarted in Vienna, Austria. It is active in the EU, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, and other regions. It is mainly engaged in the field of high energy efficiency and energy- saving buildings: providing solutions, design, calculation, and construction of low-energy/ultra-low energy buildings, passive houses, zero-energy buildings and productive buildings. The company can also optimize building energy systems, interior comfort, and regional energy systems.
An overview of the participating Austrian companies in English and Chinese can be downloaded here (PDF, 3.3MB) .
For further information please contact:
ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA Beijing
T +86 10 8527 5050
