Binderholz buys Klausner mill

The US$61m purchase was via auction on August 21, 2020 where other bidders were Mercer Inc and Mayr Melnhof Holz. The transaction is expected to close at the beginning of October 2020.

This step is a further milestone in the company's history as it means that Binderholz will produce outside of Europe for the first time.

The site in the centre of Florida is located in one of the best growth areas for southern yellow pine, which is in high demand in the US. This ensures a high availability of round timber at a price level that has been extremely stable in recent years. In addition, the eastern part of the US is one of the most densely populated areas in the States, so that the corresponding demand also exists on the sales side.

“We see the American solid wood market as a strategic target and growth market for the Binderholz Group,” said Reinhard Binder, chief executive officer.

“The US is by far the largest consumer of wood in the world – with a growing demand. Following the founding of Binderholz Timber Inc, Atlanta in 2019 and a consistent and successful market development, the US will become one of the most important sales markets for Binderholz in 2020 with over 450,000m³ of planed products and sales of around €170m. The purchase of our own production facility in what is by far the largest world market for solid wood was therefore the next logical step. We also want to further develop our successful business model in the US.”

The acquired sawmill Klausner Lumber One LLC has a sawing capacity of over 1 million m³ of round timber and a further processing capacity of over 500,000m³ of sawn timber and planed products. Production at the Florida site is scheduled to resume by the end of 2020 at the latest.

As a result of this takeover, almost 7 million solid cubic metres of round timber will be processed in the Binderholz Group's plants in the then eight sawmills in Austria, Germany, Finland and the US. Of the approximate 4 million m³ of sawn timber, almost 3 million m³ of solid wood products will then be produced.

Through Binderholz Timber Inc and its employees, the Binderholz Group already has a very good network and customer contacts in the US. In recent years, Binderholz has been able to complete numerous projects in the US via Binderholz Bausysteme GmbH.

In spite of Covid-19, the Binderholz Group has been able to operate production at full capacity at all locations this year, while complying with all hygiene and safety standards, and thus not only maintaining but also expanding the workforce.