Wood Processing Industry in Brandenburg

Brandenburg is the most densely wooded state in eastern Germany. The Märkische Kiefer (native species of pine) is the prevailing species of tree in the region and thus the basis of a significant corporate landscape. In 2017, the 41 companies in the industry* generated a goods turnover in excess of 1.57 billion euros. The woodworking industry employs nearly 4,000 people.

This industry is heavily export-oriented. Nearly 28% of the turnover is generated abroad.

More than 78% of the turnover comes from companies in the wood-based materials industry such as Pfleiderer und Classen in Baruth/Mark, Sonae Arauco in Beeskow and the Swiss Krono Group in Heiligengrabe. Baruth/Mark is a site integrated in the value chain with sawmill (Klenk Holz), fibreboard manufacturing (Pfleiderer und Fiberboard) and fibreboard processing (Classen), supplemented by independent industrial power plants to supply the required energy, obtained from biomass. The Swiss Krono Group site in Heiligengrabe is comparable, as it produces fibreboard as well as laminate flooring and receives energy from its own biomass power plants, which are mainly supplied by residual materials generated at the site.

Real wood veneers from Pritzwalk feature prominently in Meyenburg furniture fronts.

Cut oak from Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern adorn parquet floors worldwide.

In addition to large companies, the industry is characterised predominantly by medium-sized companies. Innovative sawmills and timber construction companies, high-performance carpentry and nationally renowned producers of wood playgrounds complete the overview of the industry.

Further examples:
Sawmills: Robeta (Milmersdorf), Holzindustrie Templin, Sägewerke Bohm (Hardenbeck), Gebrüder Noack (Spremberg)
Prefabricated timber construction: Opitz Holzbau, Holzwerke Bullinger and Anderson Haus und Dach in Neuruppin, Kampa Haus in Werder/Havel, Architekts in Holz in Freiwalde
Wood playgrounds: SIK Holz in Niedergörsdorf, Spiel-Bau in Brandenburg a.d.H., Zimmer Obst in Spreenhagen

*) Key figures, 2017; businesses with over twenty employees; industry No. 16 (production of wooden, woven, wicker and cork goods, except furniture) according to the 2008 industry classification.

Source: Statistisches Landesamt Berlin Brandenburg

The technology transfer centres at the region’s universities offer direct access to the latest R&D results. The WFBB registers the companies’ need for innovation and offers optimum support in the development of innovative ideas: from arranging contacts with relevant experts and applying for funding to the administrative management of your project, thus providing highly efficient and demand-oriented technology transfer services.

More information available under Innovative Brandenburg

• Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg

Department of Soil Conservation and Recultivation
Focus on: forest ecology, soil conservation in forests (forest ecosystems research), forestry and renewable raw material management.

• University for Sustainable Development Eberswalde

Faculty of Wood Engineering
Focus on: processing of wood products, wood anatomy and pathology (influence of fungi, insects and environmental factors on wood products), process and product development, timber construction, software programming.

Faculty of Landscape Management and Nature Conservation
Focus on: comparison of various forest types, assessment of the energy potential of different wooded areas, “Agrarholz” forestry conference.

Faculty of Forest and Environment
Focus on: renewable raw materials, ecosystems research, nature and forest conservation, environmental monitoring.

Faculty of Sustainable Business
Focus on: raising awareness of the links between economy, ecology and social responsibility.

• University of Applied Sciences Potsdam

Faculty of Design
Focus on: woodworking, modelling, product design.

Degree course in Preservation and Restoration
Focus on: wood restoration, surface treatment, preservation.

• Technical University of Applied Sciences Wildau

Degree course in automation technology
Focus on: engineering priciples, electrical fundamentals, information-technical bases, specialized applications, interdisciplinary subject areas

Degree course in Logistics
Focus on: planning, control of material and information flows from supply to production to sales to disposal.

Degree course in Mechanical Engineering
Focus on: production systems, plant planning, production process controlling, CAD, production technology, tool design, production measurement technology.

Degree course in Industrial Engineering
Focus on: basics of microeconomics, accounting, corporate planning, material technology, production preparation, production technology, design technology, factory and production planning, CNC programming, CAD-CAM