Rothoblaas: an Alpine heart beating for timber

Our headquarters, a structure entirely made of timber and glass, is located in Cortaccia (BZ). This is located in Italy’s north-east, the middle of the Alps, where the technical rigidity of German culture and the Italian innovative spirit meet. It is precisely from this historically bilingual and culturally open territory, which nurtures a strong sense of belonging, that we reach every corner of the world. This is a strategic position, close to research and innovation centres in the field of timber construction, such as: The University of Trento, the IVALSA centre in San Michele and The University of Innsbruck. This is the cradle of a land where timber is in the air and growth is continuous and unstoppable.

ROTHOBLAAS GROWS AND DOES SO IN A VERY SUSTAINABLE WAY

As a company, we were born believing strongly in the potential of this versatile and natural material as a construction method to focus on and to promote. In 30 years, the market has gone from being a niche sector, with the construction of small structures and roofs, to a fast-growing sector that continues to challenge what seemed impossible until the day before. From humble beginnings, this method has led to the construction of entire residential areas built in timber and increasingly taller and more complex buildings that are at the same time safe, comfortable, healthy and have a strong architectural flair. 

We publicly stand behind Mass Timber Construction and do it decisively because we have always believed in it and will continue to do so. We are actively working on the development of a sector that is crucial from the point of view of sustainability and low environmental impact. We are committed to researching and developing innovative solutions so that timber can become the raw material of the future and, consequently, the new construction standard. Our company's role is precisely that of forerunner and reference point in the sector: we have always aimed at identifying and developing technologies that allow us to face increasingly complex challenges and offer those who design and build in wood, safe and reliable innovations. It is precisely through our daily work that we give constant impetus to the development of sustainable construction, contributing significantly to the reduction of CO2 emissions worldwide. The selection of material for our expansion project was therefore a consistent choice that confirms our involvement and proves once again that we are not afraid to put ourselves in the front line to support green building and help it grow.

TIMBER: A PROMISE MADE TO OUR FUTURE

The European Union is committed to achieving carbon neutrality in 2050, the so-called “zero emissions” target, with an intermediate step that foresees a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Rothoblaas has been working on this since 2012, when we built a 200 Kw/h photovoltaic system, a heat pump and a steam heating and cooling system using the heat from the solar system. We have continued along this path without hesitation with every means and possibility, even during the latest expansions. 

That is why we are aiming to neutralise CO2 production already in the next few years, well ahead of the deadlines set by Europe.

We are aiming for an environmentally sustainable future and it was a natural choice for us to make the structure and components of our new automatic warehouse from this precious material. Automation mechanisms are made of motors, tracks, electronics, steel - all materials that generate a great amount of CO2 in their production, as well as concrete foundations. In order to compensate for this CO2 production, we decided to make the entire structure and all the shelving in timber. It should be noted that this required more design effort, but in the end the costs are about the same as if we had used other traditional materials such as steel and concrete, which are commonly used in these projects. Our choice now allows us to enjoy important ecological advantages as wood has a significant negative CO2 balance.

OUR AUTOMATIC WAREHOUSE: the first in Italy built in timber 

The automated warehouse that we are building will be made entirely of timber processed in Alto Adige, including the roof, and this means that we have an increased attention to sustainability: for us, the building's sustainability is really important.  Looking more in detail at the construction, Lang tells us that "the base of the structure consists of a bracing system of 20 combined glulam GL24 and LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) towers with a thickness of 2.5 x 0.8 x 20 metres. The shelving is completely made of glulam and the whole structure has fire resistance class R30. Regarding warehouse automation, a major Italian company was chosen to enable us to implement a multi-depth system. We are looking forward to seeing this completed because we are excited about it and because it will cover all our current needs.

INTERNATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

“We have now grown to 22 subsidiaries worldwide, and the new warehouse serves us in the first instance as an efficient storehouse for timely replenishment to existing warehouses and those planned for the near future," specifies Alexander Vaja, Logistics & Warehouse Manager. We have considered making it automated in order to be able to handle the quantities that have to pass through here for the development of the next few years in order to support the company's growth. Moreover, it is now a fact that we will have to produce many special products in large quantities, and we have to be ready to handle them, offer them at competitive prices and within the right time frames: all this because we guarantee solutions for designing and building in wood that are easily accessible and adapted to the needs of all markets".

“At present, we have space for 11,500 pallets in the warehouse in Cortaccia, and with the new warehouse we will be able to store a total of around 26,000 pallets: we practically double our capacity. This is a very important step for us because we estimate that we will meet our needs in this way for the next ten years," Vaja continues, adding that "the new warehouse has been designed to meet the storage needs for the high number of pallets and products we expect in the next few years, but also to make the picking of low-turnover items in special dynamic picking positions more effective and efficient. It will also be essential for handling pallets and large orders for our subsidiaries," concludes Vaja.

All this huge movement of goods from the current upper part of the warehouse to the new automated storage area is also aimed at creating new space not only for the picking area but also for the office area, as the number of employees is constantly increasing. In addition to this, the project includes spaces for laboratories, a research centre, an auditorium and relaxation areas to allow all employees to fully live, both at work and in their free time, our values: DYNAMISM, PASSION, AMBITION, INTERNATIONALITY and FUN.

These values deeply influence the way we carry on and guide us in our daily relationships with business partners and customers. During the years, we cumulated the reputation of pioneers: our experience made us develop the capability of anticipating the industry’s needs and our extensiveness made us present and reachable for the market. Goes without saying, we are proud of this trend and we have no intention of dropping it.