neue Holzbau

What neue Holzbau does

Neue Holzbau AG (n'H), headquartered in Lungern, Canton Obwalden, Switzerland, is a privately held specialized timber engineering company founded in 1983 as the successor to Holzbau A.G. Lungern (originally established 1926). The company designs, engineers, produces, and delivers custom structural timber systems for architects, engineers, and project developers requiring engineered glulam solutions that exceed standard specifications in load capacity, dimensions, and aesthetics. Its customer base spans educational institutions (multiple Cambridge colleges, Swiss Kantonsschulen), hospitality (Skarsnuten Hotel, Valbella Resort), commercial/retail (Coop Krøderen), agriculture, and cultural/architectural projects (Yadegar Asiri panoramas, VERT Pavilion for London Design Festival 2024).

The company's core technology stack centers on glued laminated timber (Brettschichtholz) in both softwood and hardwood (ash and beech) variants, Accoya modified wood, and its proprietary GSA Technology — a high-performance connection system using profiled steel rods glued into glulam timber parallel or perpendicular to grain. GSA, developed in-house in 2000 and continuously improved, enables large forces to be introduced on small surfaces, supporting filigree and architecturally demanding structures. Other proprietary capabilities include the Alternative Load Path Method for reinforced openings, glued-in anchors, and block bonding. The company operates its own testing laboratory and integrates digital work preparation (AVOR) with CNC production, achieving high prefabrication that shortens on-site assembly time.

Neue Holzbau generates revenue primarily through one-time project contracts for custom engineered timber structures, complemented by contract gluing (Lohnverleimungen), special parts, and a subsidiary NH Akustik Design AG selling Topakustik panels. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales: dedicated regional sales managers cover every Swiss canton, while international projects are channeled through n'H International AG and a UK branch office (n'H International Ltd. in Surrey). The international subsidiary has delivered 40+ projects across Switzerland, the UK, Norway, Germany, Australia, Italy, Canada, and Russia. Group structure includes n'H Holding AG (2022) as the umbrella entity, with ownership shared among management including the Abplanalp family, Theodor Jaggi, Thomas Strahm, and Adrian Bühler.

Name

neue Holzbau

Legal name

neue Holzbau AG Lungern

Website

https://neueholzbau.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Neue Holzbau AG is a Swiss timber engineering company that designs, engineers, and prefabricates custom glulam structures using its proprietary GSA connection technology, serving architects, project developers, and institutions across Switzerland and international markets through its n'H International subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Lungern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Timber Structure Engineering and Production: Design, engineering, production, and delivery of custom structural timber systems with high prefabrication for national and international projects
2. Glulam and Structural Timber Products: Production and sale of glued laminated timber (Brettschichtholz), BSH hardwood products, Accoya, and special custom parts
3. Contract Gluing Services: Lohnverleimungen - contract gluing services for external customers
4. International Project Services: Through n'H International AG subsidiary - engineered timber structures delivered worldwide with Swiss precision and innovation

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

neue Holzbau AG designs, engineers, produces, and delivers custom structural timber systems with high prefabrication for demanding residential, educational, commercial, hospitality, and infrastructure projects. Its core offering is built around glued laminated timber (softwood Brettschichtholz and hardwood BSH-Laubholz from ash/beech), the proprietary GSA connection technology, and contract gluing services, sold primarily to architects, engineers, project developers, and general contractors in Switzerland and internationally.

Product overview

neue Holzbau AG operates as a specialized timber engineering company offering a comprehensive portfolio of engineered timber products and services. Their core offerings include GSA Technology (proprietary high-performance connection systems), structural systems (load-bearing timber frameworks), glued laminated timber products in both softwood and hardwood varieties (Brettschichtholz, BSH-Laubholz), and specialty products like Accoya modified wood. Service offerings encompass the complete project lifecycle from sales consultation and project development through engineering, work preparation (AVOR), production, and logistics. The company serves both domestic Swiss and international markets through their n'H International subsidiary, delivering projects from concept through to installation with maximum prefabrication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GSA Technology (GSA Technologie) Proprietary high-performance connection technology for modern engineered timber construction. Uses profiled steel rods glued into glulam timber parallel or perpendicular to grain direction to transfer large forces through small surfaces. Developed in-house and continuously improved since 2000.
• Structural Systems (Tragwerke) Load-bearing timber structures and structural frameworks designed for demanding engineering projects, offering modular high-performance components with maximum prefabrication for short construction times. Targeted at architects, engineers and project developers with non-standard structural requirements.
• Brettschichtholz (Glued Laminated Timber) Engineered wood product composed of layers of dimensional softwood timber bonded together with durable structural adhesives, providing superior strength and dimensional stability for construction applications.
• BSH-Laubholz (BSH Hardwood) Glued laminated timber manufactured from hardwood species such as ash and beech, offering enhanced strength properties for specialized engineering applications. Backed by 30+ years of in-house hardwood expertise.
• Accoya Modified wood product with enhanced durability and dimensional stability, suitable for demanding exterior applications requiring long-term performance.
• Lohnverleimungen (Contract Gluing) Contract gluing services for timber components, providing professional adhesive bonding for various structural and non-structural applications on behalf of external customers.
• Blockverklebungen (Block Bonding) Block bonding services for creating large-section timber components through the adhesive bonding of smaller timber pieces, used to produce custom-sized structural timber elements.
• Sonderteile (Special Parts) Custom-manufactured special timber components tailored to specific project requirements beyond the standard product offerings.

Named customers17 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAssociation activity supporting Swiss companies in international markets. n'H International leverages S-GE network for export activities and international market development.
• Lignum SwitzerlandcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss wood industry association providing industry representation, standards, and marketing support for wood construction.
• Wood Industry Switzerland (Holzindustrie Schweiz)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational industry association for the wood processing industry representing Swiss wood companies.
• Lignum Holzwirtschaft ZentralschweizminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional wood industry association for Central Switzerland supporting local timber construction industry.
• Frontal AG AgencyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMarketing and design agency responsible for website concept and design.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• HASSLACHER Norica Timber: Austrian producer of glulam, CLT, and structural timber with European-wide distribution and project references — competes with n'H in the same European engineered timber construction market for architectural and large-span projects.
• Schilliger Holz: Swiss sawmill and engineered wood producer (glulam, BSH, custom timber components) — closest domestic Swiss peer to n'H, operating in the same market with overlapping product lines and customer segments.
• Mayr-Melnhof Holz: Austrian glulam and CLT manufacturer with integrated sawmills and a strong project business in mass timber construction — directly comparable to n'H in product portfolio and target customer (architects, engineers, project developers).
• KLH Massivholz: Austrian pioneer in CLT (cross-laminated timber) panels serving European mass-timber construction projects — overlaps with n'H's engineered-timber focus and competes for the same architect/engineer customer base.
• Derix Group: German specialist in glulam manufacturing and timber engineering with international project experience — competes with n'H in the European engineered timber construction market for prestigious and complex projects.
• Wiehag: Austrian specialist in large-span timber construction with glulam manufacturing and project-engineering capabilities — comparable to n'H in serving demanding architectural timber structures across Europe.
• Binderholz: Austrian family-owned manufacturer of glulam (BSH), CLT, and sawn timber — the largest integrated engineered wood producer in Europe and a direct competitor to n'H in glulam supply for international timber construction projects.

Broad incumbents

• Metsä Wood: Finnish engineered wood producer (Kerto LVL, glulam, birch plywood) and part of Metsä Group — broader incumbent in the European engineered timber market with scale advantages over n'H in supply and distribution.
• Stora Enso: Nordic pulp, paper, and engineered wood major with a leading CLT offering (CLT by Stora Enso) — a broad incumbent that competes with n'H in European mass timber projects and possesses far greater scale and capital resources.

Emerging players

• Rothoblaas: Italian-headquartered supplier of timber construction connectors, fastening systems, and engineered-wood technology solutions — adjacent competitor to n'H's GSA Technology, serving the same mass-timber construction ecosystem with connection and hardware products.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/neueholzbau
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/neue-holzbau-ag

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about neue Holzbau