What Holzforschung Austria does

Holzforschung Austria, founded in 1948 and headquartered in Vienna, is Austria's largest non-profit research and testing institute for wood, operating as a registered association (Verein) under the full legal name Holzforschung Austria – Österreichische Gesellschaft für Holzforschung (HFA-ÖGH). With approximately 100 employees and a secondary building acoustics laboratory (Akustik Center Austria) in Stetten, the institute covers the entire wood value chain from forest storage through processing to finished products and adjacent disciplines including surface coatings, wood preservatives, adhesives, and indoor air quality. It is accredited by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Labour and Economy (BMAW) for testing, inspection, and certification, and operates as the only domestic institute with this full-scope authority.

The institute delivers services across four interconnected pillars: Research & Development (practice-oriented contract research, often serving as an external R&D department for industry clients), Testing (accredited product testing for solid wood, wood-based materials including WPC, timber construction, building physics, chemistry, biofuels, and state-authorized calibration of round timber measuring systems), Certification & Inspection (CE construction products, PEFC/FSC chain of custody, ENplus wood pellets, DIN EN 1627 burglary resistance, SURE biomass, and the proprietary HFA-geprüft quality mark), and Expert Reports (neutral assessments using calibrated laboratory equipment). Supporting these are the HFA-Akademie seminar program, HFA-Magazin, HFA-Bibliothek, a portfolio of free online platforms (dataholz.eu, akustikcenter.at, fenstereinbau.info, infoholz.at), and purchasable technical brochures and conference proceedings.

The business model is B2B professional services, sales-led, targeting four primary customer segments: timber and wood processing companies (primary), the construction industry, windows/doors/furniture manufacturers, and the bioenergy sector. Revenue is generated through transactional testing fees, recurring certification and re-inspection cycles (creating switching-cost-driven retention), state-authorized calibration charges, expert report fees, seminar registrations (€95–€515 per attendee, with 20% ÖGH member discount), and publication sales (€15–€55 per brochure). Public R&D funding from FFG and BMK supplements the operating base. The institute's reach extends across 24 countries, with 1,324 active certificates issued and 1,767 conforming products/services on record.

Name

Holzforschung Austria

Legal name

Holzforschung Austria - Austrian Forest Products Research Society (ÖGH)

Website

https://holzforschung.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Holzforschung Austria is Austria's largest non-profit wood research and testing institute, founded in 1948, offering accredited R&D, product testing, certification, calibration, and expert reports across the entire wood value chain to timber, construction, and bioenergy companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wood Research and Testing Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Conformity Assessment, Testing, Inspection & Certification Cooperation (BPADANAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biofuel Quality Testing, Certification & Sustainability Compliance (RFS, LCFS, ISCC, CORSIA) (EUAAAHAL), Engineering & Technical Standards (Civil, Mechanical, Electrical; Codes & Standards) (EDAGAGAC)

Keywords

• Wood research services
• Timber product testing
• Conformity certification
• Building physics testing
• Wood industry consultancy

Headquarters

HQ city

Vienna

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Testing Services: Product testing for all solid wood products, wood-based materials including WPC, timber construction, building physics, fittings and furniture, wood protection and biology, chemistry, and biofuels
2. Certification and Inspection: Certification services for CE construction products, PEFC, FSC, ENplus wood pellets, burglary resistance; inspections for quality guidelines and quality seals
3. Calibration Services: State-authorized calibration for round timber measuring systems in Austria
4. Expert Reports and Appraisals: Neutral expert assessments and renovation support in construction practice, covering timber structures, building physics, windows, parquet, surface coatings, and indoor air quality
5. Knowledge Transfer and Seminars: Seminars, courses, branch meetings, technical brochures, and publications for practitioners and specialist articles
6. Publications and Brochures Sales: Sale of technical brochures, conference proceedings, annual reports, and magazines with prices ranging from €15 to €55 per item

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Holzforschung Austria is a practice-oriented research and testing institute that provides accredited product testing, conformity assessment, certification, calibration, expert appraisals, and knowledge transfer services across the entire wood value chain. It operates as an external R&D department for industry partners, offering services spanning raw materials, timber construction, building physics, chemistry, biofuels, windows, doors, furniture, wood protection, and surface coatings. The institute issues recognised certifications (CE, PEFC, FSC, ENplus, DIN EN 1627) and its proprietary HFA-tested quality mark.

Product overview

Holzforschung Austria operates as a practice-oriented research and testing institute offering an integrated portfolio of services spanning the entire wood value chain. The core offering comprises four interconnected pillars: Research & Development (contract research and project-based innovation for industry), Testing (accredited product testing across wood materials, construction physics, chemistry, and biofuels), Certification & Inspection (CE construction products, PEFC, FSC, ENplus, DIN EN 1627, and the HFA-tested quality mark), and Expert Reports (neutral assessments using calibrated measurement equipment and laboratories). Supporting these are the HFA-Akademie (seminars, conferences, and courses including Holz_Haus_Tage and Fenster-Türen-Treff), the HFA-Magazin (regular publication), the HFA-Bibliothek (specialist library), and free online platforms including dataholz.eu, infholz.at, akustikcenter.at, and fenstereinbau.info. Knowledge transfer is further supported by purchasable technical brochures, conference proceedings, and free downloadable guidelines and research reports. The institute also provides calibration services for round timber measuring systems and issues expert reports across wood damage, construction physics, and indoor air quality.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HFA-geprüft: The HFA-tested quality mark awarded to products and services meeting quality standards.
• HFA-Akademie
• HFA-Magazin
• HFA-Bibliothek

Products and services

• Forschung & Entwicklung (Research & Development)
• Prüfung (Testing)
• Zertifizierung & Inspektion (Certification & Inspection)
• Gutachten (Expert Reports)
• Eichung (Calibration)
• Wissenstransfer (Knowledge Transfer)
• HFA-geprüft (HFA-Tested Quality Mark)
• HFA-Akademie (Professional Training)
• Technische Broschüren (Technical Brochures)
• Tagungsbände (Conference Proceedings)
• Österreichisches Holzschutzmittel-Verzeichnis

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,324 active certificates issued
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ACR (Austrian Cooperative Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHolzforschung Austria is a member of ACR, the Association of Cooperative Research Institutions of Austrian Business. This membership provides access to a network of research institutions and collaborative research opportunities.
• Bundesministerium für Arbeit und Wirtschaft (BMAW)coreOthersAccreditation holder for all relevant conformity assessment procedures (testing, inspection, and certification) through the Federal Ministry for Labour and Economy.
• IHD Institut für Holztechnologie DresdenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authorship of publications including the Anwenderleitfaden für Holzbeläge im Außenbereich.
• Holzbau AustriaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for the 'Kleben im Holzbau' (Bonding in Timber Construction) courses.
• FH Salzburg / Holztechnikum KuchlminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the 'Kleben im Holzbau' training courses.
• Universität InnsbruckminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the 'Kleben im Holzbau' training courses and Big-ConAir project.
• Technische Universität Graz / Holz.Bau Forschungs GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the 'Kleben im Holzbau' training courses.
• Austria Quality, DIN CERTCO, ECB-SminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCertification bodies for which Holzforschung Austria conducts inspections under their recognition.
• TU GrazminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partner for publications including the Merkblatt: Fenster und Beschattung.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• EMPA: Swiss federal materials science and technology institute with activities in wood-based materials and construction physics testing. Broader portfolio than HFA but overlapping capabilities in building acoustics and timber performance testing.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Large Finnish applied research organization with a wood and bioeconomy division providing testing, certification, and applied research. Broader portfolio than HFA but overlapping in forest-products testing and certification.

Direct peers

• Norsk Treteknisk Institutt: Norwegian wood technology institute providing testing, certification, and consultancy services to the timber industry. Direct peer operating in a comparable regulatory and customer environment to HFA.
• FCBA (Institut Technologique Forêt Cellulose Bois-Construction Ameublement): French technical institute for forest, cellulose, wood, construction, and furniture. Direct peer providing testing, certification, and R&D across the wood value chain in France and Europe with a comparable full-chain scope to HFA.
• CATAS: Italian testing and certification laboratory for wood-furniture and related materials. Directly comparable in offering third-party testing, certification, and quality marks to furniture and wood-product manufacturers.
• IHD Institut für Holztechnologie Dresden: German wood research and testing institute covering the full wood value chain including materials, surface technology, and adhesives. Direct competitor in D-A-CH wood testing and certification; HFA's named co-publication partner on outdoor wood coverings guidance.
• RISE Research Institutes of Sweden: Swedish state research institute with a wood and forest products division offering testing, certification, and applied research. Comparable scope to HFA across the Nordic and broader European market.
• Fraunhofer WKI (Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut): German Fraunhofer institute for wood research covering material testing, surface technology, wood protection, and recycling. Direct peer in wood materials testing and quality assessment within the D-A-CH region.
• SHR Houtonderzoek: Dutch wood research center focused on timber construction, preservation, and quality assessment. Comparable scope to HFA in testing and certification services for European timber and construction markets.
• Thünen Institute (Institute of Wood Research): German federal research institute covering wood research, wood quality, and resource efficiency. Comparable public-sector research mandate and European scope to HFA's R&D and conformity assessment work.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/holzforschung-austria

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Holzforschung Austria