DANZER, a leading global timber company, which operates in the Gulf region through its subsidiary INTERHOLCO AG, has increased its offerings by opening a veneer sales division. DANZER specializes in the manufacture of decorative real wooden surfaces, logs and sawn timber from high-quality hardwoods. The company ethos is one of quality and reliability and this comes through in every aspect of the business. Everything they do is designed to satisfy their customers.

The company is represented in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia. DANZER sustainably manages its own forests and forest concessions, operates veneer plants and sawmills, and runs production plants for the manufacture of technical and 3D veneers. The various sites process primarily regional timbers into high-quality hardwood products. Customers around the world are being served from a total of 21 sales offices. DANZER employs some 2,200 people worldwide (www.danzer.com).

DANZER uses modern techniques, employs highly skilled people and runs eco-friendly operations to keep the impact on the forest as low as possible. Forest areas are being prepared for generations to come and DANZER provides its employees with education, healthcare, technical and managerial training programmes as well as logistics in order to favor rural development and enhance customer service.

Through the opening of a new veneer sales division in the Gulf region, DANZER now offers a consistent supply of high quality rift cut veneer at a competitive price. This is often challenging but DANZER has developed a reliable and cost effective solution with its new and innovative product, 'DANZER LINEA', made from real species. The result is that the customer gets a consistent high quality veneer, cut to size. 'DANZER LINEA' has an excellent yield, compared to a comparable rift cut veneer.

DANZER have also developed a second product, 'DANZER FIGURA'. Figured veneer is costly and often hard to get. Only a few veneer logs exhibit a highly decorative figure but DANZER has developed a new process that secures a consistent supply of fine figure across a wide variety of species reducing cost and offering better supply.

DANZER has also been present in the Gulf region for quite some time through INTERHOLCO AG (IHC), which is a subsidiary of the company. IHC was founded by DANZER in 1962. The company has its head office in Baar, Switzerland, and the company has extensive experience with Africa and manages its own concession in the Republic of Congo with 1.2 million hectares of FSC certified forests. Since its formation the company has continuously developed its market position for African logs and lumber. Sapelli, Sipo, Bossé, Tiama, Iroko, Wengé, Afrormosia, Tola and Khaya / Acajou make up the large majority of the IHC product range. Customers include manufacturers of flooring, windows, stairs and terrace decking as well as importers and boat builders.

In its industrial operations at the sawmill level, modern working processes are being used so as to offer a wide range of products. Logs are available in a lot of various qualities, lumber in random and fixed dimensions, strips, decking, laminated and finger jointed products. In addition, pre-drying capacities and modern kiln-dryers guarantee the regular supply of large volumes of KD lumber. IHC is also able to give its customers high quality finished products at very competitive pricing, taking advantage of the decreasing availability of Asian species and using African species that adapt well to end user needs, thereby answering the markets call for higher quality lumber.

With its office set-up in Bahrain, IHC stays close to its customers and is able to respond to the growing GCC markets. While on the other hand being close to the forest resource, IHC accumulates lots of experience in procurement and production, which enables it to service its customer requirements. IHC's personal and daily contact to its production helps customers to have direct access to a reliable and consistent raw material source. They can buy specific grades and products needed and take advantage of the existing logistical set-up. IHC customers can also profit from the recognized product quality, which is guaranteed by a well-organized grading concept based on clearly defined grading standards. As such, end users and local importers are easily able to use and resell delivered products.

While IHC constantly modernizes its production processes, the overall yield from the forest until the finished product improves considerably. This helps customers save a lot of time during their sorting and production process and increases massively their own yield. As such, customers receive a calculable and consistent raw material, helping them to reduce their production and material cost.

By studying the whole industrial process and discussing with the end-users, IHC tries to reduce waste to a possible minimum. For example, the company initiated the production of finger-jointed and laminated scantlings directly in Congo/Africa. With this new production line, more value is being added and timber is getting more competitive again in comparison to other construction materials used.

Given its transparent sales strategy and support for key customers, IHC today has created a network of highly respected partners for the worldwide distribution of their products. IHC has created new possibilities in terms of sourcing new species from North America and has also partnered with ABALON Hardwood, a reputed supplier of Beech, a few years ago with an aim to increase its presence in the region and thanks to its very professional partner, IHC is able to offer top quality, light steamed and pre-planed German and Austrian Beech lumber across the whole of GCC. Today, 13 various grades of Beech lumber and FSC certification are available on demand.

In North America, IHC is working with its sister companies INTERFOREST and BRADFORD FOREST PRODUCTS, which allows the company to source white oak, red oak, cherry, walnut, maple and ash from the best areas thereby enabling the company to offer consistent quality and quantity.

Confident of even more growth in this region, DANZER will be participating at the upcoming Dubai WoodShow 2013. Its participation will allow it to throw the spotlight on some of its new innovative products and also presents an opportunity to talk to the company's highly trained specialists.

DANZER Facts & Figures

Business units
- Veneer
- Lumber
- Timber
- Specialty Division (Vinterio & 3D-Veneer)

Market position
- One of the largest producer of FSC Certified African Logs & lumber
- Largest producer of decorative veneer worldwide
- One of the top ten producers of hardwood lumber in North America and Africa

Staff and operations
- Approx. 2,200 employees
- 4 veneer factories, 1 Vinterio factory, 1 3D-Veneer factory, 2 sawmills, 21 sales outlets
- 2.9 million acres (1.16 million hectares) of well managed forest concessions in
Africa (certified according to the FSC-standard).
- 48,000 acres (20,000 hectares) of well managed forests in North America

Europe
- 2 veneer factories, 1 Vinterio factory, 1 3D-Veneer factory
- 7 sales outlets

North & South America
- 2 veneer factories, 1 sawmill
- 11 sales outlets

Africa
- 1 sawmill
- 1 sales outlet

Asia
- 2 sales outlets

© Timber Design & Technology 2013