14/10/2009 - 09:20 AM
On October 13, the Commercial Court of Colmar/France announced that the Swiss company Schilliger Holz AG , Küssnacht (Zurich) took over the sawmill of Klenk in Volgelsheim. After the bankruptcy of Klenk SAS in the spring of 2009, four companies have submitted offers: both leaders in the French softwood business, SIAT Braun and Monnet Sève , as well as Schilliger and later Dold Holzwerke . The Court's decision has been delayed for several months by prolonged negotiations.

The purchase price is € 15 million. It remains unclear, for the time being, how far the social aspects contributed to the court’s decision. Ernest Schilliger , fifth-generation Chairman of Schilliger Holz AG, wants to reduce the production from two to one shift. The reason for his choice is both that winter is coming up and the uncertain economic situation. Until further notice, the sawing capacity of the plant will be held down at 250,000 to 300,000 cbm, but it will continue to process both small diameter logs and large diameter . Nothing will change in the organization of log procurement, because the management remains in Volgelsheim. However, the range of wood products will expand, because Schilliger wants to provide high-end products like glulam and glued panels. For now, Volgelsheim will supply the Swiss Manufacturer with finger jointed squares and beams (KVH). The 170 km between Volgelsheim and the headquarter in Canton Zurich will not be an obstacle.

Schilliger seized the opportunity to take over the Volgelsheim mill because it is already strongly invested in processig large diameter logs in its mill in Perlen (80 000 cbm since 2000). Another project, for a second large diameter sawmill in Luterbach (Solothurn), was well on its way: "We bought the land and obtained a building permit," said Ernest Schilliger. "However, under the existing circumstances, the completion of this project makes no sense." Whether the mill in Luterbach will be finished in the medium term remains to be seen.

The fate of the smaller sawmill in Chaud-de-Fonds (Switzerland), in which Schilliger is also involved, is by no means dependent on the decision reached in Colmar. However, the plant provides no opportunities for development because of its location, and this was also made clear to the local workforce.

(Fordaq)