PERSONALITY PROFILE
A vision for
carbon neutrality
By Tarren Bolton
With a family history in the timber industry, Kuratle Group AG CEO, Roger Kuratle
talks about his history with the timber industry, his take on the misconceptions
concerning timber architecture and the Kuratle Group’s outlook for the future.
T
he Kuratle Group comprises a number of companies,
many of which have a long and rich history in the
timber industry. “The family company was founded
by my grandfather in 1955. My father, George, who has
built up the company, involved myself and my two siblings
[sister, Corinne, and brother, Fabian] from an early age
– we grew up in the company and have worked in various
branches to get to know the business. After returning from
working abroad at the age of 25, and after my university
studies, I realised the great potential of timber as high-tech
material, which motivated me to join the family business,”
says Kuratle.
The international company combines construction materials and
timber products, offers custom solutions and delivers end-to-end
services in the areas of construction, interior construction and
related areas, industry, DIY and flooring.
Kuratle’s most memorable experience in the timber industry was
when the group built a new warehouse for their trading company
in Switzerland back in 2018. “I was aware of the potential, but our
team and our clients exceeded my expectations. The over
9 000m², 14-metre-high warehouse, with a parking deck on the
roof as well as offices and an exhibition area was put up in
6 months. It includes a green field, and 6 months later a fully
operational logistic hub built entirely with timber. That was a
memorable experience for me,” enthuses Kuratle.
THE 10TH ANNUAL WOOD CONFERENCE
Together with HWZ International – a subsidiary company of the
group – the Kuratle Group held the Wood Conference in Cape
Town at the end of February. “HWZ International fills the gap
between the demand of products which we have created through
the Wood Conference, and the current availability on the market,”
says Kuratle. “The Wood Conference was created and
established by my father, George, to improve the whole industry
as a neutral knowledge-sharing platform. I have been involved
since the founding but was not actively involved in our operations
in South Africa until about 2014,” he says.
The conference is an important platform for sharing and
expanding the knowledge of all participants who attended. “I
believe that, once again, it has brought more innovative and
creative thinking to local architects on ways to use timber from
the examples of projects presented over the years by the various
speakers.”
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APRIL / MAY 2020 //
TIMBER FOR CONSTRUCTION IN
SOUTH AFRICA
A common misconception in South Africa is that a timber house or
timber construction is less durable or offers less quality than a brick
and mortar house. To the contrary, Kuratle has found that timber
houses which have been built thus far have proven that they offer a
more attractive living or working space, have proven durability,
quality and capability in terms of structural custom design
challenges, as well as fire resistance.
He offers some advice regarding the development of the South
African timber market: “I believe that the South African market has
great potential due to many factors, such as the availability of labour
but also as the need for sustainability. My advice is that investors
and property developers should engage, and together challenge the
more established methods. I am certain that with in-depth
knowledge and innovation the building costs of timber can be
reduced. Also, a full cost-analysis, where time, quality, running and
maintenance costs and even recycling costs should be implemented
to show how a timber construction will have more benefits than a
concrete construction.
According to Kuratle, the timber industry has had its fair share of
challenges, and depending on the area – production, trading,
logistics or building – these vary quite a bit. “In the bigger picture,
Europe has reached a time where the doubts about timber have
slowly been eradicated. We have solutions for multi-storey building
structures, fire resistance, sound insulation and any other challenges
that have been used as argument against the use of timber. To
overcome these, it took time, endurance and facts – and has all been
established through innovation.
In a South African context, Kuratle feels that public, supply chain and
industry perception regarding timber construction needs to change.
With growing demand, the supply will be more locally provided and
produced due to the available labour resource South Africa has to
offer. He believes that, like any cultural change, it takes persistence
and courage from different people in the industry to be open-minded,
work for the sector and dare to implement innovations.
His vision is that buildings in 20 to 30 years will be mostly built with
timber and use the available materials, each with its advantages.
Concrete and steel will still play a role but in a more supporting role
for timber. He envisions cities of the future where young
professionals and families want to settle will be green and carbon
neutral.
www.timberiq.co.za