PERSONALITY PROFILE
Wood to cherish
Timber iQ embarked on a trip to Plantation Sawmilling & Boards to visit co-owners Heinz and Karl Lindner – this is their wonderful world of wood.
By Candace Sofianos King | Photos by Candace Sofianos King
Nestled between Johannesburg and Vereeniging in the heart of Henley on Klip, timber enthusiasts will find a treasure trove of diverse timber at Plantation Sawmilling & Boards, hardwood lumber suppliers and exporters of exotic wood to the industrial, commercial and public sectors.
With a bespoke focus on offering specialised business to architects, industrial designers and DIY hobbyists, Plantation offers a plethora of services ranging from sawmilling, specialised solid beam work, planing, cutting and kiln drying. Home to over 50 different species, Plantation stocks a vast variety of softwoods and hardwoods such as cypress, oak, pod mahogany, kiaat, African rosewood and species as diverse as afromosia, Malawian cedar and pau ferro.
Produced and manufactured right on site, Plantation’ s finished products include hardwood tongue and groove flooring, decking, pergolas, solid timber or laminated boards or slabs for tables and vanity tops( planed all round or rough sawn), large solid beams and sleepers.
Plantation’ s beginnings date back to 1998 when it was founded by father and son duo Heinz and Karl Lindner. A former yacht builder, Heinz boasts an understanding of timber manufacturing and importing. Armed with this knowledge, Heinz has sustained the business for 20 years.“ Originally situated in Kew, Johannesburg, we moved premises in 2006 to Henley on Klip as we needed more space for growth,” says Heinz.
NURTURING BUSINESS AND SUSTAINABILITY
Heinz and Karl firmly believe in client collaboration. Hailing from across South Africa, customers often seek decking and flooring products, notes Heinz. Apart from providing end users with finished products, Plantation also offers guidance.
“ If you have a design concept for an item of furniture or perhaps a requirement for a structural building component or a new contract, we can assist you and your architect in the selection of an appropriate timber species and specifications of suitable scantlings for the pieces. Each piece of timber is unique, even though it may come from the same log,” says Karl.
The father son team are passionate about eco-friendly practice. They import timber from Africa and also purchase wood from clearing sites, mining companies, tree fellers
Plantation Sawmilling & Boards’ father and son team Heinz and Karl Lindner.
and household gardens. They repurpose timber from urban forests, therefore recycling wood which would otherwise go to waste.
Plantation gives back to the timber sector by practising and promoting sustainable business exercises. It utilises invasive species which they purchase from tree fellers from in and around the area, contributing to the ecology and utilisation of waste material.“ The use of timber as a building material is rapidly growing as a trend due to its renewable and sustainable properties – people are increasingly beginning to think green,” highlights Karl.
He continues,“ Wood is a beautiful natural resource and when used responsibly, in the right application and with the correct maintenance, it will last a lifetime.”
54 OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2018 //