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 //