📋 Tender Overview
The Hardwood Technical Center establishes cutting-edge technology and cutting-edge research on innovative production from wood and renewable raw materials in the country. The first research projects are now starting.The hardwood technical center is now starting its research fields. A first cooperation agreement with the renowned German Institutes for Textile and Fiber Research in Denkendorf DITF was signed today. The collaboration with the DITF in two projects will start immediately said the Minister for Rural Areas and Consumer Protection Peter Hauk . With the Hardwood Technical Center the state creates the prerequisites for establishing cutting-edge technology and cutting-edge research on hardwood in the country.The management of the technical center was successfully set up with three board members. The supervisory board has seven members and is top-class with expertise. The cooperation with the first cooperation partners starts according to plan in the first quarter of the year. We are thus getting the order from the coalition agreement for a hardwood technical center well prepared on the way emphasized Minister Hauk.Sustainable management with wood in focusThe Hardwood Technical Center is now starting at full speed. We seize the unique opportunity to accelerate the development of innovative products and processes. We are talking about leap innovations based on hardwood from sustainably managed forests in Baden-Wrttemberg. With the use of hardwood from the region and the accelerated development of innovative products and processes we help the economy from the region to leap into the future. A future that will primarily consist of sustainable management of biologically based industrial production. I expect that in a relatively short period of time we will develop products and processes that so far only a few experts could have imagined that these products could be made of wood.A total of eight research fields with numerous innovative sub-projects are planned. The first sub-project is the construction of a pilot plant for the production of multifunctional carbon fibers based on wood. At the Laubholz technical center the technology invented by the DITF will be further developed and implemented so that once it has reached industrial maturity it can move directly into the market of Baden-Wrttemberg technology leaders and companies. Carbon fibers are mainly used in vehicle construction but are also gaining in importance in construction. They are very light extremely heat-resistant and resilient. However conventional petroleum-based carbon fibers are very expensive. Their production pollutes the environment.New interim location in planningIn addition to the development of new processes for fiber-based biopolymer materials new processes for the production of biosurfactants and vegan food proteins based on wood are being developed in the construction phase of the Hardwood Technical Center explained Hauk. New processes and products are being developed that can replace petroleum-based packaging and barriers in the long term or significantly reduce their consumption. And wood digestion processes are tested that can be used in a much more individual efficient cost-effective and environmentally friendly way in decentralized systems with container size.However according to the current status the Technikum Laubholz is not coming to Lenningen in the Esslingen district as planned as the negotiating partners were unfortunately unable to agree on a purchase price for the properties after long and complex negotiations. Until the end of the negotiations the expectations of the selling real estate company were far above the offer by Technikum Laubholz GmbH based on two market value reports. The principles of economy and thrift of the Baden-Wuerttemberg financial regulation do not allow a purchase over value. I regret that the Lenningen location will probably not be used said Hauk. Nevertheless the country is not without an alternative. The planning for a new interim location is making very good progress. Nothing will change at the new location for the projects that have already been agreed the commitments are tied to the technical center not to the location. We are sticking to our schedule emphasized the Minister.
