The biggest investment project in the history of the IBH site in Harperscheid (D) is now taking shape. A brand-new, centralised log yard is being built at a cost of around €25 million. At the same time, the site is expanding by seven hectares.
The sawmill currently processes around 300,000 cubic metres of softwood per year, most of which comes from within a 50-kilometre radius. Following a fire in 2019, the saw line had already undergone a comprehensive overhaul.
The three existing log yards are now giving way to a single, state-of-the-art facility with two electric gantry cranes. Storage capacity will rise from 35,000 to 60,000 cubic metres. "In summer we're absolutely flooded with timber; in winter there's barely anything," says Markus Haas. The new yard creates exactly the buffer the sawmill needs.
Holtec, based nearby in Hellenthal, has been appointed as main contractor. Groundwork began in the summer of 2025, and installation of the facility followed at the end of June. Since parts of the old yard had to stay in operation during the transition, the build is being carried out in two phases.
The two gantry cranes were installed in mid-November. Fitted with Sennebogen upper carriages, they replace four diesel-powered excavators. That alone cuts CO₂ emissions by around 914 tonnes per year. The advanced 3D measuring technology captures every log down to the millimetre, boosting timber yield by an extra 3 to 5%. That equals roughly 6,000 tonnes of timber, or a further saving of 720 tonnes of CO₂ per year.
Noise reduction is also improving significantly. The debarkers, crosscut saws, and root reducer will be enclosed in sound-insulating housings. Steel sorting boxes are being replaced with concrete ones that produce only a dull thud. The site redesign also requires relocating the access road. A new retention soil filter will handle mixed and surface water.
Full completion is planned for the end of 2026. We will keep you updated on further progress.