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Behind every building are people and companies with visions and innovative products and approaches. More and more of them are united in our association and growing network. Join us and benefit from the advantages.
As part of our series of short portraits of our members, we spoke to Stefan Müller, managing owner and founder of S. Müller Holzbau AG. In this short interview with Stefan Müller, we find out more about values, visions and the path to a sustainable future.
1. Mr. Müller, could you briefly explain what S. Müller Holzbau stands for and what services you offer?a
S. Müller Holzbau AG is the leading full-service provider for timber residential buildings in Eastern Switzerland and offers everything from a single source – from development and planning to the realization of the finished building. With its new, very modern and efficient infrastructure and automated production line for timber elements, S. Müller Holzbau AG is one of the leading timber construction companies in Switzerland.
2. What is particularly important to you when working with wood and what values characterize your corporate culture?
The company has grown from 16 to over 120 employees in around 16 years. Our corporate culture is characterized by dynamism and a pronounced doer culture, which drives us to dare great things and move forward in all areas. Our brand is built on trust; we work reliably, with foresight and in partnership.
As a trained carpenter, the use of our sustainable building material wood is a matter of course for me and I am happy when I get to pick up the hammer myself at the weekend or on special jobs.
3. Is there a current or recently completed project that you are particularly proud of and that exemplifies your work?
I am particularly proud of our company expansion, with the large production hall and the modern open space office. Our company expansion perfectly reflects our values: a little bigger, more creative and bolder – in keeping with myself and our company culture. I have my hard-working and motivated team to thank for the fact that we have been able to make this major investment after such a short time in business.
4 How do you see the future development of timber construction in Switzerland – both in terms of technical innovations and market demand?
The timber construction market has changed noticeably in recent years. Although fewer single-family homes are being built, more and more large-scale projects and public contracts are being realized in wood. Demand in this area is high, which means that large timber construction companies in particular are working at full capacity for a long time to come. In our small-scale sector, some large projects can only be realized as joint ventures. Cooperation in the timber construction industry is unique – and we are admired for this by many other industries.
There are many innovations, particularly in the area of load-bearing structures, and new products, systems and solutions are constantly coming onto the market. However, I still see great opportunities in the further development of timber element construction, because in my view it has stood still for a few years. We need to think more holistically in our further development and continue to expand our advantages. We will also be increasingly confronted with the issues of CO2 reduction and re-use, where we still have some catching up to do.
5. What are your next entrepreneurial goals and what steps are you planning to take to achieve them?
Our next milestone is the move to our new building, where we will put our modern systems and machines into operation. In addition to these major projects, we have completely overhauled our brand image and have been sporting a new look since the beginning of the year.
In order to increase our efficiency and quality, we are in the process of introducing LEAN management and have just started setting up a new ERP system. Our tasks and goals for the coming months are clear – but as a visionary entrepreneur, I am already thinking about the future again.
About S. Müller Holzbau AG:
(Interview by Samara Sicardi, Head of Marketing & Communications at Timber Finance)