The pulse of the timber construction industry: insights from nZEB Expo, Bucharest 2024

At the recently concluded nZEB Expo, we had the opportunity to take the pulse of the timber construction industry by interviewing key players in the sector. Discussions centered on three key aspects: the early 2024 performance, the outlook for the rest of the year and 2025, and impressions and expectations for the nZEB Expo. Here is what we learned, with a video of everything we discussed with them at the end of the article.

Early 2024: Challenges and opportunities

The start of 2024 presented a mixed picture for the industry, with a number of challenges and opportunities:

Vlad Liteanu of Litarh - Case de Lemn described the start as "pretty good", noting that they were "a bit focused on an investment" in progress. For Ionuț Merlușcă of Dimmer, the first part of the year brought a "deceleration" in all markets, both in Romania and Western Europe. Liviu Manea of CASArbor reported a "satisfactory occupancy rate for sales", benefiting from recent investments in technology. Vasile Chiruță of Dorna Ecohouse mentioned that they have tackled "several projects, some interesting and adventurous", including a house built in the Danube Delta.

Outlook for the rest of 2024 and 2025: Cautious optimism

Despite a shaky start, most interviewees expressed optimism for the remainder of 2024 and 2025:

Adrian Puică anticipates that they will "produce a turnover again this year, maybe even higher than last year". He also noted that they are "in a niche that is growing", suggesting a wider positive trend in the timber construction sector.

Ionuț Merlușcă is "very optimistic about the second half of the year", mentioning new projects in development. In particular, he highlighted a real estate development project of 21 houses in Constanța, entirely on timber frame, in partnership with SAS Living.

Vasile Chiruță hopes to "double our capacity and double our sales" in the coming year. This ambition reflects confidence in the market's growth potential.

Daniel Butucel sees "a productive year in 2024" with projects already identified for 2025. He also mentioned plans for product diversification, including incorporating CLT into their structures.

Liviu Manea emphasized the importance of continuous investments, noting that over 5 million euro have been invested in CASArbor in the last 2 years in modernization, information systems and human resources.

Many participants highlighted the importance of continuous innovation and adapting to new market demands such as energy efficiency and sustainability.

Impressions and expectations from nZEB Expo: A growing success

The feedback on the nZEB Expo has been overwhelmingly positive, with many interesting insights:

Cătălin Dumitru from Class Meister described it as "exceptional", saying it was "well done" and "welcome for everyone". He noted that it is "the biggest fair dedicated to NZEB construction in Romania" that they have attended so far.

Litarh's Vlad Liteanu noted that it was "the most successful so far", noting an improving trend from one fair to the next. He particularly praised the level of knowledge of visitors, noting that "people are more and more informed".

A frequently mentioned aspect was the increased level of education and interest of visitors. Vasile Chiruță was impressed that visitors "entered a special world, the world of wood, the world of technology".

Daniel Butucel appreciated that "people come to the booth informed, which is very good that we discuss applied". He also mentioned the interest of visitors in practical demonstrations, such as the correct fitting of windows to passive house standard.

Cătălin Dumitru from Class Meister has noticed a significant change in the last 10 years, noting that "all customers come educated" now.

Attendees see nZEB Expo as a valuable platform for educating the market, showcasing innovations and networking with potential customers and partners. Many expressed their expectation that the event will continue to grow and have an increasing impact in promoting sustainable timber construction.

In conclusion, despite some challenges at the beginning of the year, the Romanian timber construction industry seems to be on an upward trajectory, with optimistic prospects for the near future. Companies are investing in technology and innovation, adapting to the growing demands for energy efficiency and sustainability. nZEB Expo is proving to be an important catalyst in this evolution, providing an essential platform for exchanging ideas, showcasing innovations and educating the market. As awareness and demand for sustainable construction continues to grow, we can anticipate continued expansion of this sector in the years to come.

Below the video made at nZEB Expo with Vlad Liteanu - Litarh, Adrian Puică - Glulam, Ionuț Merlușcă - Dimmer, Liviu Manea - CASArbor, Vasile Chiruță - Dorna Ecohouse, Cătălin Dumitru - Class Meister, Daniel Butucel - Miradex, Emil Baciu - Cadwork