Mr. Bob Ziegler had developed the manufacture of laminated window frame scantlings (Glue-Lam) in Malaysia in the early 1980’s. He was the first in Southeast Asia to produce these from tropical hardwoods for the German window frame industry — a large window frame factory near Munich, HOBEKA Fensterfabrik.
Mr. Ziegler had at the time developed proprietary processes and machinery to provide high-quality product to satisfy the fastidious German window frame industry, and the Rosenheim Institute, who were also updating their standards for this product.
It was not long before the lumber importers and stockists in Germany came looking for this product, as it was unique at the time (tropical hardwood glue-lam).
Large importers, such as CARL GOTZ Gmbh in Ulm, approached Mr. Ziegler and initiated successful long term trade and imports from Malaysia into Germany. The founder of Carl Gotz, Mr. Hans Zumsteg, became a trusted partner at that time.
Also, in the early 80’s Mr. Alfred Meeth approached Mr. Ziegler to establish a long term supply relationship with his new window frame factory in Germany, UNILUX. This developed into a long term and very fruitful relationship. Unilux today is one of the largest producers of windows in Europe (now part of the WERU group).
With all those developments, it was not long before other manufacturers in Malaysia commenced production of this product, and with that the market for glue-lams in tropical hardwood grew rapidly. Producers in Indonesia also appeared and became large suppliers.
Mr. Ziegler has since retired from this industry, but still maintains some contacts with producers in Malaysia. Presently he is working to develop this market for an established wood producer in Malaysia. They have been involved in the wood industry for two generations and in particular with manufacturing laminated boards for the Japanese market.
They are expanding their product capabilities to glue-lams and related.