THE EGGER Group, headquartered in St Johann in Tirol (AT), has big plans for its 22nd plant in Markt Bibart (DE).

The plant has only been part of the international group since the takeover in November 2023 and the wood-based material manufacturer says it’s already taking comprehensive, multistage investment steps, which are due to be completed in autumn 2026.

In total, EGGER will invest more than €200m in the plant. The projects will focus on the family company’s objectives to process recycled wood into what it describes as high-quality new products in line with the circular economy.

In addition, the plant will also produce chipboard laminated with decorative surfaces in the future. As part of the investment, a further 50 jobs will be created at the plant. The first phase of the project involves the construction of the recycled wood processing facility. Construction work has now started on this – which is a good reason to celebrate, says the company.

‘We’re convinced of the great potential of the Markt Bibart plant. It’s in line with our strategy to continuously develop our plants and keep them at the cutting edge of technology. We’ve planned several far-reaching strategic projects that will significantly develop our use of raw materials and our product portfolio at the site. We’re proud we can start construction work so quickly. This is a great team effort. We’d like to thank our employees and partners as well as all political decision-makers for their constructive cooperation,’ says Michael Egger Jr, EGGER chief strategy officer.

Investment in the circular economy
A major innovation at the Markt Bibart plant will be the use of recycled wood as a raw material for the production of high-quality chipboard, says the company.

It adds, ‘This hasn’t happened at the Markt Bibart plant previously, but the EGGER Group can already look back on almost 30 years’ experience in the material utilisation of recycled wood. The recycled wood comes for example from old furniture, packaging material or board cut-outs. To turn the recycled wood into a high-quality board material, special facilities are required that process the material in a highly efficient manner.’

The company continues, ‘Such a state-of-the-art processing facility will now be built at the Markt Bibart plant as part of the investment project. It’ll enable the use of recycled wood in the chipboard produced onsite. Thanks to an elaborate preparation process for recycled wood, which is perfectly tailored to the requirements in Markt Bibart, the usual standards for customers can be guaranteed.
‘For EGGER, the basis for this investment clearly lies in its strategy of sustainable management. The EGGER Group is committed to a responsible approach to the use of wood as a valuable resource. Working in closed cycles is a core element of the sustainability strategy.’

Groundbreaking ceremony on 24 October
Construction of the recycled wood processing facility began at the end of September and is scheduled to go into operation in summer 2025. This first project phase marks the start of the comprehensive, multi-stage investment plans in Markt Bibart and is a milestone in the history of the plant. This major step was celebrated with an official groundbreaking ceremony on 24 October.

Michael Egger Jr, member of the EGGER Group management, Fritz Egger and Walter Schiegl, members of the supervisory board, and the Markt Bibart plant management welcomed numerous guests, including deputy district administrator Hans Herold, Mayor Klaus Nölp and representatives of the companies realising the construction work, and inspected the initial construction progress.
EGGER says it’s already taken care of the long-term supply of recycled wood for the new plant. A key point of reference will be a new Timberpak recycling collection site, which will be located on a vacant site directly adjacent to the plant premises and will provide direct access to the large potential for recycled wood in the Würzburg/Nuremberg metropolitan region.

Under the name EGGER Timberpak, the wood-based material manufacturer operates international recycling collection sites that collect and sort recycled wood from the respective region and pre-shred it for transport to the EGGER board plants.

Development of upgrading capacities
As the project progresses, another major innovation on the agenda is the creation of upgrading capacities, says EGGER. ‘The plant currently has facilities for the production of raw chipboard with an annual capacity of up to 600,000 m3.

‘Existing customers will continue to be reliably supplied with top quality raw chipboard, but part of the production volume will be laminated in the future. This will ensure long-term utilisation of production capacity and provide customers with EGGER’s broad product portfolio of laminated chipboard with trendy decors and a wide range of textures.

‘In addition to new lamination lines that will be installed at the plant, innovations in plant logistics and material flow are also necessary. New storage capacities with a high degree of automation will therefore also be created at the plant. These state-of-the-art storage areas will make many processes in the plant more efficient, faster and significantly safer.’

Multi-stage implementation plan
The company continues, ‘The investment plan at the Markt Bibart plant will be implemented in several stages over a planned period until autumn 2026. In addition to the sub-projects of recycled wood processing, creating lamination capacities and automated storage areas, the agenda also includes optimising existing facilities.’

It concludes, ‘These projects have one thing in common: EGGER is using state-of-the-art plant technology. ‘With these investments, we’re creating important foundations to benefit us in Markt Bibart in the long term. Our strategic focus on sustainable and responsible management, the expansion of our upgrading capacities and the automation of our logistics drive these investment projects, and we always have the needs of our customers in mind,’ summarises Michael Egger Jr.’
www.egger.com