GERMANY – Just over a year after the ceremonial groundbreaking in September 2017, the adhesives specialist Jowat opened the doors of its new House of Technology for the 17th get-together in the wood and furniture industry.

Under the headline “Open doors for service that unites”, the Innovation and Application Center welcomed industry professionals from Germany and abroad. The new building was finished just in time for the 2018 symposium that was attended by a significantly increased number of participants, and included an extended program with external speakers and practical workshops that promoted an active transfer of expert knowledge from the world of bonding.

The lectures session was started by “lignotrend”, a manufacturer of cross-laminated timber solutions and just one of many companies that provided products for the construction project of the adhesives specialist from Detmold. The program was rounded off by further lectures focusing on doors – from the manufacturing of door leaves or frames, to “Appretur” finishing in lightweight construction. The session ended with an outlook on future-oriented research projects.

The new 2,500 m² Jowat Innovation and Application Center named “House of Technology” will house the enterprise’s Research Services including several labs, application technology for clients, as well as exhibition and training rooms. Two machinery halls facilitate edgebanding, wrapping, flat and 3D laminating applications. In total, the House of Technology offers workplaces for 45 Jowat employees.

Based on a glued laminated timber frame, the building also has a unique design. Outside, on the surrounding walkway, wooden beams symbolizing adhesive strings connect the floor slab with the roof. With a span of 15 meters, the wood-concrete-composite ceiling is so far the biggest of its type in Germany.