Austrian kiln manufacturer M\u00fchlb\u00f6ck has secured one of its largest drying technology orders in recent years, with 15 combined steaming and drying chambers to be installed at Fagus Slovenica's new hardwood processing complex in Ko\u010devska Reka, Slovenia.<\/p>\n
The equipment will form the drying section of a \u20ac50 million investment being developed by Fagus Slovenica, a subsidiary of state forestry company Slovenski dr\u017eavni gozdovi (SiDG). The project includes what is planned to become Slovenia's largest hardwood sawmill, with production primarily focused on beech.<\/p>\n
Commissioning of the M\u00fchlb\u00f6ck equipment is scheduled for the end of 2027.<\/p>\n
The order gives the Austrian supplier a sizeable reference project in the European hardwood sector at a time when processors are looking to increase the value recovered from domestic timber resources while controlling energy and labour costs.<\/p>\n
M\u00fchlb\u00f6ck, based in Eberschwang in Upper Austria, has installed more than 13,200 timber drying systems worldwide.<\/p>\n
15 kilns for large-scale beech processing<\/strong><\/p>\n M\u00fchlb\u00f6ck will supply 15 combined drying and steaming chambers from its 1306 PRO series in several sizes. Ten will have a length of 15 metres, supplemented by six- and eight-metre chambers to accommodate different batches and production requirements.<\/p>\n The configuration is designed specifically around the requirements of the new mill's beech production.<\/p>\n Steaming is an important stage in commercial beech processing because it influences colour consistency and the quality of timber intended for subsequent manufacturing. Integrating steaming and drying in the same chamber means timber packages do not have to be transferred and restacked between separate systems.<\/p>\n For the mill, this reduces internal handling, labour requirements and the space normally needed for separate steaming equipment. M\u00fchlb\u00f6ck is also positioning energy consumption and process control as key elements of the installation, particularly given the relatively demanding drying characteristics of beech.<\/p>\n The scale of the order is notable for the supplier. A complete 15-chamber kiln park represents one of M\u00fchlb\u00f6ck's largest individual projects of recent years and includes agreed performance and quality requirements for the drying operation.<\/p>\n \u20ac50 million investment targets Slovenia's beech supply<\/strong><\/p>\n The M\u00fchlb\u00f6ck order is tied to a broader change in Slovenia's hardwood processing sector.<\/p>\n Fagus Slovenica, which operated as Sne\u017enik until 2025, is developing the Ko\u010devska Reka site around increased processing of beech. Alongside the sawmill and drying capacity, the \u20ac50 million complex will include timber sorting and processing equipment and a biomass combined heat and power plant.<\/p>\n The investment is located in one of Europe's significant beech-growing regions. Fagus Slovenica expects this resource base to provide long-term raw material supply for the new operation, while the increasing share of beech in regional forests creates additional pressure to develop markets and processing capacity for the species.<\/p>\n The absence of another large hardwood sawmill in the immediate region also provides an opportunity to retain more processing within Slovenia rather than moving timber out of the region at an earlier stage of the value chain.<\/p>\n For M\u00fchlb\u00f6ck, the project provides exposure to that shift towards greater domestic hardwood processing. The new kiln park will sit directly behind the sawmilling operation and will be a key stage in converting fresh-sawn beech into products suitable for furniture, interiors and other higher-value applications.<\/p>\n M\u00fchlb\u00f6ck currently employs around 130 people at its Austrian operations in Eberschwang and Hartberg and manufactures its drying systems in-house. The Slovenian installation is expected to enter service alongside the new Ko\u010devska Reka production complex towards the end of 2027.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Austrian kiln manufacturer M\u00fchlb\u00f6ck has secured one of its largest drying technology orders in recent years, with 15 combined steaming and drying chambers to be installed at Fagus Slovenica’s new hardwood processing complex in Ko\u010devska Reka, Slovenia. The equipment will … Continue reading