In mid-May, 19 bachelor´s and master´s students from the TUM Campus Straubing traveled to Thuringia to visit various companies and institutions in the wood-based bioeconomy. The excursion aimed to provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of the wood-based value chain. Throughout the excursion, students gained insights into pulp and sawmills, as well as the production processes of wood-based panel manufacturers. In addition, a recycling company and a national park were visited to illustrate the whole lifecycle of wood as a renewable material. As in previous years, a guided city tour was also part of the excursion, introducing participants to the history of the beautiful city of Erfurt.
After departing the TUM Campus in Straubing, the group's first destination was Mercer-Rosenthal in Blankenstein, near the Bavarian-Thuringian border. Mercer Rosenthal operates internationally in the pulp and paper sector. The company´s main product is kraft pulp, but tall oil and green electricity are also produced on site. During the facility tour, participants were introduced to the various production stages and gained exclusive insights into the complex industrial processes.
The excursion then continued to the sister company, Mercer Timber Products, in Friesau. As a relatively new member of the MERCER group, the sawmill was acquired in 2017. The facility produces timber from softwood. Employee safety is a particularly important task for the company. Through its “Road to Zero” initiative, Mercer Timber Products aims to eliminate workplace injuries. This commitment became evident during the site tour, where students learned about the measures implemented to ensure the safety of all employees.
The second day began with a guided tour of Erfurt. During the two-hour walk through the historic city center, students learned a lot about the city´s history and traditions.
Afterward, the group traveled to Creuzburg to visit Pollmeier, a hardwood sawmill. As the most productive hardwood sawmill in Europe, Pollmeier sources beech wood from regional forests. On-site, participants were introduced to the production of hardwood timber and learned about the utilization pathways of by-products generated during manufacturing.
The final stop of the day was Hainich National Park. This near-natural beech forest has officially been designated as a national park since the end of 1997. There, Dr. Schaub, Head of Management and Infrastructure, guided the group through the forest and provided fascinating insights into the park’s history and the challenges that forests must increasingly confront due to climate change.
On the last day of the excursion, the group returned to Bavaria, beginning with a visit to Die Grünen Engel at the port of Nuremberg. The company specializes in recycling not only mineral materials, but also waste wood, which is processed and returned to the market as valuable raw material. During the facility tour, participants learned that proper recycling is a complex process but definitely worth it.
The last stop of the excursion was Pfleiderer in Neumarkt, one of the leading manufacturers of wood-based panels. Here, students attended a highly informative presentation on sustainability at Pfleiderer, covering how it is integrated throughout the company´s operations. This was followed by a factory tour, which provided more insights into the company´s production processes.