PRESS FOLDER

BAU MUNICH TRADE FAIR PRELIMINARY TALKS

16/17 October 2014

Your contact persons:

Carsten Ritterbach

Head of Marketing/Product Management

EGGER Building Products

Ulrike Sattler

Marketing

EGGER Retail Products

Manuela Leitner

Communication/ Public Relations

EGGER Group

For queries:

FRITZ EGGER GmbH & Co. OG
Holzwerkstoffe
Manuela Leitner
Weiberndorf 20
6380 St. Johann in Tirol
Austria
Phone+43 5 0600-10638
Fax+43 5 0600-90638

Table of contents

EGGER with great "Perspectives" at the BAU 2015

The motto of the trade fair expresses the best future outlook and new points of view for the complete supplier in the sector of wood-based materials

First appearance for new LAMINATE FLOORS

The new collection "EGGER Laminate Flooring 2015-2017" will be presented for the first time at the BAU 2015

Egger St. Johann administrative building

At the EGGER Group headquarters in St. Johann in Tirol, a new administrative building is currently being built with wood-based materials from own production. The focus is on the EGGER OSB 4 TOP board.

ZOOM Innovations 2014 create added value

Feelwood synchronised pores now also available on laminate and compact boards

EGGER with great "Perspectives" at the BAU 2015

The motto of the trade fair expresses the best future outlook and new points of view for the complete supplier in the sector of wood-based materials

The EGGER Group is participating as an exhibitor at the BAU trade fair in Munich for the seventh time in January of 2015. On the more than 400 m2-large exhibition space 339 in Hall B5, trade fair innovations from the three corporate divisions Flooring, Wood Construction,and Furniture and Interior Design are presented in an entirely new environment.

Those who come visit the EGGER fair booth between 19 and 24 January 2015 will find more than just mere product presentation. The innovative booth architecture and the creative use of the entire range of wood-based materials from own production open new and interesting perspectives for visitors. These range from the first public presentation of the EGGER Laminate Flooring 2015-2017 collection through wood construction products and decor and texture trends for furniture and interior design all the way to services for fabricators. The BAU offers EGGER the possibility to present itself as a complete supplier. “As the leading trade fair for distributors and craftsmen, BAU is very important to us. Our objective is to present the wide variety of structural and design possibilities,” explains Ulrich Bühler, Director Sales & Marketing EGGER Group.

Communication area in Forum A4

EGGER is not only represented at the BAU trade fair with its “Perspectives”, but also as a partner of Forum A4. Carsten Ritterbach, Head of Marketing & Product Management EGGER Building Products, will speak on Monday, 19 January 2015, in the series "Naturally - New Dimensions of Wood Construction" on the topic "Upwards With Quality and Safety". On Wednesday, 21 January 2015, Manfred Riepertinger, Head of Product Management Base Materials & Environment EGGER Group, along with Lennart Wiechell, executive partner at SCHMIDHUBER, will speak in the cycle "Temporary - Flexible Materials" on the topic of "German Pavilion EXPO 2015". Forum A4 is complemented by a Communication Area with a café that is all furnished with EGGER materials.

About EGGER

The family company founded in 1961 employs around 7,200 people. At 17 plants across Europe, they produce an extensive product range of wood-based materials (chipboard, OSB and MDF board) as well as timber. The company generated a turnover of around EUR 2.22 billion in the 2013/2014 business year. EGGER has customers worldwide in the furniture industry, wood distribution, and DIY markets. EGGER products are found in countless areas of private and public life: in kitchens, bathrooms, offices, living rooms and bedrooms. EGGER is a full-range supplier for the furniture industry and interior design, wood construction and laminate flooring sectors.

EGGER GROUP AT THE BAU 2015
Trade fair motto "Perspectives"
The latest products from the three company divisions – Flooring, Wood Construction, and Furniture/Interior Design
Services for distributors and fabricators / EGGER is a partner of Forum A4: presentations will take place on new dimensions in wood constructionand German Pavilion EXPO 2015
EGGER has 17 plants across Europe, employing around 7,200 people
2013/14 turnover of €2.22 billion Euro

First appearance for new LAMINATE FLOORING

The new collection "EGGER Laminate Flooring 2015-2017" will be presented for the first time at the BAU 2015

A multitude of cutting-edge decors, technical innovations, and comprehensive service – these elements characterize the new laminate flooring collection under the name EGGER. Around 250 EGGER distributors from across the world have already convinced themselves of it at the kick-off event for the wholesale trade which took place mid-September in Berlin. At the BAU 2015, architects and professional fabricators will get their first opportunity to get to know the collection as well as the corresponding service package.

The “EGGER Laminate Flooring Collection 2015-2017” includes 70 decors with eight surfaces in five formats, which correspond to the most variate design styles and customer requirements. The focus is on the trendy oak look. This is already in itself an attractive offer. However, with this offer EGGER takes a big step further, and adapts the collection to the specific needs of the respective markets. "People in different regions have different preferences when it comes to colour, look, and format. We have done a lot of research in the markets, used expert knowledge, and done intensive development work. In this way, we can offer our wholesale partners and fabricators the products that are most suitable for their customers," explains Stefan Pletzer, managing director of EGGER Retail Products. With 17 decors in 11 regional variants, the new EGGER laminate flooring collection includes almost 300 articles in total. It is thus clearly the most individual laminate flooring collection in Europe.

Moisture-resistant, long, and quick to install

In addition to the multitude of decors, the technical features and the related utilisation options of the new laminate flooring also manage to convince. Floors with aqua+ technology are available for the first time in an EGGER collection. They are moisture-resistant and thus can be used in wet rooms, including the bathroom. "This new product group opens up new possibilities in both the private and the commercial areas," says Michael Gerbl, Director Marketing/Product Management EGGER Retail Products.

The longboard is another novelty in the range of products available. The "LONG" format (2,052 x 248 mm) meets the requirements of the still reigning trend towards open living. The board character of the long format is in particularly high demand for rooms that seamlessly merge with each other.

A lot of development work also went into the surfaces of the floors. The trend towards the very authentic textures, perfectly aligned with the decor, continues to dominate. Textures with a pleasant feel, such as Vintage and Grand Canyon, belong to the anti-slip class R10, which provides the end customer with safety, living and walking comfort, and easy cleaning. In addition, the fact that there is no decor repetition in the package provides a final look that is in no way inferior to real parquet.

Last but not least, the new collection is also comfortable for the installer. The fold-down installation system "UNIfit!" patented by Unilin guarantees a very simple and significantly faster installation.

Simply everything - everything simple

The simple but expressive collection name “EGGER Laminate Flooring 2015-2017” is based on a new overall strategy, explains Stefan Pletzer: "By foregoing a separate collection name for the target group wholesale and specialised trade, we are highlighting the strength of the EGGER brand. Because our customers don't only receive excellent laminate floors, but also the comprehensive service of the entire EGGER Group."

Dealers, architects and fabricators may use the online shop at to easily and comfortably order floor samples and advertising materials, such as brochures, as well as sample collections to advise their customers. With the room visualisation software VDS (Virtual Design Studio), EGGER also offers digital solutions, which simplify the consultancy work of the interior designer or the floor installer (VDS Profi), and help the end user (VDS Mobile App) make a decision.

The EGGER professional programme offers service, know-how, and advantages, for permanent contact with the fabricator. In addition, flooring customers regularly receive newsletters with tips regarding colour and trend advice, and, if needed, consultancy via the technical customer service, as well as all-round support for sales and marketing.

New promotion standards

EGGER is also taking innovative paths, reaching into new dimensions, for the promotion of the new laminate flooring collection. For the first time, the EGGER Truck is on tour especially for the flooring sector. By the summer of 2015, the Truck will act as a platform for customer events focusing on the new laminate flooring collection in about 50 locations.

All advertising material for the collection is of top quality and optically adapted to the rest. It guarantees optimal sales talks at POS and a recognition effect in the end customer. 30,000 of the established collection cases, with original samples and decor books with large sample images and room situations, were made available. 10,000 updated displays guarantee optimal presentation of the goods at POS throughout the world. One true innovation is the end user brochure called "Laminate Flooring - Magazine for the Culture of Living" put out by EGGER for the first time.

The brochure was issued in more than one million copies and 18 languages, in order to durably increase market recognition by end customers, as well as to actively support specialised trade. In addition to the core topic of laminate flooring, it also deals with various interior design styles, provides insight into colour science, and offers useful tips and tricks concerning the home. The brochure has the character of an interior decoration magazine and can be found in the sale areas of fabricators, where it can be the first contact point of end consumers with the topic of laminate flooring, and thus have a decisive role in the purchase.

EGGER Laminate Flooring 2015-2017
New laminate flooring collection
with 70 decors per region
Successful first presentation for about 250 wholesalers in September 2014 in Berlin
For the first time an end user brochure to increase brand recognition / Technical highlights: aqua+ technology (moisture-resistant laminate flooring), longboard, UNIfit! installation system, authentic surfaces
EGGER Truck for floors on tour: more than 50 locations by the middle of 2015

Egger St. Johann administrative building

At the EGGER Group headquarters in St. Johann in Tirol, a new administrative building is currently being built with wood-based materials from own production. The focus is on the EGGER OSB 4 TOP board.

The new EGGER headquarters consists of two four-level buildings made of prefabricated wood construction modules, connected to each other via a glass-covered atrium. The system for this modular wood construction method has already been used for administrative buildings in Brilon and Romania, as well as for the TechCenter in Unterradlberg.

The basic concept of the EGGER company architecture has been the same since the beginning: As was already the case in 2010 for the administrative building in Radauti (RO), in 2011 for the TechCenter in Unterradlberg (AT) and in 2012 for the Forum in Brilon (DE), the new administrative building at the headquarters in St. Johann (AT) is designed by the Austrian architect Bruno Moser and built via a modular construction method with EGGER products.

However, three key innovations were planned for the administrative building in St. Johann: the atrium, the façade design made of wood, and the multi-storey wood construction on four levels. The office building offers space for a total of 276 work and 48 training stations. An employee restaurant with 220 seats is also part of the building. All four levels of both parts of the building are reachable via a self-supporting staircase made of OSB boards in the atrium. Except for the underground car park made of concrete, the entire four-level building consists mainly of glass and EGGER OSB 4 Top boards.

Modular woodframe construction

Prefabricated elements of size 2.80 × 11.14 m include OSB 4 TOP boards from the EGGER plant in Wismar. Therefore, both parts of the building reach a total length of approximately 60 m and a width of approximately 8.5 m. Wall elements consist of 28 cm thick uprights made of laminate, to which OSB 4 TOP boards with a thickness of three cm are affixed on the inside and on the outside.

Due to their process technology and product features, OSB 4 Top boards fulfil wood construction requirements that are key for obtaining building permits. The defined high raw density of more than 600 kg/m³ leads to a very good airtightness of the board, which means that solid and reliable constructions can be obtained without the additional use of films. In addition, the visibly polished and surface-processed board provides interiors with a harmonious appearance.

The static bearing OSB 4 Top board was also used for the ceiling elements. The grit on the OSB 4 Top board in the element ensures noise protection. Various cables for building technology were installed in the layer above it. The ceiling and roof elements designed as discs merge as horizontal bracing. The half-side open wall narrow sides of the woodframe elements are intended for the vertical routing of incoming and outgoing air, and at the same time serve as vertical shafts for heating, cooling, water, and electrical lines. They were closed with OSB boards after the wire strands were pulled across all levels.

Every level has a surrounding balcony with a width of 1.40 m. It is used for maintenance as well as sun protection. The façade sprinkler systems integrated there are part of the fire protection concept of Dehne & Kruse. The fire protection concept consists of two external staircases, as well as the staircase in the atrium for escaping. In addition, the entire administrative building is equipped with a fully networked fire alarm system and sprinkler systems in the façade area.

use of the egger product range

Decorative EGGER materials, such as melamine-coated boards for furniture and interior design, laminates, compact boards, Eurolight light boards, and edges in matching colours and decors, as well as laminate floors, will ensure modern office architecture with a trendy design for the interiors. There will be a special emphasis on good room acoustics. This will be achieved through the use of decorative, sound-absorbent EGGER ProAcoustic boards in furniture and built-in cabinets.

Current project status

The EGGER headquarters will likely be ready for moving into by March 2015, however, those interested were already able to visit the construction site on 12 September 2014. Architects and fabricators from the region were invited, as well as representatives of reputable colleges, and were able to get an idea of the modern modular wood construction method used for the new building. The visit on the construction site was accompanied by presentations on the topic of modular wood construction and fire protection.

The shell of the administrative building is already complete. Work is currently being done on the façade as well as the outdoor facilities, which should be completed before winter. Interior shell assembly works are completed. The EGGER laminate floor has already been installed in the office areas on 2 floors, and furniture carpentry will start in December.

Data & Facts
EGGER St. Johann administrative building
Builder: Fritz EGGER GmbH & Co. OG, St. Johann
Architecture: Bruno Moser, architekturWerkstatt, Breitenbach
Project leader: Hannes Ehrensberger, Fritz EGGER GmbH & Co. OG, St. Johann
Statics: Alfred R. Brunnsteiner, Natters
Lighting design: Manfred Draxl, conceptlicht.at, Mils
Fire protection concept: Dirk Kruse, Dehne & Kruse, Gifhorn (D)
Electrical engineering: IG Ludwig, Traunstein (D)
Builder: Ing. Hans Bodner, Kufstein
Wood construction/glass/floors: Holzbau Saurer, Höfen
Building technology execution: Rupert Absenger, Krobath Gebäudetechnik, Feldbach
Electrician: Stöckl, Innsbruck
Total usable area: 8,920 m²
Gross floor area: 9,940 m²
Gross room volume: 45,470 m³
Start of construction: 1 March 2014
Start installation wood construction: 19 May 2014
Completion/handover: 13 March 2015

ZOOM NEW Introductions 2014 create added value

Feelwood synchronised pores now also available on laminate and compact boards

In spring 2014, EGGER expanded its successful retail collection ZOOM with 20 decors with seven surfaces full of character. Six of these textures are new developments. Based on highly modern technologies, the new innovations with surface textures that can be felt, seen, and experienced represent a whole new generation of products, and open new possibilities for the customer.

Since the introduction of the 2014 ZOOM innovations, they have met with a great response on the market: "We started very fast in most markets, thanks to the efforts we put into sampling and the presentation of the innovations. Our retail customers usually make efforts to store a large part of the novelties. There is high demand for sampling in retail as well as with architects. We can also measure resonance via traffic in the sample shop on our website. Additional collections normally have a rough start, but this time, more than ever, retailers see this collection as an opportunity," says Ulrich Bühler, Director Sales/Marketing EGGER Group.

Success through differentiation

Distribution partners, fabricators, and architects clearly recognize that the ZOOM new introductions are based on cutting-edge technology, and that they represent an entirely new generation of products thanks to their features. With their help, they can generate true added value, and even include new business sectors, as well as differentiate themselves from competitors. "Many of today's customers desire high quality furniture that has a different look, feel, and quality from the rest," explains Klaus Monhoff, Marketing Head of Design and Decor Management EGGER Group, the high expectations that the collection update intends to fulfil.