neue Holzbau AG & Merlin^®

State-of-the-art humidification for premium timber construction quality

neue Holzbau AG, based in Lungern, Switzerland, stands for precise, sustainable and high-quality timber construction. To secure this high manufacturing quality in the long term, the production environment was enhanced with a powerful, zone-controlled humidification solution from Merlin Technology.

Initial Situation

In industrial timber construction, stable climatic conditions are a key quality factor. Relative humidity in particular has a significant influence on dimensional accuracy, shape stability and surface quality of wooden components.

At neue Holzbau AG, the air in the production halls was often too dry, especially during the winter months from October to March. During this period, relative humidity frequently dropped to around 30%. These conditions increased the risk of cracking, warping and dimensional deviations in timber components, leading to avoidable waste.

At the same time, the dry air negatively affected the indoor climate: high dust levels, reduced air quality and additional strain on employees. The goal was therefore to sustainably improve both product quality and working conditions.

Solution

Merlin Technology implemented an ALPHA high-pressure atomization system with seven independently controllable zones.

This multi-zone solution allows each hall to be precisely adapted to specific production requirements – efficiently, reliably and with optimal resource use. The system was perfectly matched to the structural conditions and seamlessly integrated into ongoing production operations.

The objective was to ensure a constant relative humidity of approximately 45% RH in all relevant production areas. This target value provides the basis for stable production conditions in timber construction and supports both product quality and a pleasant indoor climate.

Decisive factors in choosing the merlin^® ALPHA high-pressure atomization included the targeted improvement of the working environment – particularly through better dust binding and significantly improved air quality – as well as consistent quality assurance in timber production.

In addition, the option of digital recording and documentation of production conditions using IoT-based sensor technology was a key decision criterion to ensure long-term process stability and traceability.

Implementation

Installation and commissioning were completed on schedule and as planned in several coordinated steps. Thanks to the clear zone structure, each production area could be integrated successively, including staff training and structured handover.

Close coordination between the project team at neue Holzbau AG and the specialists at Merlin Technology ensured a smooth implementation without production interruptions.

Results

With the merlin^® ALPHA high-pressure atomization system, neue Holzbau AG has sustainably stabilized climatic conditions in timber production and achieved measurable improvements:

• Stable target humidity of around 45% RH

Even during the main winter season from October to March, when humidity previously dropped to around 30%, consistent values are now achieved, ensuring reliable production conditions regardless of season or weather.

• Significantly reduced quality risks for timber components

Uniform humidity effectively minimizes cracking, warping and dimensional deviations, improving product quality while reducing material stress.

• Sustainable reduction in waste

Improved climatic conditions lead to more stable production and significantly lower waste, making processes more efficient and economical.

• Noticeably improved working environment

Higher humidity ensures effective dust binding, reduces dust exposure, improves air quality and creates a more pleasant workplace.

• Transparency through IoT-based documentation

The integrated IoT solution enables continuous recording and documentation of production conditions, allowing humidity values to be traced at any time as part of quality assurance.

Customer Statement

“Alongside a significantly improved working environment for our employees, the system also ensures optimal conditions for our timber components.”
— Sascha Abplanalp, Managing Director, neue Holzbau AG

Conclusion

This project clearly demonstrates how precise humidification becomes a decisive success factor in modern timber construction. With the ALPHA multi-zone system, Merlin Technology creates optimal conditions for quality, efficiency and sustainability – perfectly tailored to the requirements of neue Holzbau AG.