15.10.2026
In mid-October, second- and third-year apprentices attended a two-day industry course. During the course, they deepened their knowledge of wood as a material whilst demonstrating their craftsmanship. The second day took place at our Academy in Niederbipp.
The course began at the WQ Foundation in Solothurn. During the first half-day, the participants engaged intensively with the subject of timber, the timber trade, the timber industry and the entire value chain – covered in a varied programme involving group work, discussions and role-plays.
After a hearty lunch, the group set off into the forest accompanied by a female forester. There, the participants took a closer look at the various stakeholders and key players in the forest and discussed economic, environmental and social aspects. Particularly fascinating was the insight into the management of young woodland and the diverse tasks carried out by the forestry service. Despite the pouring rain, tree management was explained clearly on site.
The course group then visited the companies Späti Holzbau and Späti Innenausbau AG. Following an informative workshop on different types of timber, the trainees gained fascinating insights into both businesses during guided tours.
After the company visits, the group first headed back to their accommodation. There, they had time to catch their breath briefly and take in all the new impressions.
In the evening, the group returned to the WQ Foundation for the ‘Night Session’. The focus was now on practical work with wood: amongst other things, the trainees made a wooden cube inside a wooden cube as well as marble runs, and demonstrated their skills at planing and nailing. In between, everyone enjoyed a delicious raclette together at the workbench.
Day two: Kuratle Academy in Niederbipp
After what was, for most, a rather short night, the group was welcomed to the Academy in Niederbipp on the second day of the course. A presentation on the timber trade in a national and international context was followed by exciting experiments in the materials laboratory: at five stations, the trainees tested various types of wood using weights, heat and impacts to assess their resilience and examined how they reacted to water.
Martin Wyss, Managing Director of Wilma AG, led the workshops at the stations. Through highly informative presentations, he also gave the trainees a clear understanding of the material properties of timber.
Silvia Furlan presents tasks relating to the timber trade and HWS
In her insightful talk, Silvia Furlan, in her capacity as President of the HWS, highlighted the role of the timber trade in the timber industry. Right at the start, she drew attention to the wide variety of apprenticeship roles available at the Kuratle Group. She noted that the timber trade is one of the few sectors that offers such a diverse range of roles.
She familiarised the apprentices with a range of topics: 70 per cent of timber comes from abroad, as Switzerland lacks the relevant domestic industry. The timber trade is also a dynamic sector that is evolving. “Timber is booming,” says Silvia Furlan, “and that’s why innovation is needed.”
However, the timber trade has changed and is currently merging with the building materials trade. Sending out samples – one of the tasks carried out by apprentices – is, for Silvia Furlan, one of the most important tasks in sales. The fact that the HWS is an umbrella organisation which, at the highest level, fosters contacts with the political sphere was also discussed.
End-of-course trip to Biel
Following this informative morning and a delicious lunch, the course group visited the Swatch building in Biel. There, the focus was on architecture, innovation and a pioneering spirit in modern timber construction.
The course concluded with a visit to the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) in Biel. The trainees gained insights into four current areas of research – ranging from innovative products made from bark to load-bearing tests using weights. A varied and exciting conclusion to an intensive two-day industry course.
