Swiss Wood Day | Open Day

Saturday, 13 September 2025

Cover Tag der offenen Tür

Experience. Discover. Understand.

Visit us as part of Swiss Wood Day and find out more about wood as a raw material, as well as products and services along the regional value chain.

In the Wissholz forest at Walter Zoo, the canton’s Forest Region 1 invites you to embark on an engaging tour through the forest to get an insight into what’s involved in modern forest management.

On Bischofszellerstrasse and at Erlenhof, we’ll show you how the closed-loop use of wood works – from log cutting in the sawmill to planning and producing sustainable timber and silo constructions and generating energy in our own power plant.

You’ll also have the opportunity to learn more about careers and apprenticeships in the timber industry from our professionals and HR managers. 

Refreshments will be available in the forest and at Erlenhof to cater to your culinary needs. 

We look forward to your visit! Registration is not required.

Open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 
Schedule an appointment

Blumer Lehmann
Erlenhof
9200 Gossau
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Blumer Lehmann
Free Form Production
Bischofszellerstrasse 112
9200 Gossau
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Waldregion 1
Wissholz - Neuchlen near Walter Zoo
9200 Gossau
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Highlights Erlenhof

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The graphic features pictograms depicting the various stages of log processing, showing a totally sustainable use of wood.
Experience the sustainable wood cycle at the Erlenhof on the tour through the site firsthand
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Close-up of square timber, printed with the Swiss timber logo
Discover Swiss wood in all its diversity - from patio flooring to the dovetailed façade
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Learn more about our wood and silo constructions - from planning, production to assembly
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A group picture with eleven young people in training to become carpenters and two trainers walk in front of large stacks of wood and laugh
First-hand information: Get information on the various training opportunities in the wood industry
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The milling head processes the piece of wood on the CNC machine. The shavings fly off.
Experience our production facilities live: from the sawmill to CNC production
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HR campaign subject with Marianne Germann, Lukas Blum and Robin Nellen
Getting big on the wrong track - Getting information about our job profiles and open positions
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Highlights of Free Form production

Exclusive insight into modern CNC production
  • Take a look behind the scenes and watch our employees working on digital planning and CAD/CAM programming.
  • Explore our state-of-the-art CNC facilities and digital tools that are used to produce components for Free Form structures with millimetre precision.
  • Visit mock-ups (1:1 models) of our flagship projects around the world.
  • Find out more about the job profiles and career opportunities in Free Form planning and production by talking to our experts.
Processing of complex components on the CNC trimming line at the Blumer Lehmann factory.

Wissholz highlights

Experience modern forestry up close
  • Gain exciting insights into the varied forestry professions and learn about the wide range of timber products originating from Swiss forests.
  • Observe the modern forwarder in action and experience fully mechanised timber harvesting.
  • See on site how the large-scale chipper is used to produce high-quality wood chips and wood for generating energy from the firewood processor. 

And for anyone feeling adventurous, you can reach new heights and climb a tree using professional safety equipment!

Timber!

Directions and parking

Traffic concept for Open Day 2025

Please use public transport or bicycle to get to the Open Day.

Shuttle bus from Gossau SG railway station
From 8:30 am, special buses will leave Gossau SG railway station every 15 minutes and stop at the Free Form production site on Bischofszellerstrasse then head to Erlenhof and on to Wissholz at Walter Zoo.

Parking and traffic management
There are very few parking spaces available at each of the three locations. Please follow the instructions of the transport service.

Important note: on 13 September 2025, one-way traffic controls will be in place on Albertschwilerstrasse in the direction of Niederbüren.

Shuttle bus timetable

Shuttle bus from Gossau SG station From 8:30 am, special buses will depart every 15 minutes from Gossau SG station and stop at the site on Bischofszellerstrasse then head to Erlenhof and on to Wissholz at Walter Zoo.

Getting to Gossau SG railway station using public transport

Bus timetable open day 2025

Important information for your visit

We would like to draw your attention to the following points for your visit to the various locations:  

Security and protection
Please follow the guidance and instructions issued by our staff. Stay on the marked paths. Protect your ears at noisy stops. We will provide you with free earplugs. Smoking is only permitted in designated locations on the Blumer Lehmann premises.

Accessibility
The tour through the forest and the Blumer Lehmann company premises is largely barrier-free. We will be happy to provide support for people with disabilities when on the site.

Erlenhof in Gossau – Centre of Timber Expertise