Construction Diary: Insights into the Construction Process

RUWI We’re growing—and doing so sustainably. Right here in the Black Forest, we’re building our new company headquarters. And because our roots run deep in Fluorn-Winzeln, we’re building it right here.

In this construction diary, we'll take you behind the scenes. You'll see how an initial sketch becomes a reality, step by step.

October 2022

Our ideas always start in our own workshop. We built the first design of the new building ourselves as a prototype—which was a practical way to understand what we really needed. Our previous workshop had become too small, and its location right in the heart of town left little room to grow. We wanted to get RUWI ready for the next generation and create more space for future developments.

Homemade building model prototype with RUWI lift tables
Prototype building featuring our lift tables

October 2024

After extensive planning, the time had finally come in October: Together with Mayor Rainer Betschner and our architects from W:Architekten (now Arc+) in Freudenstadt, we celebrated the official groundbreaking.

Official groundbreaking ceremony with the mayor, architects, and contractors
Groundbreaking Ceremony with W:Architekten, Contractors, and Volksbank

November 2024

The topsoil layer was carefully removed. Now, five dump trucks are operating on a shuttle basis, transporting the excavated soil to a nearby landfill.

Earthwork from a bird's-eye view
A bird's-eye view of the start of earthwork

December 2024

The construction professionals are digging strip foundations, and the first concrete is arriving at the construction site. We have taken special care to ensure that the foundations can withstand the loads from our machinery and workshop equipment.

Pouring Concrete for Strip Foundations
Pouring the Foundations

January 2025 (Concrete Core Activation)

Before the concrete was poured, we installed about 4,000 running meters of tubing within the reinforcement. The concrete core activation system will later use this tubing to heat and cool the building—together with air-source heat pumps, it supplies the building with heat from renewable energy.

Concrete Core Activation: Hoses Installed in the Reinforcement
Concrete Core Activation

February 2025 (floor slab)

Our construction partner, Sieber, poured the concrete foundation slab in three sections. The result is a level, load-bearing surface—the foundation for everything that follows.

Pouring the floor slab in several sections
Pouring the Foundation Slab

May 2025

It was clear to us from the very beginning: Our wood comes from our home region. We made a conscious decision to use CLT elements from Holzbauwerk Schwarzwald —because of the short distances involved, our connection to the Black Forest, and our sense of responsibility toward the region. Piece by piece, the carpenters (Ginter Carpentry) are assembling the components—and our new building is taking on its distinct shape.

Installation of CLT wood elements by Ginter Carpentry
Get Started with Wood Construction with Ginter Carpentry

June 2025 (roof and solar array)

The roof is complete; seven truck trailers full of roof panels have been installed. The solar power system is designed to meet as much of our energy needs as possible with electricity.

New building with a roof
New building with a roof already in place

July 2025

Interior construction requires craftsmanship and creative solutions. Window installers, electricians, heating and ventilation specialists, and drywall installers are now on site. We deliberately chose local contractors and held many discussions with them to ensure they’re a good fit for our company. The interior is taking shape quickly, and the construction site is bustling with activity.

We plan to move in at the end of the year. Preparations are already underway, with every step carefully planned so that we can get up and running smoothly. We look forward to filling the new building with life and a passion for our craft.

Interior Work: Electrical Installation
Interior Work – Electrical Systems
Construction Site – Trades at Work
Unions in Action
Installation of the mullion-transom facade
Installation of the mullion-transom facade

August 2025

Work continues on the construction site. The outdoor areas are now taking shape. Thirty-four truckloads of gravel are laying the foundation for paths and open spaces—solid and stable, serving as the base for the asphalt.

Outdoor Construction: Gravel Base Course
Outdoor facilities under construction
Paved outdoor area surrounding the building
Completed asphalt surface

September 2025

There are also some changes taking place inside: The warehouse is relocating, and new structures are being put in place. A rack is currently being assembled that will provide space for up to 260 pallets—an important part of the future logistics operations.

Installation of the new pallet rack in the warehouse
Assembly of the New Pallet Rack

October 2025

After a short break, work continued on the exterior. The parking spaces were paved, the carpenters installed the final exterior slats, and the final sheet metal work was completed. From the outside, the building is now virtually finished—the project is entering its final phase.

Paved parking spaces around the building
Paved parking spaces
Aerial view of the completed new building with its outdoor facilities
Aerial view of the completed new building

November 2025

We’ve arrived. The new home of RUWI is located at Obercarsdorfer Straße 10 in 78737 Fluorn-Winzeln. What began as a preliminary sketch in 2022 has become a wooden building where work is now being carried out.

RUWI's new building—with a dark wood facade and company sign—in Fluorn-Winzeln
RUWI 's New Home in Fluorn-Winzeln

Behind the wooden facade, the machines are running, the warehouse is stocked, and the development team continues to tinker with the next idea. The ceiling made of locally sourced wood—which we watched being installed—now supports our workshop.

Machine shop of the new " RUWI" workshop with an exhaust system beneath an exposed wooden ceiling
The workshop is in full swing—under a ceiling made of locally sourced wood

Right in the thick of it, our own tool is in action: the lifting table 400 XL Cordless, which can lift up to 400 kg electrically to working height . That’s exactly why we founded RUWI —tools from the workshop, for the workshop.

RUWI lifting table 400 XL Battery in Use in the New Workshop
Our Machinery and Tools, Right in the Heart of Operations

We're looking forward to this new chapter and the time that lies ahead.