The oldest Swiss wood bending factory, a family business
The Giardina celebrates its 25th anniversary. We can already look back on over 80 years of company history. The third-generation family business upholds a valuable tradition of craftsmanship and operates in a sustainable, regional, and solid manner – with professionally steam-bent solid wood.
Wood bending has a long tradition
Winkler Holzbiegewerk AG has been in existence for over 80 years and is now run by Roman Winkler, the third generation of the family. The company combines traditional craftsmanship with modern innovation and is one of Switzerland's leading producers of bentwood and solid wood molded parts.
The craft of wood bending has a long history, stretching from its beginnings in boat building to its industrial perfection by Michael Thonet. We are passionate about preserving this tradition and continuously developing it further.
Have we sparked your interest? Then why not visit us at our wood bending factory on the banks of the Aare river? We would be delighted to take the time to show you around:
Winkler Holzbiegewerk AG
Bahnhofstrasse 25
5316 Felsenau
T +41 56 246 16 40
Applications of solid bentwood in architecture, furniture construction, and more
Solid bentwood has a wide range of applications:
- In architecture, e.g., for curved facade elements
- In interior design, e.g., for harmonious room designs and room dividers
- In furniture construction for ergonomic and durable furniture in interiors, parks, and the public space
- In special areas such as sleds, wagon wheels, or musical instruments
Our loyal customers include architects, designers, carpenters, product developers, and private individuals. The steam bending technique enables organic shapes and high stability even with small cross-sections, and impresses with its aesthetics and functional advantages.
Steam-bent wood has several advantages
Steam bending involves thermally deforming wood without severing the fibers. This preserves the natural structure, resulting in high stability, improved durability, and a particularly harmonious wood appearance. The grain remains intact, making the wood more robust and durable. Steam-bent wood allows for intricate shapes and almost unlimited design possibilities, is less susceptible to rot, requires no or little gluing, is stable under vibration, and allows for constructions with minimal use of materials.
Our commitment to the environment: sustainable and regional
At Winkler Holzbiegewerk, we consistently rely on regional resources: most of the wood comes from forests within a 15 km radius, certified by the HSH label. To this end, we operate our own large-scale timber storage facility to ensure efficient and resource-saving production.
We obtain all the thermal energy for steaming and drying from wood waste, thus closing the ecological cycle. Through durable products, short transport routes, and the promotion of local production, we make an active contribution to decarbonization and sustainable wood use.
