Our FAQ

What is KAROLAM®?

K&K has further developed glulam in cooperation with a research project.
The result, KAROLAM® (KAiserRObinieLAMinated) glulam, now combines all the advantages of the durable wood species without having to adopt the natural growth defects of the robinia.

What are the advantages of laminated robinia wood?

No rotten spots, fewer and much smaller cracks:

K&K uses Robinia plywood because it is a building material that is largely crack-minimized. Our robinia plywood is made of pre-sorted woods that have been freed of rotten spots. The rotational growth, which is often visible in cracks in solid wood, is eliminated by several constructive steps. The individual lamellas are pre-dried to 12-14% before gluing and thus also freed from the particularly high tensions of robinia wood.

During the gluing process, the lamellas are positioned in such a way that residual stresses in the wood material are eliminated as completely as possible.

Higher load-bearing capacity and greater overall lengths and heights:
Since it is made of dried wood and has a multi-layer structure, glulam also has up to 50% higher load-bearing capacities than normal solid wood. This allows us to achieve greater overall lengths and heights. Post lengths of up to 14 m can be realized.

Better surfaces with higher durability:
The continuous industrial production of laminated wood through sorting, drying, defect removal, gluing and round milling enables us to achieve a much higher surface quality of this material. The round milled posts are sanded with a 240 grain and provided with a specially developed surface finish (in use on posts and pedestals since May 2009). This improved treatment increases the durability of the wood due to the beading effect and the UV stability of the natural wood color of the robinia. The previously known “greying” of the wood surface is no longer necessary.

What does Kaiser & Kühne supply in terms of post materials/ or feet?

1. Robinia plywood KAROLAM® Ø120 upright with the tubular base Art. no. 6290138 (depending on length)
2. Stainless steel tube Ø120 x 3 mm 1.4301 (blank + alternatively powder-coated)

What is glued laminated timber (BSH) or laminated wood?

Glued laminated timber (BSH) in general is understood to be made of at least three, approx. 30 to 40 mm thick, fibre-parallel glued and dried boards or board lamellas of wood. Glued laminated timber is an optimized wood building material with greater durability and longevity. Glulam or glued laminated beams are synonyms for glulam.

What is robinia laminated wood?

In the case of robinia plywood, the lamellae consist of pre-dried robinia. K&K uses six approx. 22 mm thick board lamellas. The KAROLAM® product developed by K&K is a special robinia glulam. Glued laminated timber in general has been standardized in building construction for decades. Spruce is mostly used here, which is unsuitable for outdoor use as required for playground equipment – freely weathered – (without roof etc.). Hence our proprietary development KAROLAM®. Emperor RObinie LAMinated. This name is protected as a trademark.

What is robinia wood?

Robinia, native to the southeastern USA, is today the world’s most frequently cultivated deciduous tree after eucalyptus and poplar species, mainly with the aim of soil improvement (nitrogen input) and dump stabilization. Afforestation for the purpose of timber production exists mainly in South-Eastern Europe with the largest areas in Hungary and Romania.

Robinia wood has excellent technical properties, high natural durability and often a decorative appearance. Due to a mostly poor trunk shape and small diameters or lengths, there are currently no large quantities of Robinia wood available for regular industrial processing. Also in the near future the supply on the European market is likely to remain within narrow limits.