Matek, an Estonian company specialising in the design, production, and construction of timber buildings and structures, has now become the market leader in Germany in the field of industrial-scale apartment building renovations. In recent years, the company has renovated 15 buildings as a subcontractor. Recently, Matek signed a €25 million contract as the main contractor for constructing a community centre–kindergarten–care home complex in the Weiherhammer region.

“2024 was a breakthrough year for Matek,” says Kaarel Väer, the company’s Sales Director. “In addition to subcontracting, we started acting as the main contractor for the first time, offering maximum added value to our partners in timber construction.” In fact, Seeria Renova GmbH, a general contractor company involving Matek, signed its first industrial renovation contract to renovate a five-story apartment building in Ludwigsfelde, near Berlin.

“At the beginning of May, we signed a €25 million contract to construct a community centre–kindergarten–care home complex in the Weiherhammer region as the main contractor, after winning the Europe-wide tender in January.”
Kaarel Väer, Sales Director of Matek

“The project has been successfully completed, and the next buildings are already in the planning and design phase,” Väer confirms. He sees significant potential in the German market, particularly due to the growing demand for industrial renovation and sustainable building solutions.

“Timber construction is a growing trend in Germany, and we expect substantial volume growth in the coming years. We aim to be part of this growth as a main contractor, offering comprehensive solutions in both renovation and new construction. This allows us to provide much more added value than a subcontractor, who can easily be replaced by a cheaper alternative,” he explains.

A broad project portfolio

According to Väer, Matek began its first projects in Germany in 2021, starting with subcontracting for hybrid-structure apartment buildings in Berlin. “To date, we’ve completed six apartment buildings with our partner, and construction is underway for the seventh and eighth,” notes the Sales Director.

“Since 2023, we’ve industrially renovated 15 apartment buildings in North Rhine-Westphalia for Renowate GmbH, a subsidiary of LEG Immobilien SE, one of Germany’s largest property owners,” he adds. The company is now transitioning from subcontractor to main contractor.

“In addition to apartment building renovations, we are also working on other projects – for instance, at the beginning of May, we signed a €25 million contract to construct a community centre–kindergarten–care home complex in the Weiherhammer region as the main contractor, after winning the Europe-wide tender in January,” Väer says proudly.

“This means that we’ve moved from subcontractor to main contractor in both renovation and new construction – a strategic goal we’ve pursued in Germany from the beginning,” he confirms.

Pilot project as a marketing and business card

In February, Matek presented Germany’s first industrial-scale serial renovation pilot project in Ludwigsfelde with a live show event attended by more than 150 people.

“This was an important milestone for us,” Väer says. “As the shortage of skilled labour increases, prefabricated, factory-produced components are the only viable future for renovation. That’s the full-service solution we offer.”

Väer explains that Matek has also participated in a serial renovation program funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), which aims to transform old buildings into energy-efficient living spaces.

“We’ve moved from subcontractor to main contractor in both renovation and new construction – a strategic goal we’ve pursued in Germany from the beginning.”
Kaarel Väer, Sales Director of Matek

“Our timber facade elements – which include insulation, ventilation, and finishing – were specifically developed for such renovations and help deliver fast and high-quality results. This program provided a great platform to test and showcase our solutions to the entire German market,” he adds.

The company’s ambitions extend beyond Germany. “We will continue as a main contractor for both renovation and new construction projects in Germany. Additionally, we hope that the Scandinavian market – particularly Finland, Sweden, and Norway – where we have historically exported the most, will recover in the coming years,” says Väer.

Matek has also supplied buildings to Iceland and remains active on the Estonian market.

Trade fairs help strengthen the network

To establish a foothold in the German market, Matek has participated in Germany’s largest construction fair, BAU, in 2023 and 2025 at the joint stand organised by Enterprise Estonia (EIS). “The fair has been a valuable platform – we were able to invite our partners and be there for them in person. It’s an ideal place and time for networking,” he adds.

He also stresses the importance of thorough preparation before attending trade fairs. “You must do significant groundwork beforehand – you can’t just rely on walk-ins. Long-term, intensive follow-up with existing contacts is what generates work and orders,” Väer confirms.

According to Väer, the expansion into the German market has been supported by EIS export advisors Tiina Kivikas and Leana Kammertöns, as well as economic diplomat Roomet Sõrmus at the Estonian Embassy in Berlin, who have helped organise joint events and establish connections critical to long-term success.

“These joint events have been very beneficial, and we plan to organise more of them. We are convinced that long-term success in Germany can be achieved through strong networks and shared efforts,” Väer concludes.

“In Germany, modular and serial construction is increasingly tied to digitalisation. Digitally managed processes are particularly valued in Matek’s case,” EIS export advisor Tiina Kivikas notes.

Väer concludes with a key insight: “The cornerstone of long-term, profitable export business is a competent team – both at home and in the target market. With the right team, 80% of problems are solved from the start,” says Matek’s Sales Director Kaarel Väer.

GOOD TO KNOW

• Matek is the market leader in industrial renovation of apartment buildings in Germany, having completed 15 projects as a subcontractor and now working as a main contractor on the 16th.
• Germany is Matek’s main export market, currently accounting for the majority of its revenue.
• The company can deliver full turnkey renovation solutions – from design to handover.
• Matek has participated in the BMWi-funded serial renovation program in Germany, where its timber facade elements help transform old concrete buildings into modern, energy-efficient homes.
• Matek offers factory-produced timber frame room and facade elements for both new construction and renovations. It is the only company operating in Germany that can provide both 2D elements for renovation and 3D modules for new builds.
• The facade elements include insulation, ventilation, and exterior finish, enabling quick and scaffold-free installation – on average, renovations can be completed twice as fast as using traditional methods.
• Matek complies with German construction standards and uses only DIN-certified materials. The company has been issued a Ü-certificate by the German certification authority, verifying its compliance with DIN standards across all timber structures in production.

This content is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU.

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