Our History

In 1936 the Zaugg family opened for business in Rohrbach, Switzerland, following in the powerful European tradition of wood craftsmanship. Stephan and Martin Zaugg are now the third-generation owners of the business and have carried on the legacy of their parents and grandparents. Zaugg Timber Solutions, or ZTS, is the North American affiliate of the business. ZTS entered the North American market in 2022, building the first Modular Multifamily Mass Timber Prototype in the US.

Our Values

Zaugg is a values-driven organization focused on its people and its community. Expansion into North America represents for Zaugg an expansion of that community and the opportunity to take part in a new community for whom affordable mass timber is now a growing ambition. Our values include:

We do what we say.
Our integrity is non-negotiable because we do what we say. We are a reliable and trustworthy partner.

We do more.
We prove ourselves to our customers through performance and we focus on results. We are flexible and mobile and go further than others.

We focus on the future.
We are constantly educating ourselves. We focus on sustainability and innovation.

We look for the best solution.
We actively listen to customers and employees and question how things are “normally” done. We are innovative, offer integrated solutions and deliver the highest quality.

We respect other people.
We take responsibility and deal with mistakes constructively. We are inclusive and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or political affiliation.

Experience the skill and precision of our craftsmanship, from timber construction to steelwork, in every step of the process.

Some of the steps we have taken towards sustainability over the past few years include:

• Powering 100% of our facilities with renewable energy, including 1 Megawatt of solar capacity and a biomass boiler on site.
• Encouraging our employees to live close to the factory, leading to an average commute time of 20 minutes, thereby reducing transportation pollution.

Since 1936, we have manufactured prefabricated buildings from multiple materials with a strong focus on timber. We fabricate to a one millimeter tolerance, exceptional for the North American market.

We have completed over 200 mass timber projects in our Swiss factory over the past thirty years by establishing and following a rigorous set of protocols and organizational methods that deliver predictability of pricing and on-time and on-budget delivery.

Over two decades, we have transitioned from a traditional, craftsman-driven business to a fully automated computer numerical control (CNC) machining enterprise delivering huge time and cost savings to customers. We have achieved these advances while also maintaining a commitment to master-craftsman quality woodwork and rigorous training. This tradition has served to positively impact wages and quality of life for our employees and the greater mass timber ecosystem.

Projects today are designed virtually in three-dimensions and then fabricated and transported at up to 90% completion to job sites, decreasing waste and increasing sustainability at every stage in the process.

Are you ready to embark on an extraordinary journey of personal and professional growth? We are now offering U.S. citizens the opportunity to step into the exciting world of timber craftsmanship, cultural exchange and adventure. Job training begins in Switzerland and continues with high-quality employment in Oregon.

We are now seeking four motivated individuals to join our Advanced Mass Timber Training Program. For up to 18 months, you will receive hands-on training in Switzerland in advanced carpentry including mass timber assembly and general building science. During the Program you will be guided by skilled mentors and attend classroom training.

Trainees are paid a living wage from the beginning to the end of the Program and beyond. Upon completion of training, you will return with your colleagues to the U.S. where a job will be waiting for you.

This is more than just a training program. It is an immersive experience in a beautiful and unique country.

Applications are now open for individuals with carpentry skills. The application deadline is February 28 th .

In 1936, the Zaugg family founded their business in Rohrbach, Switzerland, rooted in Europe's strong tradition of wood craftsmanship. Stephan and Martin Zaugg are now the third generation stewards of the family legacy. Zaugg Timber Solutions (ZTS), the company's North American affiliate, entered the market in 2021 with the first Multifamily Modular Mass Timber Prototype in the U.S.

ZTS will start production of prefabricated mass timber modules and elements in two new factories in Oregon and Montana beginning in 2026 and 2027. The production and assembly of those modules and elements will be carried out by trained specialists from both Switzerland and the U.S.

In order to train up U.S. specialists, ZTS and its affiliates are now standing up the Advanced Mass Timber Training Program. The Program will train a new cadre of American carpenters in the expert fields of mass timber prefabrication and assembly.

• Paid Training: Earn a competitive salary while learning a valuable trade.
• Adventure: Live and work in a stunning Swiss setting, from picturesque villages to breathtaking mountains.
• Cultural Exchange: Dive into Swiss culture, learn new traditions, and bring your American spirit as a bridge between nations.
• Personal Growth: Develop confidence, discipline, and skills that will benefit you for life.
• High-quality Employment: Return to a living wage job in the U.S. after training.
• Ambassadorship: Share your skills, inspire others, and join a growing company that bridges Europe to the U.S.

The Program is designed to provide trainees with the skills and knowledge required for company operations. This includes expertise in machinery, materials, techniques, safety and work processes in the factory and on the job site.

Upon completion of the Program in Switzerland, trainees will return to work in 2026 in the U.S. ZTS is developing factories in both Oregon and Montana, with a first opening in Portland in 2026. Trainees will live and thrive in one or both of these dynamic cities with direct access to nature and a growing community of timber experts. ZTS is first and foremost a family of men and women dedicated to the cause of more beautiful and more affordable construction, something desperately needed by both of these incredible destinations.