Roust Element Celebrates 100 Years: A Hurricane and a Henhouse Laid the Foundation for the Timber Element Manufacturer

A hurricane became the catalyst for the transformation from an independent carpentry and joinery workshop into a production company – and laid the foundation for the West Jutland-based company Roust Element, which this year celebrates its 100th anniversary. Since its founding in 1925, the company has embraced innovation as the basis for continued success, and today Roust Element is a modern enterprise with around 200 employees producing timber-based elements for the construction industry.

The founder of Roust Element, Herman Pedersen, established his own carpentry and joinery business in 1925, which was later taken over by his son, Børge Pedersen. It was Børge’s quick thinking, when a hurricane in 1951 toppled nearly all the trees in the nearby Varde Søndre Plantation, that became the basis for a sawmill – the seed that has since grown into today’s comprehensive element manufacturer, Roust Element.

“When my grandfather founded his business, he probably never imagined it would evolve into what Roust Element is today. But when my father, Børge Pedersen, took over, expansion began modestly with a sawmill set up in an old henhouse to cut all the timber that had fallen in the storm. The problem was, he spent all his money on new machinery, and it wasn’t until a neighbor stepped in with a loan that they were able to purchase the timber for the mill,” says Robert Pedersen, former co-owner of Roust Element and member of the third generation of the family.

“In the late 1960s, Børge Pedersen traveled to the USA, where he witnessed the production of trusses with nail plates. Together with my brother, Erik Pedersen, he launched truss production. For many years, Erik was a driving force in the company’s expansion with his passion for machines and his dedication to optimizing workflows. I focused more on administration and sales, but it was also my idea to start producing wall cassettes – the beginning of the element production that defines Roust Element today.”

Craftsmanship and Quality Advisory Services Are the Future

Today, the Danish timber group Nordic Wood Industries owns Roust Element. Despite becoming part of a larger group, the company continues to focus on craftsmanship, local spirit, and ongoing innovation – ensuring Roust Element remains strong for the next 100 years.

“The values at Roust Element are the same as ever – we are a proud manufacturing company that cares deeply about craftsmanship. But a lot has changed since Roust Element was founded 100 years ago and since element production began over 50 years ago. Today, we don’t just deliver drawings and manufacture elements. Increasingly, we are involved in three-party solutions, guiding and advising contractors and developers early in the process,” explains Steffen Kremmer, CEO of Roust Element.

“The construction industry is constantly optimizing – whether in terms of CO₂ emissions or project timelines. That makes it essential for us to have strong competencies in place to advise during the early phases of a project, enabling smarter solutions through adjustments to and of the designs. Prefabricated building elements will undoubtedly play an even greater role in the future, and already we see many contractors turning to this approach to achieve better control of time and costs. This gives the company a solid foundation to help shape the next 100 years of Roust’s history.”

Great-Grandfather Would Be Proud

Although Roust Element is now owned by Nordic Wood Industries, the company remains close to the hearts of the Pedersen family – something they are confident previous generations would have been proud of. That’s according to Claus Pedersen, former CEO of the company. Along with his brothers, he represents the fourth and final generation of the Pedersen family, who together with their father, Erik Pedersen, sold the company in 2020.

“Every generation connected with Roust Element has shared a deep interest in watching the company grow and adapt to the times with new production methods and business areas. Nordic Wood Industries has continued this positive development with the necessary investments to ensure Roust Element will still be thriving in 100 years. We are certain that both our great-grandfather Herman and our grandfather Børge would be proud,” concludes Claus Pedersen.

Roust Element’s centenary was celebrated on September 12 with an internal event for employees, Nordic Wood Industries, and the Pedersen family.

Facts about Roust Element:

• Founded in 1925 by independent carpenter Herman Pedersen
• In 1951, Roust Sawmill was established after a hurricane felled the trees in Varde Søndre Plantation
• Truss production began in 1970, and by 1978 production of wall elements for housing was underway
• The sawmill closed in 2002, shifting focus to truss and element production
• In 2005, Roust Element became the first to introduce robotic technology for timber element production
• In 2020, timber group Nordic Wood Industries acquired a majority stake in the company, while descendants of Herman Pedersen remained shareholders
• In 2022, the company was divided into two independent business units – Roust Element and Roust Spær