Green Roofs Rethought

Ralf Kutzner grew up close to Cottbus in Brandenburg. Today, the 51-year-old lives close to Graz and together with his colleague Melanie Boheim, he manages the sales of Secalflor in Austria. He truly enjoys his work because Secalflor, based in Rheinsberg around 60 kilometres north of Berlin, offers an ecological alternative to water storage and drainage.

Ralf Kutzner studied law at the University of Marburg, then worked as a business consultant, among other things, and has travelled many parts of the world. “I was elated when one of the owners of Secalflor asked me in Summer 2023 whether I wanted to start working for their company,” he says. “If you want to be successful in sales, you need to be committed to your product. And I am, because I am convinced that our panels are perfectly suited for use in green areas.”

But what exactly are Secalflor Panels and where can you use them? Ralf Kutzner explains: “Our panels are patented and consist of a 100 per cent ecological mix of cellulose fibres, plant starch and mineral additives. They ensure an increase in plant growth in almost all climatic conditions. Irrigation, nutrient enrichment and pesticides can be noticeably reduced when using our product.

The panels can be used for a wide range of applications and can be laid out in single or double layers. They are used, for example, in parks and green spaces, for renaturalization and for green roofs. On green roofs, the very lightweight panels can replace the conventional water drainage and storage layer made of plastic. This creates true added value for the environment.

“Plus, our panels can be used in the construction or renovation of golf courses,” Ralf Kutzner adds. “When using our product, greenkeepers can be confident that they ensure safe and stable growth and lasting vitality even in dry periods.” It is also important for golf course operators to know that, according to the manufacturer, up to 50 per cent of irrigation water can be saved by using the panels. The panels are like a soil's own water reservoir. They keep plant areas healthy and green, as the stored water remains available to the plants for a long time.

In addition to being used in Germany, Austria and Spain, the Secalflor products have also been utilised in individual projects outside of Europe. An important aim of the trade fair appearance at GaLaBau in Nuremberg is to initiate further co-operations.

Secalflor is one of the exhibitors at the joint stand of the International StartUp Area. This area is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action and can be found in Hall 3C. NürnbergMesse offers companies in the International StartUp Area special conditions for participating in GaLaBau, the leading International Trade Fair for Urban Green and Open Spaces (www.galabau-messe.com/en). The fair takes place from 11 – 14 September 2024.