Our horse stalls are designed to withstand many years of daily use. We achieve this durability with solid craftsmanship, carefully selected materials and a design that overcomes the adverse conditions in a horse stable.
At the same time we take a look at options for replacing our standard materials with suitable alternatives. Not only the origin of a material matters, its safety, strength, durability and practicality must also meet our requirements.
From tropical hardwood to bamboo planks
For many years we used very durable hardwoods for the panelling in horse stalls. However, although certificates were provided, it was not always possible to reliably trace their origins. For this reason we already started looking for an alternative at an early stage.
Softwoods such as spruce were out of the question as they were not resilient enough for an unforgiving stable environment. We finally found what we were looking for in bamboo, a fast-growing renewable raw material that can be processed into sturdy planks using high pressure.
It took several stages of development before the bamboo planks were up to our standards. Various compression methods and material thicknesses were tested, trialled in a horse stable and exposed to the elements over a long period of time. It was only once its strength, elasticity and processing had proven to be up to scratch that we started using the material on a regular basis.
For many years now we have mainly been using bamboo for the panelling in our horse stalls and have almost completely stopped using tropical hardwood in the stalls.
The particular demands to be met by the manure board
One exception so far has been the so-called ‘manure board’ in the lower section of the stall partition. These have to withstand particularly difficult conditions in in the stable. Moisture, bedding and manure put a lot of strain on the material, and the plank must remain strong and durable.
For this reason until now we have been using the tropical hardwood red ironwood for this board. We would only consider an alternative if it not only had the required material properties but could also be reliably integrated into our stall partitions.
A new alternative to red ironwood
Together with our partner NOVO-TECH we are now offering a new manure board for stall partitions that is manufactured exclusively for Röwer & Rüb. It is made from a material called GCC which is made up of around 75 per cent natural fibres. The main processed materials are sawdust and wood shavings from the domestic timber industry.
These natural fibres are supplemented by polymers, which bind the material together and give it the necessary strength. In some cases, certain variants of the GCC also incorporate recycled components from end-of-life rotor blades.
With a density of around 1.2 tonnes per cubic metre, according to the manufacturer the material has similar properties to those of red ironwood. Its flexural strength is also designed to withstand the tough conditions in the stables. At the same time the board can be processed in much the same way as timber and integrated into our existing designs.
First use in Aachen
We are using the new manure board for the first time in the stables currently being built for the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen.
This will be the first time we have replaced red ironwood with the new material solution for this element. The project in Aachen is an important step for us towards replacing hardwoods wherever a technically suitable and durable alternative is available.
Further development, testing, improvement
New materials must meet the same standards as our tried-and-tested solutions. They must be safe, sturdy, durable and suitable for the demanding daily conditions in a stable.
For this reason we do not replace materials at any cost. We develop, test and inspect them until an alternative meets our quality demands. As a result we can supply solutions that make more conscious use of resources while preserving what Röwer & Rüb stands for – high-quality stable equipment with well-designed details and a long service life.
Would you like to find out more about our materials and customised stable equipment?
Our specialist consultants would be pleased to assist you in planning your stable project.