20.06.2025
Lycian Coast: Sail from Fethiye to Kekova
Hightech & Craftsmanship: The BAVARIA Joinery
Today we are visiting a special department in the shipyard: our in-house joinery. Next to the trolleys with large wooden panels, people are hammering, sawing and milling at various stations. Everyone seems very focussed and busy. But what makes our joinery so special and how are the wooden panels turned into finished furniture? We meet Michael Weidler, Head of Joinery, for an interview!
Hi Michael! How long have you been working in the joinery department and what tasks do you do there?
I've been working in the joinery since 2018. My tasks are to coordinate work processes, plan projects with my team and ensure that we meet all deadlines and quality standards. Depending on the project, I'm also involved in production and assembly myself, especially for demanding or customised work.
My tasks also include procuring materials and monitoring stock levels. The professional development of my employees is also particularly important to me - this is the only way we can achieve good results as a team!
And what does a typical working day look like for you?
In the joinery, we start at around 06:45 with a short team meeting where the day's tasks are discussed and distributed. I then get an overview of the tasks ahead and plan and coordinate the workshop and assembly work - always with the aim of ensuring that all processes run as smoothly as possible. One important point is organisation: materials, machines, tools - everything has to be in the right place at the right time.
Our lunch break together is a fixed ritual. We use it not only to relax, but also for informal dialogue - you often find out more about the mood in the team than in an official meeting.
The bottom line: it's a job with a lot of responsibility, but also with room for manoeuvre. I make sure that everything runs smoothly - and if things don't work out, I find a solution together with my team.
What is so special about BAVARIA's joinery?
Definitely the combination of precise craftsmanship and state-of-the-art production technology. We do not manufacture individual pieces of furniture, but complete furnishing modules such as galleys or pantries, T-rooms, forecastles, midships and mess rooms, which are later fitted into the yacht hulls. These modules are prefabricated outside the ship and then installed as a whole.
There are currently 41 skilled workers in the 6,000 square metre carpentry workshop, supported by computer-aided machines such as large CNC milling machines, sliding table saws, edge banding machines and painting systems. Production is divided into four assembly lines (T-room, fore ship, centre ship and aft berth), which enables a structured and efficient process. Despite the high degree of automation, a lot of manual labour is required, for example when assembling, fitting the furniture, attaching fittings and pre-routing cables or hoses.
In summary, BAVARIA Yacht's joinery stands for industrial precision, high flexibility, individual customer requirements and a successful combination of craftsmanship and industrialisation.
In what form is the wood delivered?
The wood for the interior fittings of our BAVARIA yachts is delivered in the form of large wooden panels, from which all the components that belong together - such as walls, cabinets and doors - are each cut from one panel to ensure a uniform grain. These panels are machined with millimetre precision using CNC milling machines so that the individual parts later fit together exactly. Handrails and edges of cupboards and tables are also made from solid wood.
What are the steps from simple wood to the finished piece of furniture?
- First comes the delivery, of course: the wood is delivered in the form of large boards. For furniture parts that belong together, the boards are selected so that the grain is continuous and visually appealing
- Cutting and milling: The required individual parts are then milled out of the boards. Grooves, drill holes, joints, recesses and bevelled edges are also produced directly.
- Edge processing: The edges of the cut parts are covered with solid wood mouldings to achieve a high-quality look and stability. This is done using an edge banding machine.
- Sanding and varnishing: The surfaces and edges are then finished in automatic sanding and lacquering lines. Water-soluble lacquer is applied to the individual parts, which ensures a resistant and matt surface.
- Assembling the furniture modules: The painted individual parts are assembled into complete furniture modules (e.g. forecastle, midship, mess, galley lines, and T-room wet cells). Fittings, hinges and any technical components such as cables or hoses are also integrated during this process.
Thank you for your time, Michael - this was a really exciting overview on the BAVARIA joinery.
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