Södra is investing in a new facility that will increase the production capacity of timber frames ten-fold. The facility is expected to be commissioned in mid-2022 and is being built at its plant in Värö, north of Varberg in Sweden, where Södra’s first CLT facility is located. Source: Timberbiz
The facility will be able to deliver frame material for 4000 homes each year, representing a ten-fold increase in production compared with current levels at Södra’s existing facility.
“Increasing timber-frame construction is a key aspect of the climate transition and there are multiple advantages with CLT. In addition to at least halving the climate impact compared with other material, this technology also results in a shorter construction time. This is a key milestone in Södra’s initiative to become one of the Nordic region’s leading players in CLT,” said Lotta Lyrå, President and CEO of Södra.
The interest in sustainable timber construction has increased significantly in the market and the trend is continuing. In 2020, 20% of all newly built housing units in apartment buildings had a timber frame, which is a considerable increase compared with earlier years.
Next year, 2022, the Act on Climate Declarations will also be introduced, imposing requirements to promote more sustainable construction. This is expected to further drive up the interest in CLT.
“The trend for CLT is highly positive. Today, the demand in the market is larger than the available capacity and we want to fill this gap. By developing new, innovative products, we can safeguard our competitiveness and create value for members, customers and employees – both old and new,” said Jörgen Hermansson, President of Södra Building Systems.
On average, the frame accounts for nearly half of the climate footprint when constructing apartment buildings with three to eight storeys. With Södra’s frame in CLT, this figure can be reduced by up to 80% compared with a traditional concrete structure.
The plant premises will comprise a 270-metre-long building. The frame consists of glued-laminated timber (GLT), which is combined with CLT produced by Södra, just as Södra is responsible for the remainder of the structural timber and the cladding of the building.
