Södra has inaugurated its new cross-laminated timber (CLT) facility on the west coast of Sweden. The facility is one of the largest in Sweden and marks a 10-fold increase in Södra’s production capacity.
A key part of Södra’s Group strategy is a future-proofed industrial structure that creates a offering for customers and consumers. The new CLT facility broadens the market for construction materials while also promoting sustainable construction and more sustainable communities.
“Södra’s assignment is to renew and improve the value of forest estates, and our new CLT facility is one way to do exactly that,” said Lotta Lyrå, CEO of Södra.
“Today is a proud moment for Södra’s entire organisation. Members, employees and customers are continuing to work together to build stronger value chains that enable us to meet society’s demand for sustainable and innovative products from family forestry.”
The plant at Värö locality is one of the largest in Sweden for the production of CLT with the capacity to supply framing materials for just over 4,000 homes per year.
By investing in production at Värö, Södra is close to several developing regions for CLT in the Nordic region. Logistically, the product can also be easily shipped to international markets from the port in Varberg municipality.
According to Södra, the CLT production is allegedly fossil-free as it uses green energy produced at Södra’s pulp mill at Värö.
Södra’s goal is to be the leading operator in the Nordic region in solid timber construction by increasing the value of the raw material for family forestry in an innovative manner – from seedling to finished product.
CLT has many different applications and has become increasingly prevalent in Swedish buildings within a short period of time. The material can be used to construct high-rise buildings, industrial halls and schools in timber, and by using Södra’s CLT the building’s carbon footprint can be reduced by up to 80%.
