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Wednesday, 15 September 2021 09:41

Södra is expanding in CLT – establishes in Denmark

Södra is now launching its complete offering for the assembly of cross-laminated timber (CLT) framing in Denmark. This is due to the high interest in Södra’s products, and it represents the first step towards an establishment of the building systems in Europe. Kenny Holm will be Marketing Manager for the business in Denmark.

Södra’s sustainable timber construction business is expanding – all the way to Denmark. Södra already operates in Denmark but is now establishing a new position in CLT across the country and expanding the existing business. This is the first step of Södra’s establishment of the business in Europe and Södra’s complete offering of CLT panels for frame assembly with complementary products and services will now be available in the Danish market.

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Large interest in the Danish market
The business will be part of the Södra Building Systems business segment, with Kenny Holm as new Marketing Manager for Denmark.

“We are seeing a large interest in Södra’s CLT outside Sweden, and Denmark is the first step in our international establishment. They have come a long way in sustainable construction and are phasing out traditional materials, mainly in favour of CLT. Moreover, Södra’s geographic location in south-west Sweden is ideal for this market. With Kenny as Marketing Manager, we will gain valuable momentum in establishing a strong market position and launching our offering,” said Urban Blomster, Head of Market and Business Development for Södra Building Systems. 

The establishment in Denmark means that Danish projects can now take advantage of Södra’s CLT building systems to create a secure, easy and efficient assembly process for large-scale construction. In addition to structural elements in CLT and glulam, Södra will now be able to offer engineered timbers for projects. All production will be carried out at Södra’s combined facilities in Varberg Municipality and other work will remain based in Sweden.

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Offering available from September
Kenny Holm, Södra Building Systems’ new Marketing Manager in Denmark, believes the new establishment has a great deal of potential and a wide range of projects are approaching.

“I’ve been working in the construction industry for many years, but developments in Denmark have moved rapidly over the past few years. While demand for CLT construction is huge, there is also a need for knowledge development. Södra is meeting this need with a complete offering for its customers. We have good dialogue with a range of stakeholders at various levels and already see a number of promising projects ahead,” he said and explained how Södra will provide assistance for Danish projects:

“In a construction project, Södra’s know-how is valuable before, during and after the process. We are more than willing to engage in discussion with property developers and architects to share our knowledge about building with timber – about the pros and cons of the material. We can also identify areas where money can be saved by making minor changes. Our support ensures that the project idea is feasible,” said Kenny Holm.

Södra will establish its complete offering for assembly of CLT framing in Denmark as of September.

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Södra’s investment in circularity continues. Through a new partnership with Swedish company Trioworld, Södra’s timber packaging will now contain 30 percent recycled plastic, which will reduce annual emissions from the packaging by around 23 percent.

“With the new packaging, we are ensuring high-quality deliveries for our customers, while also taking an additional step towards a more circular business model with lower emissions. This is a trend we will continue to pursue. On the challenges with sustainability, there is no finish line to pass and we are constantly working to be the market leader and develop our processes. This will help Södra and our customers contribute to a sustainable climate transition,” said Andreas Jonasson, Sales & Marketing Director at Södra Wood.

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Reduce emissions by 23 percent
The new timber packaging is called Trioworld Loop and will be used for all Södra’s timber deliveries – both domestic and exported. The material contains at least 30 percent Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) Plastics. As a result, Södra expects to cut its emissions by nearly 385 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per year, corresponding to 23 percent of annual emissions from the packaging.

Södra is first to offer timber packaging with PCR plastic in larger scale. The development is in line with Södra’s targets for reducing its emissions and building a climate-positive business.

“Trioworld believes in long-term partnerships. When developing sustainable solutions for tomorrow, ambitious partners such as Södra are a key lever for minimising the environmental impact of packaging without compromising on transport safety or the protection of the timber. Our solution with 30 percent post-consumer recycled content will significantly reduce the environmental impact of the packaging – and that’s just the beginning of sustainable packaging for the forest industry from Trioworld,” said Adam Fransson, Senior Account Manager, Trioworld.

Södra’s timber products will be delivered with the new Trioworld Loop packaging from September.

Founded in 1938, Södra is Sweden’s largest forest-owner association, with 53,000 forest owners as its members. We conduct modern and responsible forestry, and operate state-of-the-art mills in which we process our raw material. In 2020, net sales amounted to SEK 20 billion and employees totalled 3,100. Through value-generating relationships and a long-term approach, Södra shows the way for the next generation of forestry.

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Over the next three years, the number of employees in the Södra Building Systems business segment will be doubled.

Södra’s second production facility for cross-laminated timber is scheduled for completion by mid-2022. The facility will be able to deliver framing materials for 4,000 homes per year, which is ten times the current output of Södra’s existing facility at Värö.

The organisation is also growing. In order to realise the investment, the number of employees in the Södra Building Systems business segment will need to grow from the current number of 40 to least 80 within three years. New employees will be needed in several areas, including production, market and technology. The employees will mainly be sought for Södra’s combined facility at Värö, aiming at areas such as Halland, Västra Götaland and western Småland.

“We have a major need for new experience and skills to continue the development of Södra’s cross-laminated timber business. We are seeking new employees to help us drive the transition to a sustainable future built from wood,” said Liv Hagner, Head of Production, Södra Building Systems.

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Start in autumn 2021
Recruitments will commence in autumn 2021 and people from a range of fields will be sought.

“We will need to increase the number of employees in production, in particular, and are seeking people with industrial experience and an interest in technology. A background or qualifications in wood technology is of merit. We are also looking for team players who want to contribute to production efficiency and high quality throughout the process. To build a competent team, we are also focused on bringing in equal strengths from diverse backgrounds,” said Liv Hagner.

Major interest in solid wood construction
The interest in Södra’s products for large-scale solid wood construction is high.

“Demand is currently exceeding capacity, which is the driving factor behind our investment right now. During our start-up years, there has been a rapid development of knowledge in the market and we are now seeing more operators that are daring to focus on wood to identify the most effective solutions for sustainable construction technologies. We are also seeing a sharp increase in global demand for solid wood construction. We want to continue being part of this trend, and to pursue it together with more colleagues at Södra,” said Urban Blomster, Head of Market and Business Development at Södra Building Systems.

For more information, please contact:
Urban Blomster, Business Developer at Södra Building Systems
Tel: +46 (0) 70 683 77 85
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Founded in 1938, Södra is Sweden’s largest forest-owner association, with 53,000 forest owners as its members. We conduct modern and responsible forestry, and operate state-of-the-art mills in which we process our raw material. In 2020, net sales amounted to SEK 20 billion and employees totalled 3,100. Through value-generating relationships and a long-term approach, Södra shows the way for the next generation of forestry.

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Södra’s new cross-laminated timber, CLT, is a fast mover in the market.
For this reason, 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.

The new facility is being built at the combined plant in Värö, north of Varberg, where Södra’s first CLT facility is located. The new facility is expected to be commissioned in mid-2022 – and it will get off to a flying start. The facility will be able to deliver frame material for 4,000 homes each year, representing a ten-fold increase in production compared with current levels at Södra’s existing facility.

And there is a big need.

“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.

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Rapid development changing the construction market
The interest in sustainable timber construction has increased significantly in the market – and the trend is continuing. In 2020, 20 percent 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.

Carbon footprint could be reduced by 80 percent
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 percent compared with a traditional concrete structure. This development is about to revolutionise the construction market, since industrialisation and prefabrication also enable increased productivity.

“We want to contribute to the productivity development and climate transition in the construction industry. We will do this by sharing knowledge with our stakeholders, developing our offering to the market and investing in new capacity so that our partners can continue to grow. We are now creating the conditions for the next generation of construction and providing opportunities to make a climate-conscious choice in the housing market,” said Jörgen Hermansson.

Södra’s new facility for the production of CLT is scheduled for completion in 2022. The plant premises will comprise a 270 metre-long building. The frame consists of glued-laminated timber (GLT), which is combined with CLT, naturally produced by Södra, just as Södra is responsible for the remainder of the structural timber and the cladding of the building.

Founded in 1938, Södra is Sweden’s largest forest-owner association, with 53,000 forest owners as its members. We conduct modern and responsible forestry, and operate state-of-the-art mills in which we process our raw material. In 2020, net sales amounted to SEK 20 billion and employees totalled 3,100. Through value-generating relationships and a long-term approach, Södra shows the way for the next generation of forestry.

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On 15 May, Södra's two truck rigs with a maximum weight of 74 tonnes officially entered service. They are now rolling fully loaded.

2014-09-16 201625 sodra truck

Shortly after entering service, a dispensation was received for one of the rigs, a timber truck with a five-axle trailer. Dispensation for the wood-chip truck was not granted until 10 September and, during the waiting period, the truck operated as a 60-tonne truck. Now both rigs are in full production and both are included in the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden's ETT - Modular System for Timber Transport project named One More Stack.

"We are relieved to finally get started. It will be interesting to follow how much more we will be able to transport for different products and what this will mean in terms of fewer journeys and lowered emissions," says Åsa Forss, Transport Manager at Södra.

Södra is one of the stakeholders in the Forestry Research Institute of Sweden's project for larger and heavier timber transportation vehicles. The project is evaluating a number of vehicles in practical operation, where areas include environmental impact (fuel consumption and emissions), road safety and costs. Two primary types of longer and/or heavier vehicles are being evaluated:

. ETT rigs, (One More Stack) with a length of 30 metres (max. 32 metres) and a maximum weight of 90 tonnes
. ST rigs (Bigger Stacks) with a normal length of (max. 25.25 metres) and a maximum weight of 74 tonnes.

To find out more, please Contact:
Håkan Larsson, President, Södra Skog, tel: +46 70 589 45 10
Annica Gerentz, Director of Communications, Södra, tel: +46 470 894 81
Åsa Forss, Transport Manager Södra, tel: +46 470 856 41

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