CLT Timber
The manufacturing process of CLT timber - from a raw lumber to a truly unique building material
CLT or Cross Laminated Timber, if you prefer to use the full name, has become a sought-after material for all kinds of construction projects in recent years – from cottages and small detached homes to large-scale residential and even public buildings. CLT is named after the manner of its production, which involves glueing layers of kiln-dried lumber perpendicularly to each other, creating panels that can be of varied size and thickness. Thanks to this manufacturing process, cross-laminated timber has better structural solidity and reduced shrinkage, as well as other crucial advantages not usually associated with wood. Thus, it can be regarded as a truly unique construction material.
CLT Wood
PINE
Pine is one of the most widespread species of wood in the world, found across the whole Northern Hemisphere, thus it's one of the most common sources of lumber. Pinewood can boast good strength and elasticity, compared to other kinds of timber, while also being relatively soft. The availability of pine makes it an affordable material, which, in combination with its desirable properties and wide-ranging usage possibilities, results in pine being one of the most popular sources of timber construction materials.
Pine is one of the most widespread species of wood in the world, found across the whole Northern Hemisphere, thus it's one of the most common sources of lumber. Pinewood can boast good strength and elasticity, compared to other kinds of timber, while also being relatively soft. The availability of pine makes it an affordable material, which, in combination with its desirable properties and wide-ranging usage possibilities, results in pine being one of the most popular sources of timber construction materials.
SPRUCE
Spruce is one of the most often used types of lumber for the production of CLT and other engineered wood materials, as it glues together really well. In addition to that, spruce has other desirable qualities, as it is a relatively light and soft kind of timber, however, it can still offer great strength and elasticity and doesn't shrink much if it's appropriately dried. Naturally, these properties make spruce wood a very important material for the construction industry.
Spruce is one of the most often used types of lumber for the production of CLT and other engineered wood materials, as it glues together really well. In addition to that, spruce has other desirable qualities, as it is a relatively light and soft kind of timber, however, it can still offer great strength and elasticity and doesn't shrink much if it's appropriately dried. Naturally, these properties make spruce wood a very important material for the construction industry.
LARCH
Due to its toughness and resistance to moisture and rotting, larch wood is one of the most sought-after types of timber. That especially applies to Siberian larch which is the kind of larch used by Wigo Group in our CLT wood products. Therefore, using it for construction will result in strong and sturdy buildings. Additionally, due to its pleasant visual appearance, Siberian larch is especially suitable for visual-grade CLT timber, that can be used to create stunning exterior finishes.
Due to its toughness and resistance to moisture and rotting, larch wood is one of the most sought-after types of timber. That especially applies to Siberian larch which is the kind of larch used by Wigo Group in our CLT wood products. Therefore, using it for construction will result in strong and sturdy buildings. Additionally, due to its pleasant visual appearance, Siberian larch is especially suitable for visual-grade CLT timber, that can be used to create stunning exterior finishes.
Larch
Lumber sourcing for CLT products
TIMBER QUALITY
All of the three types of wood used for CLT production by Wigo by Praslas – pine, spruce and larch - fall under the category of coniferous trees and it's not coincidental. The reasoning behind it is that lumber from coniferous trees, also called softwood, is lighter and less dense, as well as a lot more flexible than hardwood, which is very important in the process of manufacturing CLT, where layers of wood are being glued together. Of course, as each of them has their own unique properties, we offer customers the chance to select CLT panels from the material that suits their needs best.
All of the three types of wood used for CLT production by Wigo by Praslas – pine, spruce and larch - fall under the category of coniferous trees and it's not coincidental. The reasoning behind it is that lumber from coniferous trees, also called softwood, is lighter and less dense, as well as a lot more flexible than hardwood, which is very important in the process of manufacturing CLT, where layers of wood are being glued together. Of course, as each of them has their own unique properties, we offer customers the chance to select CLT panels from the material that suits their needs best.
TIMBER SUPPLY
Wigo by Praslas only uses certified, high-quality lumber for production of CLT panels and we constantly inspect the materials to ascertain that they meet our quality standards. Most of the lumber we use is sourced from Northern countries, which already provides an advantage because timber grown in the harsh northern climate found there is more durable. The reason for it is that trees grow slower in a cool climate, thus their growth rings are closer together, which results in timber that's a lot denser.
Wigo by Praslas only uses certified, high-quality lumber for production of CLT panels and we constantly inspect the materials to ascertain that they meet our quality standards. Most of the lumber we use is sourced from Northern countries, which already provides an advantage because timber grown in the harsh northern climate found there is more durable. The reason for it is that trees grow slower in a cool climate, thus their growth rings are closer together, which results in timber that's a lot denser.
CLT manufacturing process
CLT is one of several materials that are known as engineered wood, meaning that layers of wood are bound or fixed together, creating a composite material. It is done with the aim to engineer the timber to precise specifications and give it properties that are not normally found in wood. That opens up a lot of possibilities for using timber in construction – even for load-bearing structures that would traditionally utilise other materials. What makes CLT different from other engineered wood materials is that the layers of boards are glued together perpendicularly in a CLT press to each other, which provides better structural rigidity. The whole process is performed by specialised machinery, which allows cutting the panels to the necessary dimensions straight away.
Advantages of CLT timber products
There are several noteworthy advantages that CLT timber panels can provide in the construction process – from high construction speeds to environmental sustainability. Get to know the most important of them
Design FlexibilityCLT is created by bonding several layers of wood together with an adhesive, it can be created in varied thickness, accordingly to the requirements of the project.
PrecisionCLT panels are created in a computer-controlled environment, which ensures high levels of precision for interconnecting parts.
Thermal InsulationCLT allows architects to design buildings in a way that radically minimises heat loss, allowing to cut down on maintenance costs.
Easy to TransportCLT timber is relatively light, which makes it easier to transport and it offers the possibility to create prefabricated modules, that can be transported in an assembled form
Would you like to receive more information about CLT timber and its properties?
Contact us to receive advice from our experienced CLT experts!