Cross laminated timber has triggered a revolution in the construction industry.
Wood has been used as a building material for centuries. But only In the last few decades, a new development has become established in the construction industry - cross laminated timber. Or to put it another way: Cross Laminated Timber (CLT).
This innovative technology offers numerous advantages over conventional building materials. This blog is about the history of cross laminated timber and its possible applications.
The history of cross laminated timber began in the 1990s in Germany and Austria.
At that time, sawmills were looking for a way to refine the so-called side-glued goods with their lower quality and dimensions into a high-quality product. Several layers were glued crosswise on top of each other. The idea was born, simple yet revolutionary. It laid the foundation for the use of CLT, which consists of at least three layers of wood glued crosswise.
By 1998, the technology had been adopted by other European countries and the first CLT plant was opened in Austria. It was also at this time that the first building inspectorate approvals were granted in Germany and Austria. From there, the use of CLT spread to other European countries, but also to North America, Australia and Japan.
The production of CLT has changed over the years. In the past, the wood was traditionally dried and then processed with adhesives. Today, higher demands are placed on the material and it is pressed under high pressure, among other things. As a result, the end product is of high quality and ideal for constructions with high loads.
Nowadays, cross laminated timber is used in many different applications. These include residential buildings, schools, hospitals, bridges and even elevator shafts. The material has also found its place in architecture. It allows for taller buildings than conventional timber constructions and is more sustainable than other building materials. It is lighter and easier to transport than concrete or steel and offers good thermal insulation.
Another advantage of CLT is that wood is a renewable raw material. In a world that is becoming increasingly environmentally aware, sustainability is essential. In addition, new technologies and timber cultivation techniques mean that there are more and more options for using wood as a building material. Furthermore, CLT is relatively inexpensive compared to other building materials when the entire life cycle is taken into account.
To summarize: the story of Cross laminated timber has triggered a revolution in the construction industry. This innovative construction material has developed steadily since the 1990s and is now indispensable in numerous applications. CLT offers numerous advantages: it is sustainable, cost-effective and can be used for taller buildings than conventional timber constructions. Thanks to its thermal insulation properties and durability, the material is also very popular with architects and builders. In short: cross laminated timber will have a significant impact on the construction market in the future.
