Happy about the good collaboration: Rainer Reiterer, Head of Technical Sales at Türmerleim, and Stora Enso’s production manager Ales Vala (from left) © Günther Jauk
When you join Rainer Reiterer, Head of Technical Sales at Türmerleim, on a visit to one of his customers in the cross-laminated timber industry, one thing becomes clear: Every production line, no matter how well it is adjusted, has a certain potential for improvement which should be exploited. Often, the potential lies in small, seemingly insignificant factors, which can have a big impact while requiring little effort. It is also not uncommon for improvements to be made as part of large development projects which arise from numerous discussions with customers and are then driven forward together. One of the customers who is always happy to rely on the know-how of Reiterer, the entire Türmerleim team and BASF behind it is Stora Enso.
Czech showcase factory
Stora Enso already uses BASF and Türmerleim’s Elastan TLP adhesive line at three CLT factories © Günther Jauk
With a total production capacity of around 400,000 m³ a year, the Nordic company with its strong presence in Central Europe is by far the largest cross-laminated timber producer in the world. After two production sites in Austria and a third one in Sweden, the company’s latest CLT factory was opened in the Czech Republic in the autumn of 2022. With an annual capacity of 120,000 m³, the factory, which was built at the fully integrated Zdírec site, is one of the largest and probably most well-thought-out lines on the market. The experience gained from building the three existing plants was incorporated in its construction. This is reflected, for example, in the press, which enables the production of panels with a maximum width of 3.5 m, like the one at the Swedish Gruvön site, or in the load-bearing narrow-edge gluing of the single-layer panels.
The cross-laminated timber produced in Zdírec is used in large-scale global projects as well as in regional construction projects. “Many of the projects we supply the CLT for located in Germany and Great Britain, but we are also seeing a steadily growing interest in mass timber construction in the Czech Republic and Slovakia,” production manager Ales Vala tells us. Zdírec is also establishing itself as an important pillar within the company when it comes to very large international projects where a corresponding production volume is essential in order to be able to act as a reliable partner.
In addition to the CLT line and a sawmill with a cutting capacity of 1 million m³ of log wood a year, the Zdírec site is also home to a 120,000 m³ production facility for solid structural timber, a pellet mill and a cogeneration plant. This way, the regionally sourced raw material can be used in the best possible way.
Fully exploiting the potential
With an annual capacity of 120,000 m³ of CLT, Stora Enso’s site in Zdírec is one of the biggest worldwide © Günther Jauk
For surface gluing, Zdírec has recently started using the Elastan TLP adhesive line. This line was developed by BASF and Türmerleim in a major project lasting several years and, having met the requirements defined in the DIN EN 15425 norm, it is approved for the gluing of load-bearing timber construction elements since late 2021. “Our goal was to launch a product that is as versatile and high-performance as possible and meets all the requirements of modern timber construction in the best possible way,” Reiterer says about the backstory and also highlights the extremely wide range of curing times.
The fast TLP 6 adhesive, which reduces the pressing time to only around ten minutes, is now used in Zdírec and in Bad St. Leonhard. The individual adhesives of the Elastan TLP product line are approved for open times of five to 100 minutes.
Smooth changeover
Vala describes the changeover to the new adhesive system as extremely smooth. Only some system parameters had to be adjusted, for example due to the different viscosity. “Türmerleim supported us very well here. The quality of the glue lines was right from day one, and the logistics behind it also worked perfectly from the start.”
In addition to short pressing times, the extensive services offered and the simple installation, Türmerleim and BASF also attach great importance to security of supply. “We can produce the adhesives of the Elastan TLP line at two sites, using high-quality raw materials provided by BASF itself. This way, we can ensure our customers’ supply even in difficult times like the ones we have recently experienced,” Reiterer emphasizes.
Advantageous containers
The adhesive is delivered in reusable IBCs with funnel-shaped spouts, which protects the environment and the customer’s wallet © Günther Jauk
The PU adhesive is delivered in special, reusable 1,100-kg IBCs. In conventional fluid bags, there is always a small amount of adhesive left in the container. In these Ecobulks, on the other hand, funnel-shaped spouts guarantee that every container is emptied completely. “This way, Stora Enso can use all of the adhesive supplied, while significantly reducing waste,” Vala says about the advantages of the reusable system. Empty containers are taken back and are reprocessed.
In addition to the flawless product, Stora Enso particularly values the extensive services offered and the open-mindedness when it comes to development projects: “In Türmerleim and BASF, we have found partners with whom we will jointly work on further developments in the future.”
