Holmen invests in more sustainable construction

Holmen’s production of wood products has become an increasingly important part of our business. With the acquisition of Martinsons in 2020, we advanced our position in modern wood construction by adding CLT and glulam products to our offering. Now we are taking a further step forward as we invest in increased production and processing of wood products for sustainable construction.

Wood is a fantastic material. It is strong, versatile, light and the only construction material that is renewable. The high technical standard of Holmen’s sawmills enables a wide range of dimensions and grades to be produced. Today, we offer everything from joinery timber and refined products for builders’ merchants to advanced structural components in CLT and glulam.

“Developing the wood products side is a natural extension of our forestry business and an important element in Holmen’s strategy of owning and adding value to the forest. Wood products used for houses and other buildings also provide considerable climate benefit, as they store carbon for a long time while at the same time replacing fossil emissions from concrete and steel,” says Johan Padel, Senior Vice President Wood Products.

Stocking and customising glulam for southern Sweden
Over the years, Holmen has gradually developed its business with builders’ merchants, not least through the acquisition of Martinsons, which has added glulam beams to its product range. Glulam is produced at Bygdsiljum Sawmill in Västerbotten, from where it is distributed to customers all over the country. About half of the total volume is supplied via builders’ merchants. Establishing a cutting line and a distribution warehouse at Braviken Sawmill outside Norrköping will shorten delivery times to customers in southern Sweden, while also reducing transport costs and the climate footprint of the products.

Increased volumes of CLT
An extension and investment to remove bottlenecks at Bygdsiljum Sawmill will also enable us to increase the production of CLT. A new CNC milling machine, used to make cutouts for windows and doors in structural elements made of CLT, will allow capacity to be increased by 50 per cent. The new plant is expected to be operational by spring 2024.

“Demand for processed wood products, especially CLT and glulam beams, is growing and with rising interest in wood construction we see great opportunities to further develop the business. By investing in higher volumes of value-added products and increased sales to builders’ merchants, we are taking the next step to strengthen our business,” says Olov Martinson, mill manager at Bygdsiljum Sawmill.

For more information, please contact:
Johan Padel, Senior Vice President Wood Products, +46 70 214 82 44
Olov Martinson, Mill Manager Bygdsiljum Sawmill, +46 70 666 07 58