One year after its launch, the initiative of the Luxembourg Wood Cluster held a new session on 14 November 2023 in Belgium
Jean-Michel Gaudron
In October 2022, the Luxembourg Wood Cluster launched a series of workshops on CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber) innovation. A year after the first event, held at Prefalux in Junglinster, a new session took place on 14 November.
The event, organised this time by clusters and professional associations in the Greater Region, was hosted at Ligna Systems, a Belgian company in Saint-Vith specialising in comprehensive solutions for the construction of timber halls and buildings. Planning, production and construction are all managed using an in-house developed 3D configurator.
The in-depth information provided during the visit to the optimised prefabrication line, including the metalworking shop and joinery system, captivated the audience. Luxembourg timber construction companies were also present at the event, gaining valuable technical insights into digitised processes in timber construction.
Automated prefabrication lines are playing an increasingly crucial role, especially in timber construction. Components such as wall elements, roofs or room parts, prefabricated with the use of digitalised automation, generate positive effects upstream and downstream of the projects.
These effects primarily result from standardised planning and approval processes, faster construction completion, lower production costs and efficient material use. However, automated production, especially in timber construction, is still in its early stages, and the Luxembourg Wood Cluster is actively working on this topic at all steps of the value chain.
In 2022, the Luxembourg Wood Cluster developed an interregional innovation hub that promotes wood-based prefabrication lines and plans to integrate serial refurbishment into expert and innovation projects in the future.
Luxembourg makes a significant contribution in the field of applied wood engineering.
"This interregional workshop, initially established for the prefabrication of cross-laminated timber products, aims to bring together producers, developers and high-level users to promote marketable products and standardisation in the construction sector," says Ralf Köhler, the manager of the Luxembourg Wood Cluster. "Luxembourg makes a significant contribution in this regard, especially in the field of applied wood engineering."
Additional practical workshops are planned for the future, particularly in the context of interregional project development and in promoting "Net Zero" programmes for accelerated refurbishment with bio-based materials.
There is already experience in this area in the Greater Region, which will be integrated into the integrative approach of the roadmap for low-carbon construction presented by the Luxembourg government in June 2023.
