Consumables
Stora Enso inaugurates world-class production site for cross-laminated timber
Wednesday 12. October 2022 - Stora Ensos new production site for cross-laminated timber (CLT) in drec, the Czech Republic, was inaugurated. Following a EUR 79 million investment, the new CLT site is one of the most modern in the world, supporting Stora Ensos strategy of growth.
With the new site, Stora Ensos CLT production capacity will grow substantially to meet the increasing demand for sustainable, cost-effective and renewable building materials.
The project proceeded according to plan from the investment decision made in September 2020 to the start of production in the third quarter of 2022, when the first panel was manufactured. CLT represents a modern and sustainable building material that allows construction with great precision and speed. The estimated annual production capacity will be approximately 120,000 m³ after ramp-up.
“This new state-of-the art production site is well in line with our strategic integrated site concept and will enable us to offer a high-quality range of building solutions for future generations. Completing this Stora Enso milestone is an outstanding achievement that was made possible by our dírec team, which professionally executed the entire project on time and on budget,” says Lars Völkel, EVP and Head of the Wood Products division at Stora Enso.
The dírec site is favourably located close to our European markets. With the new production site up and running, Stora Enso is strengthening its position as one of the worlds leading providers of wood-based building solutions with a total capacity of 490,000 m³.
“This is a historic moment,” says Martin Brebis, mill manager at dírec. “The combination with the existing sawmill will bring additional benefits, for example in terms of raw materials, energy and logistics. It will also add more than 100 new employment opportunities on the site.”
Across the world, CLT is making its mark as the innovative engineered wood product of the future. It has been successfully used in solutions for floors, walls and roofs for residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Whether used in spectacular structures like wooden high-rises or in more traditional wood buildings such as schools and offices, CLT offers strength, stability, rapid assembly, cost effectiveness and unique sustainability credentials.
dírec is Stora Ensos fourth production unit for CLT, following Bad St. Leonhard and Ybbs in Austria, and Gruvön in Sweden.