Great faith in Södra Timber

environment awareness 

attracts customers 

AD-Trä supplies customers all 

round Europe with wooden 

packaging. The company competes 

successfully by adopting 

an environmental approach. 

pages 12–13 

Theme 

expanded range 

People are often time poor 

and the trend is for more 

ready finished products. 

Södra Timber now offers 

ready primed cladding 

panels. page 18 

Timber! 

A publicAtion from SödrA timber 

environment 

Stronger beams 

A new and better method of 

wet gluing wooden beams 

is being developed at Växjö 

University in partnership with 

Södra Timber and others. 

pages 22–23 

#1 

2008

Contents #1 2008 

4–10 

Theme environment. 

19 

Surface treated panels 

popular. 

2 Timber! 

20 

11 New plant converts plane 

shavings into pellets 

SödraSmart makes life 

easier. 

16 Södra Timber scores high on customer 

satisfaction 

16 Södra Timber opens new distribution 

centre 

22 Positive experiences from building 

large blocks in timber 

Timber! is a biannual magazine from Södra Timber. 

ediTorial sTaff Lars Edqvist, Åsa Wernersson and 

Alexander Åhréus 

graphic design Giv Akt AB, Växjö 

prinTing Växjö Offset, Växjö 

paper Munken Polar 120 g 

address Södra Timber, Skogsudden, SE-351 89 Växjö, 

Sweden 

responsible publisher Andreas Jonasson 

södra Timber produces sawn and planed wood 

products, primarily construction timber, at ten sawmills in 

southern Sweden. All sawmills are specialised in terms of 

range and raw materials to optimise efficiency. Total annual 

production is more than 1.8 million cubic metres of sawn 

and planed timber products. 

Södra Timber’s main customers are the building materials 

trade and the construction-related timber industry. 

Key markets are Scandinavia, Great Britain, Germany, the 

Netherlands, USA and Japan. 

Raw materials for all wood products from Södra Timber 

are certified in accordance with Pan European Forest 

Certification. 

södra Timber is part of the Södra group. The Group 

has four other business areas in addition to the sawmill 

operation: 

• Södra Skog which supplies Södra mills with forest raw 

material 

• Södra Cell which is the world’s second largest producer 

of market pulp 

• Gapro which is one of Scandinavia’s leading producers of 

interior wood products 

• Södra Vindkraft 

read more on www.sodra.com 

Billingsfors 

Värö 

Traryd 

Unnefors 

Växjö 

Kinda 

Ramkvilla 

Långasjö 

Stockholm 

Åtvidaberg 

Mönsterås 

Orrefors 

Torsås

Timber – an excellent 

material in many ways 

Timber has fantastic properties in many ways. It is easy to work and build 

with, both as a construction material and for interior fixtures and fittings. It is 

also an ideal outdoor building material for gardens, fencing and decking. 

Peter Nilsson, 

President of Södra 

Timber. 

Timber works well in professional 

construction while enthusiastic 

amateur DIYers can also 

obtain good results when using 

timber in various projects in the 

home. 

Timber also has very good 

qualities when we look at various 

environmental aspects. Timber is 

relatively efficient in terms of its 

low energy requirements. What’s 

more, growing trees lock in carbon 

dioxide which means building with 

timber is a means of storing carbon 

and in so doing, helps reduce 

carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 

With the recently resolved new EU 

Directive we are convinced that the 

use of timber in construction will 

increase. 

meeting the targets set by the 

EU on reducing carbon dioxide 

emissions will require the efficient 

use and usage of forest resources 

and here timber as a building material 

has a natural place. 

right now there is a surplus of 

timber products on the market and 

associated falling prices. However 

we believe this will be relatively 

temporary and that demand will 

start exceeding supply in the near 

future. 

We are convinced our industry 

has a very bright future. Yet we 

need to maintain a high tempo 

when it comes to continuing to 

develop timber as a construction 

The properties of timber make it excellent to use in 

numerous different contexts – by professionals and 

amateurs alike. 

material and various logistics solutions. Not 

least, we need to develop timber in combination 

with other materials. 

We look forward to our continued growth in 

partnership with you our customer. 

Timber! 3

›› 

Leif Gustavsson is the leading expert in Sweden 

on research into the impact different construction 

materials have on the environment. He is Professor 

of Eco Technology and Environment Science at Mid 

Sweden University in Östersund. 

“Net emissions of carbon dioxide are lower when 

using timber in housing construction. And to gain the 

full benefits of a lower carbon footprint with timber, it 

is also important to replace fossil fuels with wood waste 

from forestry felling and timber processing,” he says. 

Four storey house 

In researching the carbon dioxide equation in housing 

construction Gustavsson and his team have studied a 

four storey block with 16 apartments and 1,190 square 

metres of living space. They used an actual timber apartment 

block at Välludden in Växjö, in the south of Sweden. 

They compared this with a hypothetical building in 

concrete of identical size and function. 

There are four reasons why using timber has a 

smaller carbon footprint than the equivalent structure in 

concrete: 

• Manufacturing timber products requires less primary 

energy than producing concrete. 

• Waste wood can replace fossil fuels. Wood waste from 

felling, timber processing and demolishing housing 

can be used for energy purposes. 

• Cement production entails substantial emissions of 

carbon dioxide in the manufacturing process through 

calcination. However concrete absorbs carbon dioxide 

via carbonisation as it weathers. 

• Carbon is stored in the timber frame for the entire 

lifetime of the building. This is a temporary gain, but if 

more timber houses are built, these would hold more 

carbon. 

Clear difference 

Altogether, the calculations indicate a clear difference 

in favour of timber housing. And this difference can be 


Theme: environment 

Lower carbon dioxide 

when building in timber 

Constructing housing in timber rather than concrete is good for 

the environment. 

”We have studied the carbon dioxide emissions produced in 

building an apartment block in timber compared with the corresponding 

concrete framed building,” says Professor Leif Gustavsson. 

Building housing in timber rather than concrete means substantially lower carbon dioxide 

emissions. 

expressed in very specific terms: A one 

bedroom apartment with 72 square 

metres of floor space would generate 

11–15 tons less carbon dioxide emissions 

than the corresponding apartment 

in a concrete structure. 

By multiplying the number of 

apartments in apartment blocks being 

built in Sweden, we can obtain 

a very rough estimate of the carbon 

dioxide gains that can be achieved by 

constructing housing in timber rather 

than concrete. 

Today, timber framed apartment

emissions 

blocks are primarily being built 

in North America. It is clear that 

the construction industry can do 

a great deal to help on climate 

change. 

Is it not more expensive to 

build large timber frame housing 

compared to the concrete 

equivalent? 

“No, the construction costs 

for the block at Välludden came 

to SEK 19.1 million in 2004 values. 

An estimate of the production 

costs for a corresponding 

concrete building points to a 

cost of SEK 19.9 million. Which 

means it is possible to help the 

environment and save money,” 

says Gustavsson. 

However construction costs 

will vary depending on local 

circumstances and sometimes it 

is cheaper to use concrete. 

The concrete housing 

industry would argue that you 

have to take the whole life cycle 

of the house into consideration, 

not just the construction phase. 

“We have done this. Our 

findings are fully comparable 

over the entire life cycle of the 

housing. We have also varied a 

number of parameters that affect 

the results, such as transport 

distances, type of cement, ballast 

material and carbonisation. We 

get similar results even when we 

factor in these kinds of uncertainties,” 

claims Gustavsson. 

They have assumed that 

concrete and timber housing 

will both last 100 years. One 

factor that can affect lifespan 

is flexibility, or the possibility 

of changing the building 

usage and layout. Timber 

offers advantages here too as a 

building material. It is easier to 

extend and change layouts in 

timber frame apartment blocks 

compared with the concrete 

alternative. 

Leif Gustavsson is however 

also critical of the timber housing 

at Välludden. More could 

have been done in terms of 

energy efficiency. 

“There is every reason to use 

the knowledge that is available 

to construct good, highly energy 

efficient housing. If we factor 

in the effects of constructing 

very energy efficient housing 

in timber that is heated by 

district heating, we can create 

new dwellings with a very good 

environmental performance. 

Professor Gustavsson feels this 

is a challenge that offers tremendous 

commercial potential for 

the Swedish timber industry. 

TexT: LARS EdqVIST 

PhoTo: TOMMy ANdERSSON 

illuSTraTioN: FREdRIKA OTTOSSON 

Professor leif Gustavsson’s research 

demonstrates that timber housing 

is better for the environment than 

concrete housing. 




Environment thinking 

Södra Timber’s environment work starts in the forest. 

The environment is taken into account at every stage, 

from the planting of saplings to felling mature trees. 

Let us take you on a journey to the places where Södra 

Timber gets its raw materials, like this forest outside 

Växjö in the south of Sweden. How do you actually conserve 

nature when you fell trees? 

›› 

Production manager Nils Blomkvist is 

standing in a little pool of water and 

points to a tall birch stump. We are at the felling 

place just north of Åseda. 

“This is a good example of a site where previous 

felling work did not taken into account any 

particular concern for nature conservation. But 

we have now left a clump of birches that, together 

with the boggy ground, can provide a fine home 

for local flora and fauna in the area,” says Blomkvist 

at the Norra Värends forestry area. 

Green driving licence 

Contractor and machinery operator Veine 

Lindqvist has a green driving licence. This means 

for instance, that he appreciates the most important 

motives for environment protection and the 

preservation of different species. 

“These days this comes as naturally as breathing. 

After all, we have been doing this for years 

now,” says Lindqvist. 

When you are aware of what value this can 

offer, you also start thinking about what you can 

“We take the environment into 

account at every stage of forestry,” 

explains Nils Blomkvist, production 

manager. 

The rowan tree in the 

middle of the clearing 

will never be cut down. 

it can produce berries 

for birds in the forest for 

many years to come. 

do to take nature into account. This can vary from 

place to place. 

At first, many landowners and lumberjacks 

were probably against leaving high stumps, dead 

trees and deciduous trees. It went against the 

grain as it were, not to clear everything when felling 

so the site looked neat and tidy afterwards and 

preparing the ground for planting could then be 

done rationally. 

“Today it feels more natural with conservation, 

and I have no problems with this at all. Quite the 

reverse, I feel good when I think about the things I 

am doing on behalf of nature,” says Lindqvist. 

“I also feel most landowners agree with preserving 

biological diversity. Although at the same 

time I must also ensure that each landowner gets 

the best possible economic return.” 

That landowners are showing a greater interest 

in the environment is something that area 

inspector Jörgen Filipsson has also noticed. His job 

includes visiting landowners and agreeing felling 

contracts with them. 

“We only do green forestry planning today 

area inspector Jörgen Filipsson and contractor 

Veine lindqvist survey the felling site. Which trees 

should we spare and which should we leave as 

high stumps? 

and the feedback from landowners 

is entirely positive,” says 

Filipsson. 

Forestry planning with targets 

for both timber production 

and nature conservation is an 

excellent planning tool. 

In black and white 

Filipsson feels that landowners 

with green forestry plans are 

proud when green plans have 

been established. 

“Once the plan has been 

established, the landowner has 

it in black and white which 

parts of his property are classed 

as being of great natural value.

at every stage 

“This wet area with spindly birches would not have been preserved if felled ten years ago. Now we have the opportunity to 

develop biological diversity in conserving it,” says production manager Nils Blomkvist. 

This can apply to e.g. “that fine oak rise, or “this 

wonderful birch grove close to the forest mere”. 

These kinds of things often give the landowner a 

sense of pride,” says Filipsson. 

“There is also another aspect to this issue,” says 

Nils Blomkvist “which is that a green forestry plan 

is also a powerful document in financial terms. The 

environment is money, not least in the years to come 

when it will have an ever increasing importance.” 

This kind of financial opportunity already 

exists for landowners today. PEFC certification is 

already available for developing sustainable private 

forestry with a good balance between forest 

production, environment and social interests. 

Approved landowners that are PEFC certified 

by Södra gain a higher settlement price for their 

forests. Södra Timber will deliver PEFC-certified 

timber to clients upon request. 

The great storms Gudrun and Per changed 

the landscape in these parts. Many of the earlier 

forestry plans became redundant because of these 

storms. 

“Unfortunately we have not had time to 

establish new green forestry plans as fast as we 

would like. But we hope to catch up. Right now 

there is about a one-year wait in our area,” says 

Blomkvist. 

Back at the felling place, Jörgen, Nils and Veine 

are looking at the rowan tree that Veine spared 

from the felling. 

“Ten years ago we would never have saved a 

tree like this. Now it will be an eternal tree that 

will grow for many years and whose berries will 

be good food for the birds around here for a long 

time,” says Blomkvist. 

TexT ANd PhoToS: STEFAN GUSTAVSSON 

Factsheet 

Green forestry plan 

• A green forestry plan contains 

detailed information on a specific 

forest in a specific area. The plan 

should include advice on how 

the forest is to be managed to 

achieve a high yield allied to 

sound environment practice. The 

difference between this and early 

forestry plans is that it includes a 

nature conservation perspective. 

PeFC 

• PEFC stands for Programme for 

the Endorsement of Forest Certification 

Schemes. PEFC has been 

created to ensure the sustainable 

use of forests worldwide. Södra 

joined PEFC ten years ago. This 

means for instance, that Södra 

members can certify their property 

with Södra and thereby confirm 

they wish to pursue sustainable 

forestry. Certification has three 

strands, timber production, the 

environment and social interests. 

Certification also assures buyers 

of timber and paper products that 

what they are purchasing supports 

sustainable forestry. 

Green driving licence 

• The green driving licence was 

introduced ten years ago to educate 

forestry workers on the most 

important motives for nature 

preservation and on important 

biological processes. Licence holders 

should be able to recognise 

different kinds of nature of high 

value and possess a fundamental 

understanding of cultural environment 

conservation in forests. 

In so doing, they will then be 

able to make the correct nature 

preservation decisions. Everyone 

who works with Södra forests is 

required to have a green driving 

licence. This licence also entitles 

holders to work in PEFC certified 

forest properties. 




Active efforts to reduce 

our carbon footprint 

Södra is actively engaged 

in reducing the 

impact of transport on 

the surrounding environment. 

One way is 

to minimise driving 

empty trucks, which is 

achieved via so called 

return transport. Another 

way is to optimise 

and reduce fuel 

consumption. 

“Here we always use 

rail transport for longer 

distances and large volumes,” 

says says Göran 

Edvardsson, transport 

buyer at Södra. 

›› 

Transport forms a large 

part of Södra’s operations. 

Timber lorries collect felled trees in 

the forest, lorries, ships and trains 

delivery pulp, timber products and 

interior wood products to customers 

all round the world. Transport 

is quite simply a necessity for 

Södra’s very existence. Yet transport 

has an environmental impact. 

Emissions from road traffic are 

Södra always uses rail for long distance shipments and large volumes. 

the biggest single source of carbon dioxide 

emissions in Sweden. 

Various different ways 

Södra is working on several fronts to minimise 

its carbon footprint. 

“One way is to minimise driving empty 

lorries, by, for instance, signing long-term 

agreements that offer hauliers opportunities 

to build up flows in the opposite direction to 

destinations close to Södra saw mills. We also

Södra is implementing a range of measures and is involved in several projects designed to reduce the environmental impact of transport in various ways. 

Göran edvardsson is 

a transport buyer at 

Södra. 

try to exchange timber 

with other companies, 

mainly pulp timber 

and saw mill chips, so 

the timber does not 

have to be transported 

long distances. 

Where possible we 

always use rail,” says 

Edvardsson. 

Södra Timber 

shipments of timber 

products to The 

Netherlands are one 

such example. The timber is sent by road 

from Södra saw mills to Älmhult where the 

trailer is lifted onto the railway. Every day, a 

train leaves Älmhult for Herne in Germany 

close to the Dutch border, where the haulier 

Van Dieren Martitime BV has a terminal. 

The trailers are then transferred to lorries 

and shipped to the customer. 

“We send 3,500 trailers to The Netherlands 

each year. 2,500 of these go by rail. 

Each shipment saves 850 km on the roads. 

This means we reduce our ‘road miles’ by 

a total of over 2,000,000 km and with it our 

emissions by 1.2 tons of carbon dioxide,” 

adds Edvardsson. 

Around 40 percent of Södra Timber shipments 

go by boat. 

“A large proportion of this sea freight 

goes by shipping line where we are notified 

of the shippers available. However when we 

negotiate shipping contracts, we ensure that 

our suppliers comply with legal requirements 

and ask questions about the environment 

and quality, such as what oils are 

used,” says Edvardsson. 

Södra was also the first company in the 

world to fits its three long-term chartered 

merchant ships with catalytic converters. 

This reduced nitrogen oxide emissions by 95 

percent. Since 1997 the ships have also run 

on low sulphur oil, which means 70 percent 

lower sulphur emissions. They were the first 

ever vessels to be certified to the German 

Blue Angel environment label, which is 

comparable with the Nordic Swan mark. 

Trained drivers 

Södra is also actively engaged in optimising 

fuel consumption. This is done with the 

aid of computerised logistics planning and 

fuel efficient vehicles. Driving in a more 

environment friendly way is another means 

of reducing emissions from road transport 

and something Södra encourages. 

“We have trained our own drivers in 

”Heavy Eco Driving”. By driving more gently 

they reduce their fuel consumption. 

In cooperation with the Swedish Road 

Administration and other companies with 

transport needs, Södra is a member of the 

Forum for Sustainable Transport project that 

seeks to make road transport safer and more 

environment friendly. The thinking is that in 

commissioning transport, Södra should take 

responsibility for and make demands on its 

suppliers with regard to the development of 

sustainable transport. 

In order to further reduce its carbon 

footprint in the long-term, Södra is also 

involved in several research projects on 

alternative fuels. 

Södra’s own haulage company is a good 

example of showing it is possible to have a 

modern vehicle fleet with a low average age 

of just 2.4 years. Modern engines give off 

lower emissions. 

“We specify that all vehicles that operate 

on our behalf must run on bio diesel, use 

biodegradable hydraulic oil and have HA 

oil free tyres,” says Edvardsson. 

TexT: ÅSA WERNERSSON 

PhoToS: VAN dIEREN MARTITIME 

ANd ANdREAS LINdhOLM 




Well-managed Swedish forests 

slow the greenhouse effect 

If half the world’s forests were managed like Swedish forests, we could 

counter the entire greenhouse effect. For carbon could then be locked 

into an increasing stock of timber instead of being given off into the 

atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Achieving this would require significant 

investments, forestry management, political will and know-how. 

›› 

Göran Örlander Head of 

Forestry Management at 

Södra and project leader Åsa Forss of 

the R&D department have analysed 

the significance of forests in reducing 

emissions of carbon dioxide into the 

atmosphere. An estimated 7 billion 

tons of carbon are emitted each 

year from the burning of fossil fuels, 

cement production and deforesting. 

Around four billion tons of this 

reaches the atmosphere annually. This 

raises its carbon dioxide content by 

over 0.5 percent a year. 

Big rise 

The ability of Swedish trees to capture 

carbon dioxide has grown over the 

past century. 

“The Swedish model for managing 

forests has enabled us to increase forest 

growth by over one percent a year,” 

say Örlander and Forss who add 

“Around four billion hectares of 

the earth are covered by forests. Half 

of these could be managed in line 

with the Swedish model. If we could 

achieve a one percent growth there 

too, this would capture almost two 

billion tons of carbon a year. 

Every year, seven million hectares 

of forests are chopped down. 

Forests corresponding to one third of 

Sweden’s forested area disappear each 

year. The situation is worst in South 

East Asia where almost one percent of 

forestland has disappeared every year 

in recent decades. 

Large scale insect infestation, 

microbial attacks and extensive forest 

fires are a very big threat to the 

world’s forests. A large proportion of 

the 100 million hectares of forest damaged 

each year could have survived 

if action had been taken at an early 

stage. 

All preventative measures cost 

substantially less that the damage that 

would otherwise result. 

“If we could halt these negative 

trends of deforestation, damage and 

poorly managed forests, we could 

capture four million tons of carbon 

a year. If this could be done today, it 

would mean that the increase in carbon 

dioxide in the atmosphere would 

be reduced,” says Örlander. 

However, it would take a further 

20–30 years before such measures had 

such a large effect that the rise could 

be stopped, based on the current level 

of carbon dioxide emissions. 

“The greatest environment benefit 

that forestry can offer in the long-term 

would be to produce renewable material 

and energy. We could then replace 

fossil fuels and materials that generate 

large emissions of carbon dioxide, 

such as cement, steel and aluminium,” 

says Forss. 

“By using biofuels from forests 

the fossil raw materials could remain 

in the ground and be prevented from 

contributing to climate change. When 

we manufacture timber products from 

timber, this carbon dioxide will continue 

to be locked into our buildings 

and not released into the atmosphere 

for a very long time. 

Both Göran Örlander and Åsa 

Forss say it will require substantial 

investments to succeed. Which means 

the forestry industry must recognise 

the problem and make serious efforts 

to increase usage of forestry raw materials 

and cut energy wastefulness. 

TexT: SVEN-ERIK PETERSSON 

PhoTo: ANdREAS LINdhOLM 

“increasing forest growth around the world could enable large quantities of 

carbon dioxide to be locked into trees,” say Åsa Forss and Göran Örlander.

Långasjö now supplying pellets 

The new pellet works at Södra Timber’s 

Långasjö saw mill makes pellets 

from planing shavings. 

›› 

“This is enabling us to 

do our little bit on the 

energy and climate change issue. 

Pellets are a biofuel that is good 

for the environment. It also 

means less transport as pellets 

are more compact than loads of 

shavings, which largely consist 

of air, which further reduces our 

carbon footprint,” says Jonas 

Axelsson of Södra Timber. 

In December 2006 the board 

resolved to build a new pellet 

works at Långasjö. 

“It felt the right decision to 

take the next step in the processing 

chain. Pellets are an idea 

whose time has come, a biofuel 

that is good for the environment 

and that also saves on transport,” 

says Axelsson. 

Andritz Spout AS of Denmark 

was the main supplier. 

Installation began on 1 October 

and the works was ready for the 

first delivery on 14 January. 

“Production capacity is 

40,000 tons of pellets a year. The 

supplier guarantees the two 

presses can produce eight tons 

an hour. We reached full capacity 

in February,” adds Axelsson. 

Once the saw mill’s new 

plane shop is in production in 

the first quarter of 2009, the 

shavings will go by conveyor 

“Pellets are an 

idea whose time 

has come as a 

biofuel that is 

good for the environment 

and 

also saves on 

transport,” says 

Jonas axelsson 

of Södra Timber. 

straight from the plane shop to 

the pellet works. 

“Until then we have to take 

the shavings from the existing 

plane shop to the pellet works 

by loader, which makes for a bit 

of extra work in this first year.” 

The pellet works is part of 

Södra’s eco energy drive and 

an example of the increasing 

importance of eco energy to the 

saw mill. 

“All energy investments are 

interesting. We are currently 

investigating the possibility of 

building pellet works at other 

saw mills. We are also looking 

at towns where it would 

be possible to link saw mills to 

the district heating network, to 

convert waste heat into energy. 

We are already supplying the 

district heating networks in Kisa 

and Torsås,” says Axelsson. 


PhoToS: ÅSA WERNERSSON ANd 

JONAS AxELSSON 

Södra Timber offers CE labelling on construction timber 

The EU has resolved that from 1 September 

2008 construction timber is to be CE 

labelled within the EU. 

Södra Timber has adapted its operations 

which has included an investment 

in strength sorting equipment to comply 

with requirements and can therefore now 

offer customers CE labelled timber. 

Work to standardise timber prod- 

ucts within the EU has been in progress 

for 20 years and has resulted in some 

forty standards. Several others are in the 

pipeline. 

“There has been a demand for 

strength sorted timber for quite some 

time, but the EU directive will make it 

a legal requirement. This is positive as 

end users will be getting a well defined 

The first shipment from the new pellet works in långasjö left on 14 January. 

Factsheet 

• Total pellet production in 

Sweden in 2007 was 1.5 tons 

of pellets. Production capacity 

is currently being expanded in 

several parts of the country. 

• 1.5 million tons of pellets is 

the equivalent of 7.2 TWh. It 

could meet the electricity needs 

of over one million Swedish 

households. 

• One cubic metre of oil is the 

equivalent of 2.1 tons of pellets 

or three cubic metres. 

• Over 120,000 houses are 

heated by pellets in Sweden 

today. 

product. Which will make it easier to 

determine if a product possesses the 

desired properties. A new industry 

standard for products will also make it 

easier to compare products from different 

suppliers and different countries,” says 

Ted Wilhelmsson, Sales Director for The 

Netherlands. 


Exacting 

environment 

standards 

attractive for 

customers 

AD-Trä supplies wooden packaging to companies 

in many parts of Europe. 

“We compete successfully by being more efficient 

and by living up to high environment standards,” 

says Anders Danielsson, MD of AD-Trä. 

›› 

The story of Anders Danielsson and 

AD-Trä is a classic tale of entrepreneurship 

that started on a small scale in his 

free time, and which has since grown into a 

very rational industry. 

“When I was a student in Luleå in the 

north of Sweden in the early 1990s, I earned 

money by driving round and collecting surplus 

pallet collars and pallets from companies 

and delivering them to other companies 

that needed them,” he explains. 

Own manufacturing 

After three years Anders terminated his 

studies and moved back home to Småland 

in the south of Sweden to continue his packaging 

business. He quickly realised there 

were not enough used collars and pallets to 

meet demand and he therefore borrowed a 

factory on evenings and weekends to start 

producing his own. 

“They then offered to sell me the equipment 

I was using at night and gave me 

six months to pay for them. To meet the 

payments I worked almost round the clock 


and moved back home with my parents. The 

equipment was paid for after six months 

and I was able to continue to grow. 

Today, almost fifteen years later, AD- 

Trä is still a growing company with very 

rational production of wooden packaging 

such as pallets and pallet collars. The company 

has customers in most of Europe and 

even in China. 

What is it that persuades e.g. companies 

in Spain and China to turn to AD-Trä in 

Växjö for its wooden packaging needs? 

“Since the outset we have concentrated 

hard on being receptive to customer needs. 

Customers demand good prices, delivery 

when they want it, high quality and proper 

environmental awareness. We meet these 

requirements,” says Danielsson. 

In order to do so, AD-Trä has invested in 

very rational equipment, where most steps 

are managed by machine along a conveyor 

belt production line. This new equipment 

was supplied by Promatek of Kalmar, 

Sweden. 

“In order to work closely in further refin- 

ing this equipment, AD-Trä has taken a stake 

in Promatek. By developing production 

equipment together, we can become even 

better at living up to the demands of our 

customers,” explains Danielsson. 

Södra supplies 

AD-Trä only uses Swedish spruce in its 

products. As customers are increasingly 

using pallet collars for marketing purposes, 

it is important that the raw material is white 

and well planed. AD-Trä now prints logos 

on pallet collars online at a high tempo. 

To ensure satisfied customers, AD-Trä 

requires timber to be of the right quality and 

delivered when required. 

“The first four packs of pallet collar 

timber I bought came from Södra. Since 

then Södra has been my main supplier. We 

have a good relationship that gives me peace 

of mind when it comes to both price and 

quality. We depend on even quality,” says 

Danielsson. 

AD-Trä gets most of its timber from 

Södra in Långasjö today. Anders Danielsson

Johan alvarsson, Joacim Sjöberg and Magnus angsås from Södra Timber have a good working relationship with anders Danielsson, MD of aD-Trä. 

is in contact with Anders Fransson, customer 

service manager at Södra, Långasjö 

on a weekly basis. 

“These days we take about three or four 

trucks a week. We are dependent on both 

large and punctual deliveries in order to 

keep our production line going. At the same 

time, we appreciate that Södra has the flexibility 

to enable us to order an extra delivery 

if required,” says Danielsson. 

Södra, Långasjö is a good supplier for 

AD-Trä from an environmental perspective, 

too. 

“They are close by, which means short 

transport journeys. That is not only better 

for the environment it also means low delivery 

costs,” notes Danielsson. 

He also stresses that he has being working 

closely with Magnus Angsås of Södra 

for a long time. This helps ensure business 

dealings run smoothly. 

On the Swedish Board of Agriculture list 

The timber bought by AD-Trä is planed and 

KD certified, which means the timber is 

kiln-dried in Swedish Board of Agriculture 

approved kilns. 

“Södra are very good at planing, which 

is important for us. The timber is also dried 

in the correct way and KD certified. This 

means we are on the Swedish Board of 

Agriculture list of approved companies and 

can stamp all our products as ISPM 15 com- 

Factsheet / AD-Trä 

• Production is in Växjö, Sweden. 

• The company has 13 full-time employees. 

• In 2005 the company acquired its competitor, 

Steda Emballage in Hillerstorp. 

• Turnover in 2008 is expected to reach 

SEK 85 million. 

• In 2008 AD-Trä acquired a shareholding in 

machinery supplier Promatek in Kalmar. 

• Customers in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, 

Finland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain and 

China. 

• Read more at www.ad-tra.se 

pliant, which you have to have to export 

pallets and pallet collars without complications,” 

he adds. 

TexT: LARS EdKVIST 

PhoTo: JONAS LJUNGdAhL 

Read more about Södra and the packaging 

industry on the next page. 

This is ISPM 15 

• ISPM 15 is an international standard. It 

means the core of the timber is heated to 

at least 56 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes. 

This heating is to kill any insects that could 

damage the timber. In so doing this prevents 

the spread of insect pests and diseases to 

other countries. 

• To show that the timber has been heattreated 

in accordance with this standard, all 

pallets manufactured by AD-Trä are stamped 

as such. 


Södra supplies 120,000 cubic metres of timber to the Swedish packaging industry each 

year for the manufacture of pallets and pallet collars. 

Södra is developing its services 

to the Packaging industry 

The packaging industry is a 

strategic market for Södra 


“It means we are adapting 

our services to suit our 

customers in this sector,” 

says Magnus Angsås of 

Södra Timber. 

Having the packaging industry as 

a strategic market means e.g. that 

Södra Timber can reserve certain 

volumes for this segment as early 

as the budgeting stage. Booking 

volumes at such an early stage 

means the goods have been manufactured 

and available in stock 

when our customers need them. 

“Our customers are then able 

to know that they are strategically 

important for us and that we take a 

long-term approach when working 

with them. That they should 

view us as a secure and long-term 

supplier to the Swedish packaging 

market irrespective of whether the 

market is good or bad,” says Joacim 

Sjöberg, Södra Timber. 

Today Södra Timber has over 

80 customers in the packaging 

industry. Altogether, Södra supplies 

around 120,000 cubic metres of 

timber to the Swedish packing industry 

for the production of pallets 

and pallet collars. 

In order to become a leading 

supplier to packaging manufacturers, 

Södra has invested in developing 

services for them. What does 

this entail? 

“It means, for instance, that 

we are pretty much spot on and 

flexible when it comes to deliveries. 

We have discovered that punctual 

deliveries are very important for 


packaging manufacturers, and that 

sometimes unplanned additional 

deliveries are needed at short 

notice. We have the capacity to offer 

this,” says Angsås. 

Another element of this high 

level of service is that Södra also 

offers a large range with numerous 

dimensions. Södra can also offer 

products cut to precise sizes to customers 

who prefer to concentrate 

solely on pallet manufacturing. 

Along with this high level of 

service, the drive to become a supplier 

to the packaging industry also 

means that Södra has chosen not to 

be a packaging manufacturer itself. 

“We do not want to compete 

with our customers,” says Sjöberg. 

The large industries that buy 

pallets and pallet collars also make 

high environment demands on the 

timber. 

“We have also chosen to be the 

leader in the environment area. 

Our customers can trust us to have 

taken the environment into account 

at every stage from our own forestry 

to shipments to customers,” 

explains Johan Alvarsson, Södra 


As Södra has plenty of sawmills 

deliveries need not be long distance 

either. 

“As a strategic market, the 

packaging industry gives us the 

opportunity to become even better 

and a stronger supplier and at the 

same time it enables our customers 

to feel secure in the knowledge that 

we will stick with them through 

economic upturns and downturns,” 

says Angsås. 



Market und 

but light at 

The market for timber 

products has been turbulent 

for a while, but 

in the long term the 

world market looks 

bright, says Andreas 

Jonasson, Sales Director, 


The market for timber products has been 

very turbulent in recent months. Supply has 

been exceeding demand in Europe which 

has pushed prices down, while at the same 

time, the weak US market has reduced opportunities 

for the European sawn timber 

industry to export construction timber 

outside Europe. Six months ago I wrote 

that in the short term market growth will 

depend on when there is an upturn in the US 

market and how well production levels in 

Europe can adapt. Unfortunately, the crisis 

has deepened in America and we cannot 

see any change ahead of the presidential 

election. However, production realignments 

in Europe, including Sweden, Finland and 

Germany, will have a stabilising effect on the 

timber products market. 

We expect demand for construction timber 

to remain stable in Europe in 2008. While 

the construction cycle in Europe has been 

somewhat weak recently compared with the 

record years of 2006–2007, there continues to 

be a high level of building in Europe. Building 

in Japan has picked up again to the level 

it was before the new building regulations 

were introduced. As such, demand on the 

world market for timber products is at an 

acceptable level, if we exclude the USA. 

Taking a long-term approach to customer 

relationships has long been an important 

policy for Södra Timber. We do not think 

there is anything to gain from jumping in 

and out of bed with customers or markets.

er heavy pressure 

the end of the tunnel 

Over the past two years, there has been a shortage 

of timber products which has offered several 

opportunities to do more profitable business 

with new customers or markets, but we 

elected to take the long-term view and 

primarily sought to supply our loyal 

customers. We can now clearly 

see that we are getting the same 

long-term thinking back from our 

customers who choose to stay 

with Södra Timber even though 

several new suppliers are trying 

to get a foothold with our customers. 

We appreciate this very 

much. We view our customers 

within e.g. building suppliers, 

the housing and packaging 

industries as strategically 

important to us, and where 

we are going to remain in the 

long-term. 

in the long-term we continue 

to remain positive about market 

growth. The younger generation 

in the USA will have a big longterm 

need to build new homes. 

When you add in the Pine Beetle 

epidemic in Canada, which can 

eventually reduce sawn timber production 

in western Canada, this is bound to 

mean big interest in importing timber 

products from Europe. We also envisage 

increasing demand for imports in Asia, 

which can eventually have a big impact 

on the timber balance in the world. 

The new eu climate change targets will 

accelerate investments in the eco energy 

area. Eco energy investments are a top 

priority for Södra too, with 70 percent of 

Södra’s investment budget for 2008 earmarked 

for investment in eco energy such 

as wind power, pellets and district heating. 

The growing eco energy sector will benefit 

the sawn timber industry with higher prices 

for by-products, although in the long-term, this 

could also require volumes for the eco energy 

area that squeezes access to certain types of 

timber. 

ANdREAS JONASSON, 

Sales Director Södra Timber 

High rise timber 

housing for Kalix 

◗ A high rise housing block in timber in 

the centre of Kalix in the north of Sweden 

is at the planning stage. The block will 

contain 20 flats. 

The project is a joint venture between 

several local building companies, Luleå 

University of Technology, Kalix Municipality 

and Västerbotten County Administration 

Board. 

New arena in timber 

◗ In Sandviken 200 kilometres north of 

Stockholm an arena is being built for 

indoor bandy and other sports. Instead of 

using the traditional steel, the arena is to 

be a glulam structure. One reason is that 

timber weighs much less than steel. 

The 92 metre long roof beams will be 

shipped in four sections and installed on 

site. Almost 1,200 cubic metres of glulam, 

or sixty lorry loads, will be used in the 

structure. 

The playing area can be covered in ice, 

Astroturf and wooden flooring. The arena 

will be ready for use in 2008. 

Eslöv looks to develop a 

housing estate in timber 

◗ The town of Eslöv in the south of 

Sweden is planning a housing estate in 

timber. A ten-storey high grain silo dating 

from 1917 has recently been converted 

into residential housing. At the official 

opening Eslöv local authority commissioner 

Cecilia Lind announced plans for 

a new residential neighbourhood and 

possibly an ideal homes exhibition 2011. 

She feels timber is both good for the 

environment and also a smart solution for 

construction projects. 

Eslöv is going to expand eastwards with 

some 1,000 new dwellings and the thinking 

is to combine this with a building 

and homes exhibition to mark the town’s 

centenary year 2011. 

Award for timber housing 

◗ A four storey timber block in Rydebäck 

in the south of Sweden has won an award 

for modern timber design excellence. 

Housing developer Derome is behind the 

block, and is now looking to build even 

larger housing blocks in timber. The company 

owns land in the sought after Västa 

hamnen area of Malmö. The company is 

now planning a nine storey block there. 


A new distribution 

centre in Billingsfors 

Södra Timber is establishing 

a distribution centre 

in Billingsfors in western 

Sweden. The ambition is 

to increase sales to the 

builders merchant sector in 

western Sweden. 

Södra Timber’s current distribution 

to this market is mainly in southern 

and south-eastern Sweden, and 

to enable expansion to the west of 

Sweden a physical base is needed. 

Södra Timber entered an agreement 

with the ARE Group in spring 

2007 to buy the closed Billingsfors 

Sågverks AB, which included a 

50-hectare sawmill property in 

Billingsfors. Södra has since conducted 

a feasibility study regarding 

the establishment of a sawmill in 

Billingsfors. 

“It’s now clear that the area 

with warehouse and existing 

With effect from the year end, 

Södra Timber is taking a stake in 

Uni4 Marketing, which markets 

Swedish timber goods on markets 

in North Africa and the Middle East. 

“We are acquiring a minority 

holding in Uni4, in which SCA Timber 

and Holmen Timber also have 

stakes,” says Peter Nilsson, MD of 


Uni4 Marketing is the leading exporter of 

Swedish timber products to Morocco, Algeria, 

Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. All 

these markets are characterised by young 

populations and relatively good growth, not 

least in the housing sector. 

The markets where Uni4 operates require 

specific expertise for sales, logistics, document 

handling and bank processes to present 

profitable options for Nordic manufacturers 

of timber products. 

“While we make a lot of sales on these 

markets, we appreciate it is very time consuming 

and far away. Uni4 offers several 

Peter Nilsson, MD Södra Timber and Björn lagerqvist, Sales Manager 

for Sweden and Norway, being presented with flowers by 

Commissioner Per Jonsson, after the decision on the new distribution 

centre in Billingsfors. 

infrastructure is ideal for establishing a new distribution 

centre. Wood products will be produced at our existing 

sawmills and transported to Billingsfors,” says Peter 

Nilsson, president of Södra Timber. 

The operation will be established during the springsummer 

period in readiness for full operation in August. 


FoTo: ANNA NyBERG 

Södra Timber takes stake in Uni4 


advantages. Having know-how all under one 

roof makes for a different kind of continuity, 

and a better and more intensive interface with 

the market, which makes us more cost effective 

and more competitive,” says Nilsson. 

Uni4 Marketing expects to sell around 

300,000–350,000 cubic metres of timber products 

on its North African and Middle Eastern 

markets in 2008, with a turnover of SEK 

700–750 million. 

Changing job 

In connection with the part acquisition, Södra 

Timbers salesman Lennart Antonsson is taking 

up a new position as Sales Director and 

buyer at Uni4 Marketing on 1 August. 

“That Lennart Antonson is joining Uni4 

Marketing feels very good. It offers us the 

opportunity to introduce Södra to Uni4 Marketing 

in the best way, and also to take advantage 

of the business opportunities that arise 

at Uni4 in the future. Lennart knows a great 

deal about both these markets in North Africa 

and the Middle East and what opportunities 

Södra can offer.” 

Great 

Södra 


has performed 

a wide ranging 

customer survey 

for the very first 

time. It reveals 

that customers 

have great faith 

in Södra Timber 

and would 

recommend the 

company as a 

supplier. Customers 

are very 

satisfied with 

sales and customer 

service, 

but slightly less 

satisfied with 

deliveries. 

›› 

Södra Timber wanted 

to find out what its 

customers thought of the 

company, and how they see us 

compared with other timber 

products suppliers. A random 

selection of large and small 

customers who buy regularly 

from us were interviewed 

by phone in November. The 

interviews were done in the 

customer’s own language. It 

was not just buyers that were

faith in 

Timber 

interviewed, other people we interface with, 

such as stock managers, were also interviewed. 

Customers were given the option of 

remaining anonymous but few chose to do 

so. 62 percent responded, which is a good 

result in this context. 

The survey was comprehensive and 

contained a large number of questions in six 

main areas: 

• Deliveries 

• Products 

• Sales 

• Customer service 

• Complaints 

• Södra Timber’s image 

By way of summary, the survey revealed 

that customers are very satisfied when it 

comes to sales and customer service, but 

less so with deliveries. Confidence in Södra 

Timber is high and many customers would 

recommend the company as a supplier. 

Acting on the findings 

In order to track progress with the overall 

assessment of customers we have created 

a customer satisfaction index. This consists 

of three parts: combined experience of 

Södra Timber, whether Södra Timber meets 

expectations and if the company is an ideal 

supplier. 

The index score was 72 in this initial survey, 

which is a good result compared with 

other manufacturing industries. As such, the 

survey will provide a base for subsequent 

development work on the market side. We 

are going to do regular surveys at two year 

intervals in future. 

Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) 


illuSTraTioN: JOhAN CASTOR 

Customer assessments 

of various aspects of 

Södra Timber have been 

summarised in a customer 

satisfaction index, 

CSi. The first index score 

was 72, which is a good 

result. 

Södra brand 

a high priority 

Södra Timber has performed 

a customer survey 

for the very first time. 

Reading the results has 

been both exciting and 

rewarding. We can see that 

Södra is strongly positioned 

as a supplier to our customers, 

but there are areas 

where we can become even 

better. At Södra we are 

never prepared to rest on 

our laurels, we want to further 

develop and improve 

our offer to customers all 

the time. 

Andreas Jonasson, Sales 

director Södra Timber. 

All customers received the same questionnaire 

which has enabled us to gain a balanced picture 

of where we can improve in the eyes of our entire 

customer base. One somewhat surprising finding 

was that the Södra brand is very significant for you 

our customers. As we largely supply a bulk product 

one could imagine that our customers would not 

prioritise the brand so highly. What we can learn 

from this is that it is important we take proper care 

of our brand by e.g. clear market communication. 

Distribution is an important part of our business 

offer. Unfortunately, this is an area where 

we on the Swedish market have had a number of 

interruptions in 2007, which several of our customers 

have quite rightly drawn attention to in the 

interviews. Distribution to the Swedish building 

trade has had major seasonal variations, and we 

are now working hard to improve our distribution 

ahead of the 2008 high season even though 

as a whole Sweden is suffering from a shortage of 

transport capacity. We have worked hard to reduce 

our delivery lead times in recent years, which, from 

contact with our customers, we appreciate is very 

important for them. As a result of the customer 

survey, we can see that short delivery times are 

actually slightly less important than precision delivery. 

It is more important for our customers that we 

can provide advance notice of when a delivery will 

arrive, and that it will then genuinely arrive, than 

getting it at very short notice. We now need to put 

more effort into delivery precision. 

Sales and customer service gained very high 

marks. That is very pleasing considering that sales 

people and customer service have both had to 

give customers bad news on many occasions over 

the past two years due to the difficult shortage 

situation. We have made a real effort to prioritise 

our loyal customers, and this would appear to have 

borne fruit. 

We plan to repeat the customer survey in two 

years. By regularly checking what customers think 

of Södra Timber we can measure our improvement. 

We are already looking forward to the next survey. 

We would like to thank everyone who took 

part in the customer survey, and appreciate your 

candour and suggestions as to where we can 

improve. It is now up to us to translate the findings 

into practical deeds. 

ANdREAS JONASSON 

Sales Director 


“Do it for me” trend 

the driver for new prod 

Södra Timber is expanding its building 

products range ahead of the 

2008 season with ready primed external 

panels. 

“The trend is increasingly moving 

towards ‘do it for me’. We therefore 

expect ready primed external panels 

to dominate the market in the next 

few years,” says Björn Lagerqvist, 

head of sales of the Scandinavian 

building materials trade suppliers. 

›› 

“We have lived with 

the DIY trend for many 

years, but this is swinging 

towards ‘do it for me’. Time is in 

short supply and many people 

now want the help of building 

professionals, but do not want to 

pay for a craftsman to prime external 

panels,” adds Lagerqvist. 

This new trend puts high 

demands on prefabricated 

materials. 

“We are seeing this development 

in both the building 

materials trade and within the 

housing industry. Which is why 

we at Södra Timber are taking 

this first step and introducing 

ready primed external panels 

into our building products 

range. The number of primer 

colours to match the top coat 

colour is bound to increase over 

time,” says Lagerqvist. 

For building materials customers, 

ready primed external 

panels mean a better product 

as they are factory produced. It 

is difficult to achieve the same 

durability and neat finish yourself. 

It also offers environmental 

advantages as the industrial 


production process is done under 

carefully controlled conditions, 

where paint and possible 

solvent usage is optimised and 

waste almost non existent. 

Expanded processing 

“We are also looking to expand 

product refinement at our saw 

mills by e.g. cutting, mitreing, 

hole cutting and drilling. We 

are also going to offer house 

manufacturers ready nailed wall 

sections for external panels. 

Which will mean on site assembly 

of houses can be done 

at a lower cost. We are currently 

looking for new customers 

for these types of products. At 

present, timber from saw mills 

is transported by road for prefabrication 

by various different 

contractors before delivery to 

the end customer. 

“This will also reduce the 

carbon footprint of transport as 

we can do more of the prefabrication 

work at the saw mill 

and then ship it directly to the 

customer,” says Lagerqvist. 


PhoTo: JONAS LJUNGdAhL

ucts 

Björn lagerqvist expects 

ready primed external 

panels to dominate the 

market in the next few 

years. 

Cut white waxed tongue and groove panelling is a new 

product that has quickly become very popular. 

“Products are being developed 

all the time, for 

instance with various surface 

treatments. Demand 

for surface treated products 

continues to rise. 

Today, customers want to 

see quick results without 

any major effort. One 

new product that has 

become very popular is 

cut white waxed tongue 

and groove panelling in 

pine,” says Peter Gustafsson, 

Sales Director of 

Gapro. 

Gapro products include mouldings, 

panels, flooring and wooden 

sheets. Customers are primarily 

building materials stores and 

traditional building materials 

suppliers. Its main markets are 

Sweden, Norway and Denmark. 

However the company supplies 

products worldwide. 

The trend for straight lines 

and smooth surfaces in pale 

Nordic colours is standing the 

test of time. As such, white wax 

is a variant of this and fine cut 

tongue and groove panelling 

is something whose time has 

come. It has a rustic, natural 

looking finish and looks just 

as good in older and modern 

homes. The white wax glaze 

surface treatment brings out the 

structure of the wood, so the 

grain and knots shine through. 

Time saver 

Buying a ready treated panel is 

a great time saver and also ensures 

a neat and evenly finished 

product. 

“More and more people 

are realising the advantages of 

buying ready finished. And the 

total cost is no higher than if 

customers do the surface treatment 

themselves. Gapro white 

wax products only use environment 

friendly materials,” says 

Gustafsson. 

The panels have numerous 

application areas, for instance as 

wall cladding with horizontal or 

vertical panels or for ceilings. 

The smooth white waxed 

panels in the Gapro range have 

long been a big seller. 

“You can buy our panels 

untreated, lacquered, glazed 

and white waxed. They come 

in packs of six boards of equal 

length. The packs are wrapped 

and labelled showing type, 

length, coverage in square metres 

and barcode. 

Smooth white waxed panels have long been a big seller. 

Gapro, a business area in the Södra Group: 

Surface treatment 

increasingly popular 

Gapro products include mouldings, 

panels, flooring and wooden sheets. 

Most panel variants are 

available in white wax with dimensions 

12x95 and 13x120 mm. 

Read more on www.gapro.se 


PhoToS: GAPRO 


Smooth joints and 

cheaper construction 

SödraSmart studs offer many advantages 

When SödraSmart studs first appeared at the JM construction 

site in Lomma, there were plenty of pulled 

faces. Everyone was used to plate studs and had no 

desire to switch. 

“It tood two days to convince me,” says joiner Patrik 

Törncrantz. 

›› 

The JM site in Lomma harbour north 

of Malmö is not far from the sea. 

A new urban development of 1,500 new 

dwellings is rising along the undulating 

sand dunes north of Höje Å. 

Yet change is not restricted to the outside. 

Inside the plasterboard walls on site, a 

minor revolution is in full swing. 

“There is no waste, no cut damage, 

installation is less noisy and we need fewer 

people doing installation work in the same 

place,” says joiner Patrik Törncrantz who is 

working on the JM development at Lomma. 

He is talking about the SödraSmart studs 

that have been used at Lomma for the past 

two years. 

Problems with joints 

The development suffered numerous 

problems in getting the plasterboard joints 

smooth, which is important in modern 

dwellings where all the walls are painted 

rather than papered. 

“The decorators were simply unable 

to skim over the joints. In certain cases we 

had to dismantle the walls and start again. 

This resulted in loads of speculation that the 

plasterboard sheets were not up to standard 

and that the plate studs were different 

sizes,” says Törncrantz. 

But the more stable SödraSmart studs 


proved able to give the internal walls the 

stability required and uneven plasterboard 

walls became a thing of the past at Lomma. 

And Patrik Törncrantz became a convert. 

“You do not realise how blissful it is to 

no longer have decorators moaning about 

poor joints,” he says with a laugh. 

But it took him a couple of days to see 

the benefits. 

“When I first saw the studs, I pictured 

myself with a circular saw permanently in 

my hand to get the wooden studs to fit. But 

I soon realised I had misunderstood how 

they worked. 

Customised production 

Södra modifies the studs to builder requirements. 

For instance, the standard height for 

JM is 2.50 metres. All you do is press the 

studs into place, and then they are ready. 

“We try to listen to our customers 

and adapt production if there is sufficient 

demand,” says Jonny Månsander, Södra 

Timber’s salesman in the region. 

He has been on site at Lomma throughout 

the trial period. 

“Södra have been great. Jonny has been 

here to check and ask us what we think and 

taken note of what can be improved,” says 

Törncrantz. 

JM in Stockholm have been using Smart 

studs for several years. They give the studs 

good marks and that made it easier to introduce 

them at Lomma. 

“These types of solution virtually only 

spread by recommendation. Our industry is 

very conservative and difficult to persuade,” 

says Göran Fors of Optimera that has a supplies 

contract with JM in Skåne. 

“Smart studs are a bit more expensive 

to buy, but they pay for themselves on site,” 

he claims. 

Törncrantz agrees. “Absolutely, it means 

we do not have loads of post installation 

work to do or any delays. You also only 

need one sheet of plasterboard on the wall 

with the timber studs. Plate studs often 

need two layers.” 

“Most building companies go by what 

things cost per item. JM are smart enough to 

view the whole construction project picture 

and take costs along the way into account. 

Which is why they have noticed that Smart 

studs are more economical,” says Fors. 

Installation is a one man job 

Unlike plate studs, installation is a one 

person job with Smart studs. 

“You used to need one man to fix the 

stud and another to hold the back part. I 

can install Smart studs on my own,” says 

Törncrantz.

Battens are available in ready cut lengths for the SödraSmart wall system. They are used for e.g. 

installing kitchen cabinets. The tape pieces enable battens to be fixed by one person. 

The stable SödraSmart studs ensure the plasterboard 

joins are even and easy to skim over. 

Another advantage is that once 

installed the walls are more stable. 

“If you cut into plate studs you 

lose stability and that used to create 

problems for us. As Smart studs are 

made of wood, they can withstand 

greater stress. The cable holes are also 

bigger, which pleases the electricians. 

The walls of modern houses are full of 

cables,” says Törncrantz. 

Smart studs have flanges that are 

8 mm wider than plate stud flanges. 

This gives joiners more margin when 

screwing in plasterboard. And because 

the studs are wooden, the screw 

get a proper purchase. 

“It can sound ridiculous, but when 

you are screwing plasterboard, it is 

easy to get it crooked, and then eight 

millimeters make a big difference,” 

says Törncrantz. 

TexT: PETER JOhNSSON 

PhoToS: KASPER dUdzIK 

The studs are pressed into place without 

nails or screws. 

The holes in the studs allow 

plenty of room for cabling, 

which pleases the electricians. 

Göran Fors, optimera, Jonny Månsander, Södra Timber salesperson and Patrik Törncrantz, joiner, are delighted 

with SödraSmart studs. 

Factsheet / SödraSmart 

• SödraSmart studs are intended for non load bearing partition 

walls and can be used as floor, ceiling and wall studs. 

• SödraSmart studs are straight, stable and untensioned. 

The studs are made of glulam side boards of spruce. 

• The studs are angled on site and do not need to be nailed 

or glued into place. 

• SödraSmart studs are available in standard lengths to fit 

ceiling heights of 2.40, 2.50, 2.60 and 2.70 metres. Widths 

are 70 mm or 95 mm. 


Construction of the high rise timber housing blocks in Växjö is going to plan and a positive 

experience. 

Positive experiences from 

timber housing development 

Tenants moved into the first 

block in the Limnologen development 

in Växjö in March. 

“The experiences we have 

had from this type of construction 

have been very 

positive. Not least in the 

tremendous timesaving we 

make from not having an 

extended drying process,” 

says Anders Persson, project 

manager at Midroc Property 

Development. 

In the previous edition of Timber! we 

reported on the major timber housing 

project being developed by Lake 

Trummen in Växjö. Midroc Property 

Development is building four eight 

storey apartment blocks in timber. 

Residents have already moved into 

the first block and the second block 

will be ready for tenants in April. 

Block three is under construction, and 

block four has already been ordered. 

“This method of erecting prefabricated 

frames under a canvas roof has 

worked well and we have been able to 

up the tempo a bit. The bottlenecks so 

far have involved getting the frames 

from the factory quickly enough,” 

says Persson. 

The housing blocks at Limnologen 

are also a large research project in 

cooperation with Växjö University. 


Moisture content and other factors are 

being continuously monitored during 

the construction period. 

“We have kept a careful eye on moisture 

from the time the modules arrived 

on site. The first research reports have 

not yet been completed, but we know 

the readings are good,” says Persson. 

The first tenants to move in have 

been slightly more satisfied than 

usual. The location by the lake and 

design of the apartments with large 

balconies facing several directions are 

unique features. 

“Our residents are simply delighted 

with Limnologen,” claims Persson. 

The entire building project will 

be completed in early 2009 and the 

surrounding grounds will be finished 

towards summer 2009. 

In overall terms, Anders Persson 

is pleased with this new method of 

building and can envisage developing 

several areas in the same way. Several 

similar projects are already at the 

planning stage. 

“Compared with erecting traditional 

concrete blocks, we have saved 

a great deal of time on not needing 

an extended drying process. It is also 

easier for craftspeople who have been 

able to do much more with a saw and 

drill driver,” he adds. 

TexT. LARS EdqVIST 


SLU recommends building housing in timber 

◗ It is better for the environment to 

build apartment blocks in timber rather 

than steel and concrete. Researchers at 

the Swedish University of Agricultural 

Sciences, SLU, have analysed the production 

of timber frame housing from 

tree to finished building. They have 

come to a crystal clear conclusion: 

Emissions of carbon dioxide are significantly 

lower than if the equivalent 

frames were made of steel and concrete. 

The figures get even better when 

trees felled for housing are replaced 

by newly planted forest, that absorb 

carbon from the air as they grow. 

Better tim 

A new method of wet gluing 

side board beams is being 

developed in partnership 

between Växjö University, SP 

Trätek and Södra Timber. Using 

side boards makes better 

use of the raw material and 

gives the beams excellent new 

properties. 

“The results to date have 

been very promising,” says 

Professor Erik Serrano of 

Växjö University. 

›› 

Side boards bow when drying, which makes it 

difficult to use them for glulam beams. 

“We started this research project just over a year ago 

to be able to make better use of the timber and to construct 

a new beam with higher rigidity and good load 

bearing capacity,” explains Johan Blixt of Södra Timber. 

At the research stage 

All the parties involved – including Södra as customer 

and supplier – would gain from being able to use a 

higher proportion of the timber and being able to create 

beams with new properties. The new product that will 

come out of the project has been preliminarily named 

the SB beam. The product is still at the research stage, 

however. It is important for Södra Timber to be actively 

involved in product development in order to improve 

methods of using wood as a construction material. 

This is a unique project. As far as the company is 

aware, it is the only one of its kind in the world. To be 

able to make a glulam beam from timber that has not yet 

been dried requires both new equipment and a new type 

of adhesive. 

“Wet gluing is not without its problems. So far we 

have glued beams on a small scale and tested them in 

Växjö University’s testing laboratory. We are about to 

open a smaller glue pressing shop at Långasjö to extend 

the project to an industrial environment,” says Blixt. 

As the project is a joint venture between Växjö 

University and SP Trätek and receives funding from the 

Knowledge Foundation, the results are open knowledge. 

“Södra’s involvement in developing new methods, 

means we are gaining more knowledge of gluing and 

on beam construction,’ claims Rickard Svensson, Södra 


Växjö University is just one kilometre from the Södra

er beams with side boards 

research engineer Bertil enquist and Professor erik Serrano are working closely with rickard Svensson and 

Johan Blixt of Södra Timber, to develop new and improved timber beams. 

head office. The School of Technology and 

Design there is housed in one of the biggest 

timber buildings in Sweden. The building 

also houses the testing laboratory where the 

new beams have been tested. 

Research engineer Bertil Enquist was 

in charge of the tests. These included load 

testing to see how much whole beams can 

withstand before failing. The characteristics 

of the glue joints have also been studied by 

subjecting very small sections of the glue 

joints to loads in testing equipment. These 

trials used equipment that can see exactly 

how the joints behave under different conditions 

with the aid of optical measuring 

methods. 

“This enables us to see how the material 

is deformed depending on for instance, the 

type of adhesive we are using. We can have 

up to ten measuring points per millimetre,” 

he explains. 

There is also a climate-controlled room 

where the glulam beams can be stored at 

varying temperatures and humidity, all 

strictly controlled. 

In another part of the university’s testing 

suite there is an entire beam, the product of 

an earlier degree thesis. The thesis explored 

the possibility of building up a beam that 

delivered good load bearing capacity and 

rigidity in two directions, unlike traditional 

timber beams that often only act in one 

direction. This results in better properties 

when it comes to both sound and vibrations. 

“We have enjoyed a developing partnership 

in this project. The Södra people have 

been more committed to the work compared 

with our previous experiences with other 

companies. And the results of our tests are 

very promising,” says Professor Serrano by 

way of summary. 

It is still too early to say when the 

results of the project will reach the market, 

however. 


PhoToS: STEFAN GUSTAVSSON 

Prize winning beam. 

New beam 

wins timber 

technology award 

Viktor Karlsson and Tommy Wadefur, 

students at Växjö University, have been 

awarded the 2007 Timber Technology Prize 

for their thesis on a new type of beam. The 

prize is awarded by Innovativ Vision AB 

and the trade publication NTT. Viktor and 

Tommy shared the SEK 25,000 prize for their 

paper “Evaluation of the stiffness properties 

of a newly developed timber beam of glued 

side boards”. 



Feel free to contact 


Andreas Jonasson, Director of Sales tel +46 470 892 77, fax +46 470 892 19 

andreas.jonasson@sodra.com mob +46 70 315 09 29 

SWeDeN oCh NorGe 

Björn Lagerqvist, sales manager building material supply Scandinavia tel +46 470 855 56 

bjorn.lagerqvist@sodra.com mob +46 70 227 42 57 

Jonny Månsander, sales building material supply Sweden 

jonny.mansander@sodra.com 

mob +46 76 833 18 99, fax +46 44 23 83 13 

Lars Lövebrant, sales building material supply Sweden tel +46 486 442 03 

lars.lovebrant@sodra.com mob +46 70 621 51 29 

Joacim Sjöberg, sales industry and wholesale Sweden tel +46 474 606 76, fax +46 474 606 87 

joacim.sjoberg@sodra.com mob +46 70 398 93 76 

Magnus Angsås, sales industry and wholesale Sweden tel +46 470 892 83, fax +46 470 892 19 

magnus.angsas@sodra.com mob +46 70 601 31 04 

Johan Alvarsson, sales Sweden tel +46 36 232 03, fax +46 36 232 29 

johan.alvarsson@sodra.com mob +46 70 217 08 11 

DeNMarK 

Ted Wilhelmsson, Sales manager tel +45 470 857 39 

ted.wilhelmsson@sodra.com mob +45 70 556 92 27 

Niels Kjersgaard, sales tel +45 36 91 51 71, fax +45 36 91 51 73 

niels.kjersgaard@sodra.com mob +45 40464181 

Anne Rohde, sales tel +45 36 91 51 70, fax +45 36 91 51 73 

anne.rohde@sodra.com mob +45 30 66 12 54 

GreaT BriTaiN aND irelaND 

Peter Örtegren, sales manager tel +44 340 62 82 70, fax +44 340 62 82 65 

peter.ortegren@sodra.com mob +44 70 540 80 77 

Mats Wernersson, key account manager tel +46 470 892 84, fax +46 470 892 19 

mats.wernersson@sodra.com mob +46 70 630 12 04 

The NeTherlaNDS 

Ted Wilhelmsson, sales manager tel +46 470 857 39 

ted.wilhelmsson@sodra.com mob +46 70 556 92 27 

BelGiuM 

Magnus Elovsson, sales manager tel +46 120 292 03, fax +46 120 292 10 

magnus.elovsson@sodra.com mob +46 70 635 92 12 

uSa 

Mats Wernersson, sales manager tel +46 470 892 84, fax +46 470 892 19 

mats.wernersson@sodra.com mob +46 70 630 12 04 

aSia aND FraNCe 

Alexander Åhréus, sales manager tel +46 470 892 68, fax +46 470 892 19 

alexander.ahreus@sodra.com mob +46 70 289 97 90 

MeDiTerraNeaN aND MiDDle eaST 

Lennart Antonsson, sales manager tel +46 494 790 05, fax +46 494 124 19 

lennart.antonsson@sodra.com mob +46 70 593 35 64 

Johan Alvarsson, sales tel +46 36 232 03, fax +46 36 232 29 

johan.alvarsson@sodra.com mob +46 70 217 08 11 

GerMaNY aND eaST euroPe 

Wolf-Peter Petersen, sales manager tel +49 4171 606 910, fax +49 4171 66 76 66 

woppe@sodra.com mob +49 171 652 29 39

Great faith in Södra Timber

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?