Rational wood joints – the key to sustainable constructions

The webinar “Rational wooden joints with a low climate footprint” attracted over 90 registered participants – an impressive number. Wooden joints are clearly a hot topic, and during the webinar, expert Roberto Crocetti shared his deep knowledge of wooden structures. He shared his insights on the importance of wooden joints, challenges and future innovations.

The role of joints in timber structures

-"I think joints are one of the most important, if not the most important, thing to consider when it comes to wood construction," says Crocetti.

He points out that the choice of jointing affects the safety, aesthetics and economy of a building. A bad joint can cause major problems, while smart solutions can make assembly and disassembly both faster and more cost-effective.

The search for sustainable materials

One of the major steps in the development of rational wood joints is the choice of material. Crocetti and his team chose birch plywood as a bio-based alternative.

-"We wanted to find a material that was strong and stiff enough to withstand large loads," he explains.

The trend is also towards combinations of different types of wood and hybrid solutions with other materials, such as steel. Automation, using robots and CNC technology, is expected to play an increasing role. So what is the most exciting or unexpected application of wood joinery that Crocetti has seen?

-I have seen several innovative solutions, but one that stands out is the 'flying staircase' at the University of British Columbia. This cantilevered structure uses innovative joints to create a floating effect, demonstrating the potential of wood in advanced architectural solutions.

Future of the wood industry - more innovation needed

But of course there are challenges, Crocetti says the Swedish wood industry is conservative and focused on bulk production rather than innovation.

-I would have liked to see more investment in research and development, both within companies and through cooperation with universities. At the same time, universities need to train engineers with both better knowledge of wooden structures and strong creativity.

He also points out that Swedish sawmills are world leaders in production efficiency, but that the focus is usually on volume rather than on developing new wood-based products and designs.

-It would be interesting to see a greater focus on innovative solutions that can drive the industry forward.

Hopefully, developments are moving in a promising direction, Crocetti believes we will move towards more efficient joints that allow wooden buildings to be assembled in a more rational way - much like an IKEA piece of furniture. He also believes that gluing technology will improve, making on-site gluing easier and more useful.

With innovation, smarter joints and a more progressive wood industry, we could be on our way to a future where wooden structures are both more sustainable and more accessible.

We look forward to it!