24 | Sector Focus: France
PIVETEAUBOIS IN ENGINEERED WOOD PARTNERSHIP WITH BUILDING GIANT
Above: Piveteaubois’ Hexapli
Also, on Piveteaubois’ CIB stand during TTJ’s visit was Pierre-Alexandre Herard, timber construction procurement and partnerships manager at French-based international building giant Bouygues Construction. As part of its environmental strategy, the company has pledged that 30% of its projects in France will be wood- based by 2030. Committing to source 50% of this actually coming from France, three years ago Bouygues signed a ‘framework’ supply agreement with Piveteaubois, which has just been renewed. The prime product provided by Piveteaubois under the deal is its Hexapli CLT, but it also supplies glulam. “Under the arrangement we secure our supply of engineered timber and at the same time benefit from Piveteaubois’ knowledge of CLT,” said Mr Herard. “We work together at an early stage on new projects, and we’ve also developed commonly with Dassault System an application software system allowing us to increase efficiency on structural analysis and to optimise the volume and area of CLT needed for each development, which takes into account all the site’s health and safety rules. The objective is to have digital continuity from the 3D model to Piveteaubois’ manufacturing machine, to the construction site.” So far under this programme, Bouygues estimates it has used about 80,000m² of CLT. That includes over 6,000m3 second largest CLT build in France. ■
of French pine Hexapli CLT in Campus Engie, the
◄ There were 637 exhibitors at the CIB (against 607 in 2022), with 39% from outside France, representing 40 countries. There was a marked increase in visitor attendance from abroad too, also hitting 39% of the total, and drawn from nearly 100 countries. The show also occupied more space this year at Nantes’ Beaujoire fair complex, with the 28% area increase outstripping the rise in stand numbers thanks to the use of hall XXL for the first time.
Another change was the new compartmentalisation of the event, with
the different halls dedicated to flooring, wood-based panels, timber building and construction services, and the XXL hall grouping sawmills, timber trade and forestry. The consensus was that this made the event easier to navigate.
While acknowledging their market perceptions were yet to be underpinned with categoric stats, attendees also felt show attendance indicated the mood of the timber sector was on the turn, after a challenging 2023/early 2024. The feeling was that confidence is “gently improving” due to
inflation decreasing (and the EU area rate was down to 2.6% in May from a 2022 peak of over 10%) and the prospect of lower interest rates, with the European Central Bank cutting them for the first time in five years in June to 3.75%.
The level of product development at the show, plus news highlighted by many companies of capital investment and corporate development projects, also indicated a more positive perspective.
Multi-faceted French softwood sawmill and timber product manufacturer
ARCLIN AT CIB AS PART OF DRYSHELL SALES DRIVE
Above: Arclin promoted its Arctek Dryshell factory applied protective, vapour control overlay for timber construction panel products
American building sector bonding and surfaces specialist Arclin was at Carrefour as part of its drive to develop the European market for its Arctek Dryshell overlay for OSB and plywood (see pp44-45). Dryshell is based on a proprietary resin formula. It is factory applied and billed as the next generation successor to site-fixed protective polyethylene membranes. The overlay, says Arclin, is moisture resistant and vapour permeable, delivering weather protection to wood-based panels and providing vapour control. At the same time, with panel joints simply taped, it enhances building air tightness. Already a well-established technology in the US, Arclin’s Paul Worsley said Dryshell is getting a positive reaction from panel producers and processors across Europe, including in the UK where the company recently acquired processor Trade Fabrication Systems. “OSB producers across the continent are expressing interest,” said Mr Worsley. “They’re looking to add value to their product and evaluating surface solutions.” ■
TTJ | July/August 2024 |
www.ttjonline.com
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