Swedish construction company Peab has teamed up with Södra, a forest-owner association, to support the climate transition within the construction industry by developing the standardised ECO hybrid frame solution.
This new approach combines precast concrete with cross-laminated timber (CLT) for industrial housing production.
Byggelement, a subsidiary of Peab, and Building Systems, a division of Södra, are joining forces to create a solution that is both functional and resource-efficient.
The collaboration is rooted in a shared vision of sustainability and material neutrality.
Södra Building Systems president Andreas Berge said: “The aim of our collaboration is to explore how we can develop a hybrid frame solution that is viable on a large scale in terms of cost, function and sustainability.
“It’s about total optimisation by using the right materials in the right place.”
Byggelement interim president Carl Rülcker said: “By combining wood’s low-carbon footprint and lightweight constructions with the robustness, stability and weight of concrete, we will achieve the best of both worlds.
“We see great potential in a solution that is not based on either/or, but on collaboration. With this initiative, we are taking another step forward towards building more sustainably - without compromising on function, cost or buildability.”
The proposed ECO hybrid frame is designed to align with the goals of the Paris Agreement, focusing on the construction of sustainable housing.
Byggelement, established in 2003 by Peab, is a supplier of prefabricated concrete elements in Sweden. The company is engaged in producing and delivering customised frames and elements for construction sites.
Building Systems, meanwhile, a business area of Södra since 2019, produces CLT for large-scale construction.
The partnership between Peab and Södra is set to explore the feasibility of this hybrid solution in early 2025, with an intent to move forward with the development process.
Peab recently also secured a contract to build a combined heat and power plant in Örtofta, Sweden.
