Challenges that drive development

The starting point was that, at the time, Equator was working on a project in which a traditional facade system made of steel and aluminium was to be used. The client for the project was challenged to use more wood in the project, which brought certain challenges with it.

“Equator presented the challenges to us and identified a need for solutions that enable construction with lower climate impact, something we immediately responded to,” says Johan Larsson, Business Developer at SCA.

The problem lay in a lack of system-based solutions for the efficient use of wood in the construction industry. Through dialogue and market research, the idea emerged of a facade system in which carbon-intensive components are replaced with wood in order to reduce climate impact.

Balancing a project’s climate impact

In dialogue with customers, the new facade system has been well received. This is both because the system responds to requirements for low climate impact and because it can be used with all structural systems. Since the elements are installed by crane directly from the outside, the need for scaffolding is reduced, enabling both cost and time savings. In addition, installation is simplified in situations where it would otherwise be difficult to accommodate scaffolding.

“A major advantage is the time-efficient installation, which means that you quickly get a weathertight building, whether it is a new-build project or an extension,” says Johan.

Johan compares a project’s climate budget to a bucket that must hold the project’s entire climate impact. If the structural frame is built in concrete, the bucket fills up very quickly. This, in turn, places demands on other parts of the project to maintain a low carbon level in order to meet the project’s climate requirements.

By using SCA Curtain Wall, where components traditionally made of metal have been replaced with wood, the bucket fills up more slowly than it would if a traditional curtain wall system had been used.

“We do not mean that wood should be used for its own sake. The right material should be used in the right place, since different projects have different conditions. But the facade system can function as one piece of the puzzle in efficient material use,” says Johan Larsson.

The construction industry is facing both stricter climate requirements and a world marked by uncertainty, which is increasing the need for stable and predictable solutions. With SCA Curtain Wall, there is a clear strength in the fact that the entire chain, from raw material to production and delivery, is located in Sweden. This creates reliability in both delivery and execution, while also enabling close collaboration throughout the project.

The initial market research clearly showed that the facade market is underdeveloped in many respects. The lack of prefabricated solutions and systems that meet the requirements for commercial properties points to a need for new ways of working. But where there are challenges, there are also opportunities.

“The facade system has been tested and approved, and we look forward to delivering it in upcoming projects,” Johan concludes.