Sustainable wood technology from sawmill to finished structures
The transition to fossil-free materials increases the need for knowledge about wood at every stage – from forestry to construction and reuse. To meet future demand, the industry needs to optimise resource utilisation through digitalisation and AI, broaden the raw material base with new types of wood, and build circularly to extend the life of the material. At the same time, high demands are placed on strength, moisture resistance and durability in order for wood to replace fossil materials in everything from tall buildings to infrastructure.
RISE helps you navigate this transition. We certify products and production processes for market access, develop standards that enable new types of wood and solutions, and provide design support to ensure moisture resistance and fire safety. From sawmill optimisation to finished structures – we support the entire value chain with testing, consulting and material development.
Expertise in wood technology
Expertise
Timber constructions
The construction of timber structures has increased significantly since 1994, when changes to European structural standards meant that buildings taller than two storeys could be constructed using timber. Since then, interest in this field has grown considerably, with more tall timber buildings as w…
Expertise
Wood-based materials and components
The development of new wood-based materials and components is crucial for the wood industry to meet future demands of sustainability and competitiveness. By replacing fossil raw materials, optimizing service life, and strengthening the functionality of materials, wood can play a stronger role in th…
Expertise
Reuse and use of wood products
Extending the lifespan of wood products and enabling reuse is crucial for a circular and resource-efficient wood industry. By developing flexible building systems, digital tools, and market structures, we can promote the reuse and recycling of wood, which reduces climate impact and conserves resour…
Materials and durability / Expertise
Properties of furniture
RISE furniture expertise has both breadth and depth. We handle issues such as strength, safety, fire, electronics, chemistry, etc. The products can be, for example, chairs, beds, child gates, kitchen fittings, etc.
Expertise
Innovation partner for the sawmill industry
With the sawmill industry and stakeholders, RISE develops methods to measure wood properties and optimise production – increasing yield of sought-after products and reducing resource consumption across the value chain.
Magazine Trävärden
Magazine Trävärden
Discover the latest wood innovations in our new RISE magazine. Find out how we are driving change towards a circular wood value chain, supporting society's transition to a more sustainable future.
Projects in wood technology
Project
RBS-TS
Building systems for timber structures, which reduces construction cost and climate impact.
Project
BASAJAUN
BASAJAUN är en stor europeisk satsning som behandlar hållbart byggande med trä. Huvudsyftet är att visa hur träbyggnadskedjor kan optimeras för att främja både landsbygdsutveckling och stadsförvandling, samtidigt som de är kopplade till hållbar skogsförvaltning i Europa.
Project
Cooperation RISE - Wood industry
To enable RISE to fulfill its mission of promoting sustainable growth in Sweden by enhancing the competitiveness and renewal of the business sector and contributing to innovative development, strong networks are needed. To create this network for the forest and wood industry, a collaboration agreem…
Project
HiT - Health in Timber
For lower climate impact from the construction industry, increased resource efficiency and the possibility to greater freedom of choice in design and architecture, the project aims to increase interest in optimizing together on the market available timber building systems by exploring the possibili…
How does birch perform as a construction timber? What is required for moisture-proof timber buildings?
Article
The road to a circular wood value chain
In the field of wood technology at RISE, many individual activities are ongoing, but they are also parts of a whole to support the development of a circular wood value chain. By creating a circular wood value chain, we utilize raw materials in the best possible way, which is a prerequisite for the c...
Article
Beyond spruce and pine - 'new' wood species in sawmills
limate change, biodiversity requirements and ecosystem conservation raise questions about the future. What types of wood will we have access to in the future? RISE has examined the potential of our third most common tree species, birch, and our third coniferous species, contorta pine, as structural ...
Article
The future of design - reusing wooden houses in a circular economy
What will the future of construction look like? How can the currently linear value chain for housing construction become circular? Can industrially produced wooden houses be the answer and contribute to a shift towards a more circular construction sector with increased reuse?
Article
Critical moisture state of materials - a tool for moisture safety design
The presence of mould can cause problems in the indoor environment, including bad odours, and affect people's well-being and health. Significant amounts are spent annually on repairing moisture and mould damage, so it is important to prevent damage. Knowing the critical moisture condition of the mat...
Concrete and cement / Project
Hållbara grunder
Traditional foundations made of concrete, steel, and insulation account for 15–40% of the CO2 emissions generated during the construction of new buildings with timber frames. Using alternative materials and innovative structural solutions can greatly reduce climate impact and better align foundatio…
Fire safety / Project
Fire performance of Tall Wood Buildings
Research of the fire performance of CLT and Glued Laminated Timber buildings, with visible wood surfaces.
Biobased materials / Article
From beer to glue
Can spent yeast from beer brewing be used to replace fossil-based raw material in adhesives? This is being investigated in the Reflows project, which uses waste yeast from breweries to produce adhesives adapted for wood and paper applications in a circular way.
Fire safety / Article
Robust fire protection of wooden structures
When building with combustible materials such as wood, extra care must be taken in both design and construction to achieve robust fire protection, details must be properly executed and fire protection systems must work over time. Robust fire protection is an important component for increasing the us...
Därför ska du välja RISE
01
Certification and testing –
– notified body for CE marking, accredited testing of structural timber, glulam, CLT and timber buildings 02
Standard development –
– produces AGR reports that enable the sorting of new wood species such as birch and contorta pine 03
Design support –
– moisture safety design, fire safety for tall buildings, structural calculations 04
Material development –
– from fossil-free adhesives and wood preservatives to reuse solutions 05
Comprehensive expertise –
– supporting the entire value chain from sawmill optimisation to finished structuresRelevant areas for you
Construction
The construction industry is facing major changes. The Swedish National Board of Housing, Building and Planning's new building regulations from July …
Built environment
Cities and communities are facing a complex transition where climate goals, social sustainability and economic development must go hand in hand. For …
Climate adaptation
Torrential rain flooding basements, heat waves creating unhealthy indoor environments, rising sea levels threatening coastal properties – extreme wea…
Circular transition
New EU directives and changing customer demands are prompting companies to adopt circular business models, but this transition is complex. Challenges…
Material och beständighet
Materials are becoming one of the manufacturing industry's most complex strategic challenges – and it's happening faster than most have anticipated.
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