NOE-Schaltechnik conrete formwork systems

NOE-Schaltechnik has used birch plywood from Metsä Wood in its concrete formwork systems for tens of years. The German formwork expert is extremely happy with the quality price ratio the strong birch plywood panels provide. Metsä Wood's birch plywood products deliver the industrial durability needed in concrete formwork systems.

NOE-Schaltechnik is known as one of the leading players in the formwork business in Germany and internationally. They "give form to concrete and keep costs under control". This has led them to a partnership with Metsä Wood dating back to the 1960s. NOE-Schaltechnik incorporates Metsä Wood Form 220 in two kinds of formwork systems, NOEtop and NOEalu L systems.

Solutions for both small and big sites

NOEtop is a heavy formwork system, which is used to construct large concrete walls for buildings in both small and big construction sites. In the formwork system, large Metsä Wood Form 220 panels are integrated with strong steel structures. Thanks to the cooperation, NOEtop provides one of the largest panels on the market, 14.05 m² in area. These XXL panels ensure that over 14 m² of concrete can be poured and erected in a single operation. Fast construction saves both time and costs on site.

The large XXL panels have been of benefit to many customers of NOE-Schaltechnik. They include Dutch Cordeel, who constructed a 65,000 m³ bulk store in Europort in Rotterdam to Emil Mayr Hoch- und Tiefbau GmbH, responsible for the concrete structure of a residential complex with 69 housing units, a basement garage and shops in Munich in less than 20 weeks. For the most part of the urban quartier, Emil Mayr used the NOE XXL panel with dimensions of 5.30 × 2.65 m.

To sum up, Metsä Wood Form 220 features in NOEalu L, a light handset formwork system for smaller construction sites, which have a limited space for construction. The system is also used for renovation purposes inside buildings.

"The Metsä Wood Form 220 panels come with a phenolic film overlay, which gives the concrete elements a smooth surface. The special logo on the film highlights the brand," says Dietmar Kieß, General Manager and Head of the Technical Department at NOE-Schaltechnik.

The durable logo film on one side of the panels also withstands abrasion and is moisture resistant.

Long-lasting birch plywood panels

NOE-Schaltechnik's customers are able to use their formwork systems again and again. After it has been used on a piece of wall, the formwork system is cleaned for reuse. Dietmar Kieß praises the lightness and industrial durability of the birch plywood.

"Metsä Wood's birch plywood is perfect: it is a very strong and rigid material, which lasts for a long time. The longer our clients can use the birch plywood panels, the more cost-efficient is the solution. Along with our customers, we value the quality-price ratio," says Kieß.

Metsä Wood's birch plywood is perfect: it is a very strong and rigid material

Dietmar Kieß, NOE-Schaltechnik

The wood raw material for Metsä Wood birch plywood is sourced from sustainably managed PEFC-certified forests. They belong to Metsä Group's Finnish forest owner members, who are continuing a family tradition. During growth, the forest is managed with thinning and intermediate felling. Final harvesting is by no means an end, but the starting point for a new forest. The unique Finnish Forestry Act dating back to 1886 obliges the owner to renew the forest, and each felled tree is replaced with four seedlings in the forest.

To sum up, forestry is involved in the natural circulation of carbon. Sustainably managed forests act as carbon sinks and so do the end products.

Main producer of birch plywood

Metsä Wood has been the main producer of birch plywood for NOE-Schaltechnik's NOEtop and NOEalu L formwork systems for over 50 years. Kieß says that the partnership is great in all ways; the products are of top-quality and it is easy to cooperate with Metsä Wood people.

"Metsä Wood has been main our supplier for a long time and this will continue," says Kieß.

NOE-Schaltechnik's customer Dutch Cordeel constructed a 65,000 m³ bulk store in Europort in Rotterdam. Metsä Wood Form 220 played an important part in the formwork system.