AREA XL takes centre stage at the official opening of the first Russian CLT panels production plant

11 Mar 2021

The spotlights shine on Sokol-Segezha Group, the first large-scale industrial production plant of CLT panels in Russia, and SCM is a technological partner of this pioneering project.

The new plant of the company, specialising in the production of modern house-building materials, was launched in Sokol, in the Vologda region, and it also includes AREA XL, the new 5-axis CNC machining centre designed and manufactured by SCM for the industrial production of large format CLT panels.

The new giant for the wood construction industry, integrated in the production line, drew visitors’ attention to its great potentialities. Indeed, it allows to produce construction elements for wooden buildings from glued panels, cutting windows and doors, making holes for outlets and wiring. As a result, all that remains is to assemble the finished house, which significantly speeds up construction time.

High productivity, power and precision are the main advantages of this new CNC machining centre. It was designed taking into consideration some specific requirements in the processing of large format CLT panels, such as process automation in the work piece handling and referencing phases, heavy duty stock removal, as well as cleaning and safety of the work area.

Sokol Woodworking Plant (S-DOK) is the largest one in the European part of Russia. It has been a part of the group of companies since September 2014. In the late 80s S-DOK was the first in the country to master the production technology of glued beams and house-kits from it. Currently it is the Russian leader in the production of glued structural beams. S-DOK ranks first in Russia for the production of house-kits made of laminated veneer lumber. Its capacity is about 90 000 m³. Now Sokol SLT and Sokol Woodworking Plant will be able to join forces for a whole range of complex orders.
While some of Sokol CLT's products are already reserved for foreign partners, Segezha Group plans to actively develop the Russian domestic market. So, next year, together with Etalon Group (also part of AFK Sistema), the company plans to start building Russia's first multi-storey building using CLT panels in Moscow.

Last 25 February, the official inauguration of the plant was also attended by Yuri Vorobiev, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Oleg Kuvshinnikov, Governor of the Vologda Region, and Nikolai Shmatkov, Director of FSC Russia.
Viktor Evtukhov, State Secretary, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, also joined the opening ceremony in the online format.

Watch the video reportage realized by RBK TV.