“We have always wished to build houses using technologies of the 21st century. For Russia, a country with a third of all timber reserves on the planet, implementing leading-edge technologies is not only a step forward but also a solution of a politically significant task comprising the export not of raw materials but of readymade product.” Vladimir Ivanov, General Director of the Sodruzhestvo Group of Companies.
The Sodruzhestvo Group of Companies is a multi-industry construction holding comprising12 enterprises, three of which are engaged in high-level timber processing:
• Novgorod Timber Company Sodruzhestvo –production of bolt timber according
to European standards.
• ZSSK Sodruzhestvo – joinery structures factory: doors, stairways and windows.
• HAUS-KONZEP T Sodruzhestvo – industrial production of pre-fabricated
cottage, houses from glulam and long-span glued timber structures.
The enterprises are fitted out with modern high- technology equipment from the German Homag and Weinig groups, which provides for the maximum automation of all manufacturing processes. Constant improvement of technological processes for production and quality control, along with organized trainings abroad, are the factors that secure the consistently high quality of the manufactured products and the consumers’ positive attitude. HAUS-KONZEP T Sodruzhestvo currently produces:
• pre-fabricated bearing-wall frame houses: 100,000 m2 per year
• glulam houses: 25,000 m2 per year
• long-span glue-laminated bearing beams: 40,000 m3 per year.
The HAUS-KONZEP T Sodruzhestvo factory with a floor space of over 20,000 m2 is situated in Kolpino, a suburb of St. Petersburg. The manufacturing processes have an environmental focus and are considered to be ecologically clean and fully non-waste. The enterprize continues pursuing the policy of implementing up-to-date low impact manufacturing technologies, allowing advanced processing of timber for home market consumption and for the export of finished products. This is in line with the general course of the Government of the Russian Federation, directed at attaining the maximum possible level of timber processing on Russian territory.
In March 2007 HAUS-KONZEPT SODRUZHESTVO started up the largest production of long-span laminated beams (LB) in Russia. The factory’s equipment allows the manufacture of long-span laminated beams of virtually any size and shape – arch girders, beams and frameworks – any single product being up to 30 meters and with the maximum cross-section of 250 x 2000 mm (Fig. 1) can be produced. In accordance with the project, long-span glued timber structures with the span of up to 150 meters are assembled immediately on the construction site.
Long-span laminated beams (LB) possess enhanced bearing capacity with low unit weight, as well as high durability, chemical and fire endurance and unrivalled aesthetic and ecological characteristics. Reliability, highly aesthetic looks and cost effectiveness of construction are additional benefits using modern construction technology from Sodruzhestvo. Implementing adhesives from Casco Adhesives approved for the production of load-bearing structures by the leading European institutes– Otto-Graf-Institut (MPA) in Germany, NTI in Norway, SKH/KOMO in the Netherlands and certified in Russia in the GOST R certification system – secures the quality of glue joints and structures on their basis produced by the HAUS-KONZEPT SODRUZHESTVO factory.’
Close co-operation between specialists at the companies Casco Adhesives and Sodruzhestvo ensured the rapid development and implementation of the advanced technologies of production for long-span structures. The latest generation of adhesives systems and glue application equipment are used. This has become one of the factors in the choice of enterprize for the production of long-span timber structures for the dome section of the water park building in St. Petersburg’s 300 Year Anniversary Park with the diameter of 90 meters, meridional ribs with chord 60 meters (Fig. 2).
The quality control system is an integral part of the technological process at the HAUSKONZEPT SODRUZHESTVO factory. The laboratory is equipped with modern testing equipment which enables regular control of factors as glued joints’ strength, material humidity etc.
The HAUS-KONZEP T SODRUZHESTVO factory was the first in the region to start industrial production of pre-fabricated bearing-wall frame houses, in 2004. These are environmentally friendly, warm and cost-efficient cottages for permanent residence which are essentially new for Russian European-quality housing.
A ready-made house-set is delivered to the construction site making it possible to assemble the house on a pre-prepared foundation within one day. Interior finishing works can be started right away. The company provides a full construction cycle: designing, manufacturing, assembling and finishing, affording the customer a house ready for moving in. The company’s architect’s bureau has developed over 50 standard house designs while constantly increasing the model line and at the same time being able to fulfil any individual order.
The factory’s products can be efficiently used for the implementation of national Russian projects such as ”Development of Agro Industrial Complex”, ”Affordable and Comfortable Housing for Russian Citizens”, and ”Zdorovye” (Health). Among the projects of the HAUSKONZEPT SODRUZHESTVO factory are the following own projects: cottage housing developments ”Zelyoniye Kholmy” (Green Hills) and ”Serebyanyi Bor” (Silver Pine Wood). The factory also fulfils Government orders (boarding school in Repino, canteens for nursery schools) and builds individual houses.
Figures 3-5 show some of the HAUSKONZEPT SODRUZHESTVO projects, where you can see long-span glued timber structures. In the near future the factory is planning to participate in the construction of large projects such as an indoor tennis complex in Ozerki (span 43 meters, area 2,000 m2) and a swimming pool (span 24 meters, area 820 m2). One should specially note the participation in projects related to the ”Gazprom – For Children” program, realizing the construction of a number of sports complexes in the north-west region of Russia. ■