Greater efficiency by drawing materials, people and information together

Milling unit in a Hundegger joinery machine

Looking back at the workshop "Industrial Production" (DP1) at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne(EPFL) on 6 April 2016.

​Timber construction aims to develop innovative and sustainable processes while minimising unproductive activities. Experts met at the workshop in Lausanne to discuss the challenges and outline promising developments.

The event at EPFL was organised by NRP 66 and S-WIN with support from timber construction expert Thomas Rohner (Bern University of Applied Sciences). It featured eight presentations on subjects such as production processes, free forms and cooperative planning, as well as a site visit of the laboratory for timber construction (IBOIS). Around 30 people (mainly timber construction entrepreneurs, planners, public officials and researchers) took part in the event. Following the presentations, they debated the strengths and weaknesses of timber construction in Switzerland, possible ways of increasing efficiency and optimal framework conditions. They propose drawing materials, people and information closer together while taking account of construction traditions and technology. They also recommend optimising the entire value chain, particularly by industrialising timber construction.