Innovation in wood for hydraulic engineering

Van Swaay Sustainable Timber is a name that has been associated with Dutch hydraulic engineering since 1891. What began with bollards and timber for dike reinforcements has grown over four generations into a company offering total solutions for ground, road and hydraulic engineering. With innovation and sustainability as common threads, says director Tessa van Swaay.

“We not only supply construction timber, but we like to think along with the design and always look at the right timber application and detailing. In this way, together with the client, we ensure the lowest total cost of ownership as well as a longer lifespan for our products,” says Van Swaay, who runs the family business with her sister, brother and a team of specialists.

The company developed sheet pile walls and bulkheads that last more than sixty years. After the useful life, the components can be reused, for example as sheet metal or furniture, allowing the same raw material to last another sixty years. “In fact, we get a 120-year lifespan out of wood this way. That is unique.”

Combo products

An important innovation that Van Swaay is fully committed to is the so-called combination products. This involves gluing sustainable Accoya wood on top of softwood from the Netherlands. The result is a sheet pile or combi-shot that not only supports sustainable forest management but also meets the high requirements of clients in the civil engineering sector.

“The great thing is that by doing so, we no longer rely on plastic and give a circular advantage to hydraulic structures. We use local fast-growing softwood and add a high-quality top layer. That makes a huge difference in CO2 emissions and makes our products future-proof.”

The innovations are tested and certified by Wood Research Foundation and Wood Inspection Bureau Foundation, among others. Collaborations with TU Delft and TNO also provide scientific support. Sustainability also plays a role in its own production: rainwater is collected and reused in the preservation process, according to Van Swaay.

With branches in Schijndel and Harlingen, the family business is close to the market. In Friesland, where many water construction projects take place, the company has its own woodworking and planing mill. Prefab solutions are gaining popularity there. “Contractors and clients increasingly want ready-made elements instead of loose boards. That saves assembly time and prevents failure costs.”

For Tessa van Swaay, wood is far from a boring product. “If you apply it properly and manage it responsibly, it is a versatile and innovative material that will last for generations. That's exactly what the GWW sector needs right now.”