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SWISS KRONO OSB/3

SWISS KRONO OSB/3 IS A TRADE NAME OF OSB BOARDS MANUFACTURED BY SWISS KRONO LTD, ŻARY

SWISS KRONO OSB/3 stands for Oriented Strand Board. It is a wood-based product in the form of a flat-pressed three-layer board consisting of rectangular flat strands which, under the influence of high pressure and temperature, with the use of synthetic resin as a binding agent, are pressed down to form a board by the hot rolling method. Kronopol OSB/3 is the first wood-based board developed specifically for the construction industry.

SWISS KRONO OSB/3 history

The origins of wood-based materials go back to the 1940s when the chipboard production technology was developed. Armin Elmendorf is regarded as a pioneer of the new technology.

1960s saw the development and production of a wood-derived board called waferboard. The product was made of compressed pieces of wood, measuring 25 x 45 mm, arranged in different directions. The board was continuously improved until the 1980s, while 1981 saw the launch of the SWISS KRONO OSB/3.

The invention of the wood-based board made it possible to use young, low trees in the production process. Wood-based boards manufactured on the industrial scale could achieve the desired dimensions, thickness and resistance regardless of the size of the input product (i.e. a tree).

SWISS KRONO OSB/3 manufacturing process

SWISS KRONO OSB/3 contains over 90% of wood. It is made from specially selected tree trunks, so-called pine cut logs, obtained primarily from woodland maintenance cutting. Wood is barked and cut into flat rectangular flakes with predetermined dimensions: a length of 100 mm, a thickness of 0.6 mm and variable width, depending on the trunk portion they are made from Strands in Kronopol OSB/3 run in parallel lines along the board length in external layers and perpendicularly in internal layers. High technical parameters of SWISS KRONO OSB/3 are due to maintaining the fibrous nature of wood, levelling flat strands in layers and interweaving of long strands. High resistance to adverse weather conditions is achieved by spraying the strands with a special glue system and paraffin emulsion.

SWISS KRONO OSB/3 is free from any humps, cracks or other internal defects, while both surfaces demonstrate the same quality. Thanks to advanced manufacturing technology, SWISS KRONO OSB/3 reaches comparable parameters with those of plywood, while being significantly cheaper. Easy in machining and processing, the board causes less tool wear, while its high strength ensures there are no problems with fastening construction anchors. SWISS KRONO OSB/3 is distinct for its stability of shape, very good resistance to weather conditions, good sound insulation, easy workability and processability. The micro-structure consisting of interpenetrated strands prevents edges from breaking off also in the case of edge connection with nails. It also ensures high rigidity, bending and shear resistance (important properties in framework building).

Board types

  • SWISS KRONO OSB/1 - universal board with no load transfer, suitable for interior applications in dry conditions.
  • SWISS KRONO OSB/2 - board with load transfer properties, suitable for applications in dry conditions.
  • SWISS KRONO OSB/3 - board with load transfer properties, suitable for  1-2 usage class according to PN-EN 13986 applications in moderate humidity conditions.

Depending on the edge finish, three types of boards can be distinguished:

  • board with square edges,
  • board with tongue-and-groove moulded edges along four sides.

Applications

Due to their high resistance to air moisture, low absorbability and swelling, SWISS KRONO OSB/3 are especially suitable for the construction of buildings in the framework technology. They have appropriate strength parameters ensuring the required rigidity and strength of the building structure.

SWISS KRONO OSB/3 is the wood-based material of the future. High quality, environmental friendliness both in production and use, coupled with universal applications, are the most important benefits of SWISS KRONO OSB/3.

SWISS KRONO OSB/3 structural board is perfectly suited for:

  • roof sheathing,
  • external and internal walls,
  • floors and roofs,
  • I-beams.

SWISS KRONO OSB/3 board types can also be used for:

  • roofing applications under bituminous roof tiles or other roof sheathing types instead of conventional boarding,
  • repairs and adaptations,
  • construction of stairs, landings and catwalks
  • shuttering concrete platforms or outdoor stairs,
  • temporary fencing of construction sites,
  • closing building openings such as doors and windows,
  • construction of transport cases and pallets,
  • construction of racks, stands exhibition displays,
  • furniture shelves, store counters, table tops, internal windowsills,
  • reinforcing elements in upholstered furniture,
  • construction of walls in chalets, cabins and mobile container houses,
  • structural interior elements in ships and railway cars.

Quality

Any SWISS KRONO product has to meet very rigorous requirements in order to satisfy customer expectations. At every production stage the product undergoes strict quality control procedures focused on:

  • type of wood, selection of trunks (incl. diameter and moisture content),
  • strand shape and moisture content after drying,
  • compression temperature and pressure,
  • board density,
  • swelling across the thickness,
  • tensile strength according to the V-100 test,
  • tear resistance,
  • modulus of elasticity,
  • moisture content,
  • format of the finished board (thickness, appearance, edges).

Finished boards are regularly tested according to special control procedures and standardised tests.

Why OSB?

Because it is a wood-based board type with versatile applications and an excellent alternative to wood boards, plywood and traditional chipboard. It is available in a wide range of sizes and thicknesses. An important reason for picking OSB is its very low adhesive content, which classifies SWISS KRONO OSB/3 for the hygiene class E 1.

SWISS KRONO OSB/3 is available not only in the straight-edge version for universal applications, but also in upgraded options for special uses, e.g.:

  • as board with tongue-and-groove moulded edges along all sides or only along longer edges; for application in the construction of roofs and floors;

SWISS KRONO OSB/3 is also a revolutionary step ahead in wooden building applications. Houses built by the framework technology based on SWISS KRONO OSB/3 are:

  • environmentally-friendly,
  • energy-efficient,
  • lasting for many generations,
  • quick to construct.

Short construction process does not mean that houses are of inferior value – quite the opposite. Thanks to SWISS KRONO OSB/3 advantages, single- and multi-family framework buildings are constructed faster and thus cheaper. Erected with precision, they can last for dozens of years. What is more, the houses can be easily and economically heated. The overall heat transfer coefficient for a wall made in the framework system depends on the type and thickness of the insulating material. SWISS KRONO OSB/3 ensures healthy, user- and environment-friendly houses.

Things to remember

Before using SWISS KRONO OSB/3, you should take into account the following factors:

  • directional strength properties of the board. They are different for the main and lateral axes of the board. Only the main axis should be subjected to bending stress in building structures. The carrying axis is easily recognisable by the longitudinally oriented strands visible on the board surface. The lateral carrying axis has the strength comparable to that of standard chipboard.
  • The strength and resistance of the board along the main carrying axis is 2.5 times greater than the strength and resistance along the lateral carrying axis.