Case Study: H20 Timber Beam Formwork Cut Slab Cycle Time by 30% on 320-Unit Modular Housing Project

01. The Challenge

A modular housing developer in Sweden was building a 320-unit prefabricated residential project—one of the largest in the region this year. They needed a formwork solution for both factory casting and on-site module finishing that could:

• Reduce formwork cycle time — tight project schedule required faster slab pours

• Minimize transport weight — heavy components add cost when moving prefabricated modules from factory to site

• Simplify crew training — labor shortages meant limited skilled carpenters

Traditional steel beams were too heavy and required specialized handling equipment—unsuitable for the project's fast-paced modular workflow.

02. The Solution: H20 Timber Beam System

The team deployed H20 timber beams—engineered wood I-beams with a nominal depth of 200mm and flange width of approximately 80mm, weighing only 4.7–5.5 kg per meter.

Key advantages on site:

• Lightweight handling — one worker can carry and position each beam without crane assistance

• Fast alignment — module alignment adjustments completed in minutes, not hours

• Predictable load performance — stable support for concrete pours in tight module spaces

• Simple nailing connections — minimal training required for factory and site crews

03. Measured Results

Outcome: The project accelerated its overall assembly schedule by nearly two weeks. The beams' lightweight construction also minimized transport stress on prefabricated modules moving from factory to site, and crews with minimal training could handle setup without delays.

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