Minda Builds French Manufacturer Arbonis Fully Automated Glulam Line

Minda and one of France’s leading timber construction companies are currently carrying out an extraordinary project: For Arbonis, a VINCI Group company, a fully automated production line is being built in Chemillé-en-Anjou to manufacture straight glued laminated timber and large-format curved beams.

For more than 40 years, Arbonis has been a recognized market leader in timber construction, supporting construction projects from planning to completion. With its own planning and engineering offices and three production sites, the company develops sophisticated timber construction solutions for a wide variety of applications.

The first contact between Arbonis and Minda took place in 2024. The goal was to find a partner to build a fully automated production line capable of economically producing both straight GLT and curved architectural beams. The aim was to create a future-proof solution with minimal operational effort.

Working closely with Arbonis, Minda developed a plant layout for integrated production. From the feeding of the boards to the finished beams, the entire material flow is fully automated. The operator is primarily responsible for monitoring tasks, while all production steps are linked together.

The facility uses the latest generation DUOZINK 12 finger-jointing machine. The line is complemented by a newly developed block storage system with fully automatic destacking. A hydraulic TimberPress V 220 flex is used to manufacture straight GLT up to 60 ft. in length. The pressing force is applied from above, ensuring a uniform, high-quality bond. A downstream finishing planer then performs the necessary planing for standard beams and block-glued beams.

One focus of the project is the production of curved structural beams. In collaboration with Arbonis, Minda developed the new TimberPress C 500 flex. This machine enables the cost-effective production of curved glulam beams up to 147 ft. in length.

The pressing concept differs significantly from conventional methods: The packages to be pressed—consisting of up to two beams—are loaded into the press bed by crane. The press automatically shapes the press package before the tie rods are tightened. Afterward, the shaped press package is placed next to the press, where it can cure, creating a continuous and flexible production flow throughout the shift.

The entire manufacturing process is controlled by Minda’s intuitive FlowMate user interface which supports employees through every step of the process and provides a transparent overview of the entire production process. 

Installation at Arbonis is currently ongoing. Production is scheduled to begin in early 2027. This project will not only create new production capacity for the French market but also deliver innovative solutions to drive the sustainable advancement of glued laminated timber manufacturing.