TECHNOLOGY FOCUS
Buildings and Construction
A roundup of recent advances in engineering technology. In this issue, a look at some of the latest innovations and advances in building and construction technology.
CARBON-ABSORBING INSULATION
After emerging from Chapter 11 restructuring over the summer, TimberHP announced in September that it has started producing TimberBoard—a rigid wood-fiber insulation panel designed for continuous exterior use—at its Madison, Maine, facility. This marks the first time this kind of wood fiber continuous insulation has been made and sold in the United States.
By using residual softwood chips from local forestry operations, this board transforms buildings into long-term carbon sinks. The material also functions as both insulation and vapor-open sheathing, allowing assemblies to handle moisture naturally rather than trapping it behind impermeable materials.
Since TimberBoard is a first-of-its-kind product in North America, testing and certification phase with the International Code Council (ICC) is underway.
The product ranges from about one inch thick up to nine inches and delivers compressive strength suitable for above-grade wall, roof and floor applications.
Photo: TimberHP
ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT
In April, Volvo Construction Equipment introduced two new battery-electric machines for the North American market in a weight class that has long relied on diesel: a mid-size excavator and a mid-size wheel loader.
These are the first medium-sized machines in the company’s electric lineup, which also includes three mini excavators, two compact wheel loaders, and an asphalt compactor.
“Electric construction equipment is still in its early stages of adoption, and the changes are coming fast as we move into new product types and size classes,” said Ray Gallant, vice president of sustainability and productivity services at Volvo CE, in a press statement. “The EC230 and L120 electric models give our customers options for applications that require larger machines while delivering the benefits of zero emissions, reduced noise, and less machine maintenance.”
The EC230 electric excavator has a runtime of seven to eight hours per charge thanks to a 600-volt lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 450 kWh. It also features an intelligent electro-hydraulic system that allows for smoother, more precise movements of the boom, bucket, and other attachments. Volvo’s EC230 electric is now available for order.
The L120 electric wheel loader is a 22-ton machine with six-ton lifting capacity. Its 282-kWh lithium-ion battery system can run for five to nine hours on a single charge. Since the L120 electric is in pilot testing, ordering should open in late 2025 with early 2026 deliveries.
Photo: Volvo Construction Equipment
GLAZING INNOVATIONS
Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope, Inc., recently launched two advanced thermal storefront systems: the Series 3000 XT and 6000 XT (pictured right). These solutions feature thin triple insulating glass units (IGUs) that provide up to 25 percent better thermal performance than traditional double-glazed storefront systems and deliver U-factors as low as 0.20.
Engineered to meet IECC Climate Zones three through eight, these high-performance versions of OBE’s existing storefront systems feature dual pour and debridge thermal break, providing optimal thermal performance and condensation resistance.
The company also announced the launch of thin triple IGUs for select curtain wall systems, including its Reliance Cassette, Reliance-TC, and Reliance-TC LT lines.
“Achieving triple-pane performance in the same frame size as a double-glazed system demonstrates the innovation driving today’s high-performance facades,” said Julie Schessler, Oldcastle’s product manager, in a press statement. “While traditional triple glazing can be heavier, more difficult to install, and require deeper framing systems, our thin triple glass solution delivers industry-leading efficiency with the same familiar installation methods.”
The company’s triple glass glazing systems require the same fabrication and installation methods as its double-glazed systems.
Photo: Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope, Inc.
RAMMED EARTH
A team of researchers at RMIT University in Australia have developed a reusable and recyclable building material that eliminates the need for cement—at one-quarter the carbon footprint at less than one-third of the cost, when compared to concrete.
Called cardboard-confined rammed earth, the material is made of just three ingredients: cardboard, water, and soil. Recycled cardboard tubes are filled with compacted soil, such that the cardboard acts as permanent formwork while the compressed soil provides mass and strength. The material draws its mechanical strength varies based on the thickness of the cardboard tubes.
“By simply using cardboard, soil, and water, we can make walls robust enough to support low-rise buildings,” said Jiaming Ma in a press statement. Ma is a professor at RMIT and lead author on the team’s recently published paper, “CFRP-confined rammed earth towards high-performance earth construction.”
“We’ve created a way to figure out how the thickness of the cardboard affects the strength of the rammed earth, allowing us to measure strength based on cardboard thickness,” Ma said.
Photo: RMIT University
© 2025 The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. All rights reserved.