Innovation in connecting timber structures: the X-fix system presented at BAU München 2025

Amid the hustle and bustle of the BAU München 2025X-fix's stand at the X-fix booth attracted the attention of wood industry specialists with a demonstration that was as simple as it was convincing. Markus Schilcher, the company's CEO, showed precisely how two massive CLT panels were perfectly joined together in seconds, without any screws, using only a wooden connector and a hammer.

"We make connectors for CLT panels, for CLT houses, these kind of double dovetail connectors," Schilcher explained, showing the audience a connector made from birch plywood. "They replace the screws, completely eliminating metal from the connection."

A practical solution to a real challenge

On construction sites, installing CLT panels often involves a specific technical challenge, which Schilcher described during the demonstration:

"If you have large sheets of CLT ceilings, one CLT slab sits fixed on the job site and the crane lifts the other one close to it. Then there is always a gap between them. You normally use wrenches to pull the CLT sheets together."

This is where the practical advantage of the X-fix connector comes in, as it simultaneously functions as a tool and a joining element. The process is remarkably efficient:

"With our X-fix connector, you insert it, the second piece falls in, stays partially out, and then you start tapping the connection until the second part of the connector comes flush with the surface," Schilcher demonstrated to the visitors. "And what happens? See, it creates a connecting force that pulls these pieces together."

Impressive technical performance

Beyond simplicity of use, X-fix connectors offer outstanding technical performance. The standard 90 mm model can withstand approximately 28 kilonewtons in shear and tensile force, replacing up to 16 bolts.

"You've seen how fast it is and you can imagine how many screws you need and how long it takes to insert those screws," Schilcher emphasized, highlighting the significant time savings the system brings.

A range tailored for different applications

As visitors examined the samples on display at the stand, Schilcher showcased the full range of X-fix connectors, each tailored to specific requirements:

• X-fix 90 mm: Ideal for CLT panels from 120 mm thickness
• X-fix 65 mmFor interior walls from 100 mm
• X-fix 45 mm: For CLT panel structures from 60 mm upwards
• X-fix Goliath (130 mm)For connecting very robust CLT panels
• X-fix Mini (33 mm): For lightweight structures

Pointing to the layouts on display, Schilcher shared a notable accomplishment, "We have projects done with Kerto, BauBuche 28 meters long, and just a 40 mm Kerto on top as a ceiling, connected with about a thousand X-fix mini connectors only 33 mm long."

The mention sparked interest among the specialists present, illustrating the current trend in the industry: "It's going in the direction not of the full CLT, but of smaller, lighter, easier to build structures with less material and lower costs."

Innovative projects realized with X-fix

In a separate discussion, Schilcher revealed some of the flagship projects realized with the X-fix connector, demonstrating the versatility and impact of this technology in contemporary architecture.

An outstanding example is the collaboration with the University of Kaiserslautern, which has created an impressive 'dome of recycled wood' at the entrance to their new campus dedicated to timber construction. The shell-like structure was ingeniously constructed from scrap wood left over from cutting out door and window openings - materials that would normally be considered waste.

"The University of Kaiserslautern built, as the entrance to their new timber construction campus, this recycled wood dome, as they call it, made out of small pieces. And they have about 600 X-fix connectors connecting this shell-like structure," Schilcher explained.

Another landmark project is an office building in Oslo, Norway, which has received the Norwegian construction industry's sustainability award. Designed by architects from "Oslotre"At the request of Oslo City Council, this building has a special feature: it is completely demountable.

"The architects chose to use our X-fix connectors because they know that after 60 years the building will have to be disassembled. And if you have a lot of screws in a wooden building like that, it's going to be quite hard to do that. But it's very easy to take our X-fix connectors out of the wood and get a clean joint, so disassembly becomes very, very simple," Schilcher emphasized.

Reducing construction time

Time savings are another major benefit of the X-fix system. Referring to a multi-purpose gymnasium project, Schilcher noted, "The builder said they saved 80% of construction time using our connectors."

This efficiency means that the X-fix system is being adopted in more and more projects: "This would be one of the main applications where our connectors are used. So there are thousands of buildings all over Europe, even in the United States, connected with our system."

News from BAU Munich

Among the innovations on show at the fair was the X-fix Medium connector, designed to provide a more economical solution for lower-load joints.

"The newest in our series is the X-fix Medium connector, which is intended for connecting CLTs like we've seen, where you don't have heavy loads, but it's easier to mill and smaller," Schilcher explained. "So the milling is faster. You have less material. So the connection is more cost-effective that way."

Versatility for complex projects

On display around the stand were various samples illustrating the versatility of the X-fix system in combining different wood-based materials:

"What we do is try to combine different materials starting from the CLT connection. We've noticed a lot of customers are using BauBuche or triplex structures like this, or even OSB fiberboard," Schilcher explained, pointing to various samples. "The combination most often comes from the customers, their needs, their questions, and we try to offer solutions for different customers with different materials."

A particularly interesting sample caught the visitors' attention: "We have an example where you can see the combination of different types, CLT with this Magnumboard structure from Swiss Krono, a combination of laminated timber and CLT."

Temporary structures and architectural installations

Schilcher also mentioned a spectacular project in the city of Augsburg: a temporary pavilion in the form of a serpentine structure, designed by a Dutch architect for the 500th anniversary of the city's social housing program.

"In Augsburg's Central Market Square they made a pavilion for the 500th anniversary of what they call social housing, built 500 years ago. It's a rising snake-like structure designed by a Dutch architect," Schilcher reported. "The German company that built it used our visible X-fix connectors. This structure was dismantled two months after the festival ended."

This example perfectly illustrates another major advantage of the X-fix system: the ability to create temporary structures that can then be disassembled and reused - a key aspect for sustainability in architecture and construction.

The X-fix Connector, with its ingenious design inspired by traditional joinery techniques but adapted for modern construction, is a perfect example of innovation that respects the nature of wood while simplifying construction processes and improving the performance of wooden structures.