With our expert team and through the production and assembly of the CLT structure, we participated in the execution of one of the most important earthquake tests in Europe. The test took place at the Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology (IZIIS) in Skopje, North Macedonia, within the framework of the ERIES-TRUST project, funded by the European Commission.
The aim of the project was the first large-scale validation of an innovative construction concept resistant to earthquake damage. This is a pioneering approach that combines self-centering structural rocking with additional inertia, enabling effective control of displacements and accelerations during earthquakes. This opens the way to a new generation of resilient timber structures that can avoid damage even during the strongest seismic events.
The project is led by Imperial College London, with the consortium including renowned institutions such as the Fraunhofer Institute (Germany), Eurotec (Germany), the University of Granada (Spain), and InnoRenew (Slovenia). Testing was carried out on the largest shaking table in the region, where three different configurations of a large-span, three-storey timber building were tested.
At Stilles, we provided the production of CLT elements and carried out the assembly of the structure on site in Skopje. Representatives of our company were also present during the test, including President of the Management Board Rok Barbič, confirming our strategic commitment to the development of advanced, sustainable, and earthquake-resistant timber structures.
The tests were conducted under MCE (Maximum Credible Earthquake) conditions, simulating the strongest earthquakes that can be expected. The results demonstrated exceptional structural resilience and confirmed the effectiveness of the innovative concept that combines timber construction with advanced seismic technologies.
Through this project, we are strengthening our position among leading companies in the field of sustainable construction and demonstrating that Slovenian expertise and innovation rank among the very top of European and global construction industries.