As timber construction evolved from floors to complete structural systems, we faced a new challenge: how do you connect a CLT wall to a concrete foundation with the same confidence and efficiency as precast concrete walls? The connection needed to handle tolerances, transfer significant forces, and be quick to install on site. Traditional timber joinery wasn’t going to cut it for modern hybrid buildings.
First generation: Making it work
Our first attempt was pragmatic—we adapted what we knew. We glued a standard SUMO® Wall Shoe to LVL wall panels. It was clumsy, sure, but it worked thanks to LVL’s high strength. When we tried the same approach with CLT, though, it failed. CLT’s layered structure needed something different.
Working with SWECO, we developed the first-generation TICCO® Wall Shoe: a SUMO® box paired with a steel dowel plate. Force transfer happened through steel dowel pins drilled through the CLT layers. It was more feasible than gluing, but installation remained exhausting, and the components were heavy. We had a solution, but not yet an elegant one.
Taking stock: What we learned
The right moment to pause and reflect. Our first-generation TICCO® was being used in real projects, and we listened carefully to what installers and engineers told us. The connections were structurally sound, but the installation process was labor-intensive. The weight made handling difficult. And we realized we were still thinking like the concrete industry—trying to adapt concrete solutions to timber rather than designing specifically for timber’s unique properties.
We needed research. We needed to understand CLT behavior under load, optimize screw patterns, and rethink the entire system from the timber out, not from the concrete in.
Second generation: A timber-first solution
Today, we’re introducing the second-generation TICCO® 10 Wall Shoe—and it’s no longer a spin-off from concrete construction. It’s a purpose-built solution for timber hybrid buildings.
What’s changed:
- Lighter and easier to handle – Refined design reduces weight without compromising strength
- Faster installation – Rapid self-tapping screws and simplified assembly save significant site time
- True versatility – Connects CLT panels vertically (wall-to-foundation) and horizontally (wall-to-wall)
- One model fits most – A single TICCO® 10 model meets typical requirements for CLT wall connections
- Hidden and elegant – Plates recess into the timber and disappear behind fire-resistant finishes
The connection uses steel TICCO® plates secured with rapid full-thread screws driven at an angle to maximize strength across CLT layers. HPM® Rebar Anchor Bolts handle the foundation connection, while M-thread glued-in rods enable wall-to-wall connections. For opposing walls, two TICCO® Wall Shoes can connect directly to each other.
Why this matters
TICCO® 10 is one step ahead of a regular product refinement—we’ve moved from adapting concrete solutions to creating connections designed specifically for timber’s structural logic. The result is a standardized connection with precalculated resistance that installs quickly, performs reliably, and can even be disassembled if needed.
