Designed by New Zealand engineered structural timber specialists, Prolam, and manufactured at the company’s state-of-the-art production facility in Nelson, the PLX Portal System represents home-grown innovation at its best.

The design trifecta

The beauty of the PLX Portal System lies in its built-in strength, eco-credentials and design flexibility.

The PLX Portal is constructed from three glulaminated timber elements, including Prolam’s trademarked PLX20 Beam, precision engineered from layers of quality radiata pine reinforced with steel for increased load bearing capacity.

The timber elements are made from timber sourced from renewable and sustainably managed New Zealand plantations using 14 times less energy than their steel equivalents.

The reinforced beam offers excellent spanning capability to deliver optimal design flexibility for architectural features ranging from large internal openings to garage and window portals or anywhere extra bracing is required.

Fast, safe and efficient installation

A commitment to designing smart solutions which simplify construction has been front and centre in Prolam’s development of the PLX Portal System.

Answering the industry’s call for a cost-effective and time-saving timber bracing option that replaces the hassle of steel, the portal’s lightweight construction and straightforward bracing system facilitates easy onsite assembly and installation.

Up to 40% lighter than their steel equivalents, the timber lintel and legs can be cut to length onsite to suit a project’s specifications, assembled using standard tools, and installed and fixed without the need for specialised skills, extra labour or equipment.

Performance tested by industry experts

The PLX Portal System has been rigorously tested to New Zealand building standards.

Prior to its release to market, the PLX Portal System has been independently tested by Scion to provide a structural bracing solution for buildings within the scope of NZS3604, and proven to resist wind and earthquake loads using the P21 BRANZ test methodology.

Specify with confidence

The Prolam Specifier online tool assists architects to design structural timber elements to exceed the span and loaded dimension requirements of NZS3604 and generate a PS1 for council compliance.

The PLX Portal System will be available on the Prolam Specifier soon. Get in touch with the Prolam team to find out more about this breakthrough glulam portal and discuss your project requirements.