The Prolam PLX range of engineered timber beams and bracing solutions is proving its strength in building design and construction. 

At Prolam, our goal has always been to support architects, engineers, and builders with smarter, high-performance engineered timber solutions. That’s why we developed the PLX range. Three products - the PLX20 Beam, the PLX Portal, and the PLX Column - designed to deliver strength, efficiency, and sustainability across a wide range of building applications.

Created to meet structural timber design goals, the PLX range enables bigger spans, supports wider openings, and simplifies construction – all while contributing to low-carbon, energy-efficient buildings. 

Each product is designed to provide:

• Architects more freedom to design open, light-filled interiors
• Engineers confidence in structural performance
• Make installation faster and easier for builders, and
• A more sustainable alternative to steel.

The power behind the innovative PLX range

At the core of every PLX product is market-leading hybrid glulam-steel engineering. A flat steel bar is inserted into the timber laminates, to create compact, high-strength glulam members with exceptional load bearing, spanning and bracing capability.

This innovation in engineered timber was made possible through Prolam’s combination of glulam manufacturing expertise and engineering know-how, and extensive market consultation. 

Driven to meet the industry’s demand for quality New Zealand made products that support a strong and sustainable build at an affordable price, Prolam’s engineers have honed each product’s design to minimise manufacturing costs while maximising its structural integrity and ease of installation. 

This has been supported by Prolam’s experienced production team who have introduced purpose-built equipment specifically designed to cut a precise rebate for the steel to be inserted into, and control the glued lamination process – ensuring the exact volume and ratio of glue is applied.
 
The addition of ProLab in 2024, Prolam’s onsite testing facility, has further accelerated R&D – resulting in refinements and ongoing performance testing of PLX products in accordance with BRANZ21 methodology. 

This has resulted in three products with unique structural properties that support New Zealand architects, engineers and builders with new and more ways to incorporate engineered timber into homes and buildings.

PLX20 Beam: Engineered timber beams for longer spans

The PLX20 Beam — the innovation that started it all — created to meet demand for a high-strength alternative to solid timber, steel and flitch beams.

• Features: Precision engineered from New Zealand radiata pine reinforced with steel.
• Benefits: Spans further with smaller members. Up to 40% lighter than steel for faster, safer, and more cost-effective installation.  
• Applications: Floor beams, ridge beams, garage lintels, and rafters in residential and commercial buildings.
  
  

PLX Portal: Glulam bracing for large openings

The PLX Portal provides a strong, lightweight, and more sustainable alternative to steel portals.

• Features: Constructed from the PLX20 Beam and two PL12 glulam legs, with custom-designed base and knee connections. 
• Benefits: Simple to install without the need for cranes or lifting equipment, and timber-to-timber connection speeds up construction. 
• Applications: Large internal openings, garage and window portals in new builds and renovations.
  
  

PLX Column: Compact glulam bracing for open plan designs

The PLX Column provides serious bracing power in minimal wall lengths – enabling designers and builders to maximise space in layouts without sacrificing structural performance. 

• Features: Prefabricated glulam column with foundation connection delivering up to 131 bracing units in a compact 400 x 90 or 360 x 90 member.
• Benefits: Unlocks more usable space, supports open-plan designs, and installs easily with a prefabricated kitset.
• Applications: Open plan living areas, kitchens, wing walls, entryways in single or the ground floor of multi-storey buildings. 
  
  

Supporting sustainability and building efficiency

The PLX range of beams and bracing systems not only performs structurally, but also supports low-carbon, high-efficiency building design and construction:

• Reduced carbon footprint: A high timber-to-steel ratio locks in CO₂ and lowers embodied carbon.
• Thermal performance: Glulam timber members reduce heat transfer through the building envelope, improving energy efficiency and lowering heating/cooling costs.
• Sustainably made: Manufactured in Motueka from renewable New Zealand plantation timber, with processes designed to minimise waste and maximise durability.
• Construction efficiency: Lightweight, prefabricated components simplify installation and eliminate the need for cranes – saving time, cost and emissions on site.

A 2025 comparison of the total installed cost of a PLX Portal versus a steel portal by YourQS revealed that the PLX Portal delivers an 80% time saving and a 24% reduction in installed cost. 

Bring PLX Power to your next project

With local manufacturing, precision engineering, and practical design support, Prolam is your partner in high-performance timber construction.

The Prolam PLX range of engineered timber beams, portals, and columns empowers architects, engineers, and builders to deliver stronger, smarter, and more sustainable buildings.

Explore design resources:

•    PLX20 Beam Specs
•    PLX Portal Design Guide
•    PLX Column Design Guide

Contact the Prolam team for support on your next project. PLX products are available through timber merchants across New Zealand. 

FAQs about the Prolam PLX Range

What are the benefits of Prolam PLX engineered timber products?

Prolam PLX products combine the strength of glulam reinforced with steel to deliver:

• Performance – longer spans, high load capacity, and powerful bracing.
• Contemporary designs – structural support for wide openings and open plan designs.
• Ease of installation – lightweight, prefabricated, and faster to install.
• Cost savings – reduced total installed cost compared with steel.
• Sustainability – locally made from renewable timber with verified EPDs.
• Efficiency – timber reduces thermal bridging for healthier, more efficient buildings.

The PLX20 Beam, PLX Portal and PLX Column are suitable for use in both residential and commercial building design and construction. 

What is the difference between a PLX20 Beam and a flitch beam?

Central to its innovative nature, and pivotal to its effectiveness as a structural timber solution is the Prolam PLX20 Beam’s ‘hybrid’ design which comprises a flat steel bar ‘glued’ into the top and bottom timber laminates using high performance adhesive. A flitch beam is a steel plate with timber nailed to each side.
 
Flitch beams are heavy and prone to nail failures which compromises structural integrity. In contrast, the prefabricated PLX20 Beam delivers superior strength, lighter handling, and dimensional stability.

Why use glulam portals instead of steel?

The PLX Portal is a hybrid glulam-steel bracing system designed to replace the hassle of steel portals with a smarter, more sustainable solution. 

At around 40% lighter than steel, it’s easier to handle and faster to install – with no cranes and specialised trades. Delivered as a prefabricated kitset, complete with foot plates and foundation connections, it saves valuable time and costs on-site. See the total installed cost comparison. 

Beyond efficiency, the PLX Portal is also a more sustainable choice. Its high timber-to-steel ratio greatly reduces thermal bridging and improves energy performance, while an Environmental Product Declaration supports Green Star and Homestar projects. 

How do engineered timber bracing columns support open-plan design?

The PLX Column is specifically engineered to deliver high bracing capacity in minimal wall lengths, helping architects, engineers, and builders balance structural requirements with the growing demand for open plan layouts. By packing more bracing power into less space, it frees up space in floor plans – making wider openings, cleaner lines, and light-filled interiors more achievable.

Ideal for single-storey dwellings and the ground floors of multi-storey homes, the PLX Column is an effective bracing solution for open plan living areas, as well as kitchens, wing walls, entryways, and hallways. Especially in townhouses and other compact residential designs where every millimetre matters.

Can I use a PLX Column instead of a plaster bracing wall?

Yes - in many cases, the PLX Column can replace a plasterboard bracing wall. Because it delivers high bracing capacity in a compact form, it allows you to achieve the required bracing units without needing long wall lengths or full plasterboard panels.

This not only frees up more design flexibility for open plan layouts but also simplifies construction. The PLX Column is a prefabricated engineered timber solution that avoids the labour, finishing, and material costs associated with plasterboard bracing walls – while offering a durable, long-term structural outcome.