Insulated Concrete Forms – Nexcem vs Other Cement Bonded Wood Fiber Manufacturers

Nexcem is the original ICCF block made from cement bonded wood fiber material. We incorporate the latest advances in manufacturing technology. All other ICCF manufacturers, especially in North America, are copies of the Nexcem (rebranded from Durisol). Based on our latest evaluation of other manufacturer production processes, the main benefits of Nexcem over other manufacturers are summarized below:

1. Nexcem is the evolution of the technology started over 60 years ago. All Nexcem manufacturing operations benefit from the research, testing and technological improvements developed together with our partners. Our model is one of collaboration. We have been making ICFs continually for over 25 years and has the most extensive knowledge base (75 + years) in cement bonded wood fiber technology.

2. We have an experienced engineering staff and over six decades of North American experience with cement bonded wood fibre blocks.

3. We only use clean softwood waste lumber. We ensure there is no potential of unhealthy contaminants in the wood source (pallets that may have held paints, lubricants, barrels, etc.). Also, since softwoods are less dense than hardwoods, Nexcem will typically be lighter and have better insulation properties than products made with post-consumer waste and/or hardwoods.

4. Nexcem has a more diverse range of products to offer customers. Our blocks can range from 6” to 16” in width. R-values can range up to R-36 (true steady-state). We have over 90 different product types and can offer sheet material and other custom products to compliment the building process. This reflects our commitment to investing in better products and processes.

5. Some ICCF block manufacturers sell “Multi-function” block types. This is usually due to limited investment in mold inventory. When there is one mold making a combination of different blocks in a specific ratio, the manufacturer inevitably ends up with high inventories of certain block types. One way to avoid this inventory mis-match is to sell a “multi-function” block so that inventory is sold in the same way it is manufactured in the mold. This may not be in the customer’s best interest. The customer has to site-alter many blocks in order to not have any waste. The end result is the customer will typically have a high wastage factor – either in the form of actual material wasted, or otherwise in the form of wasted labour and time to make all material usable. Nexcem has a separate mold for each block type. With us you can order precise quantities of any type of block and no on-site alteration is required. We even do custom cuts upon request.

6. Nexcem corner units are already notched and ready for pouring. With Nexcem you only have to stack and pour. The corner units from other manufacturers require on-site creation/manipulation.

7. Nexcem has state-of-the-art machinery that is continually being upgraded and improved as we build on our 75 years of manufacturing experience. Our ICF blocks undergo a complex series of trimming steps that can utilize up to 9 individual cutting heads, ensuring the highest degree of dimensional accuracy currently possible in the industry today. Other manufacturers trim and notch limited parts of the blocks which can result in poor tolerances between units.

8. Nexcem units are larger and therefore maximize the benefit of a light-weight material. While ensuring manageable weights (each unit weighs between 38 – 48lbs) Nexcem provides 25% – 125% more surface area per unit over many other manufacturers. Manufacturers that limit their product heights to 8” are usually doing so because of height limitations with their machinery.

9. Although materials between manufacturers may look similar, mix designs can be very different. Each manufacturer may have their own proprietary process / design. While we do not divulge all of the parameters that we control and monitor, factors such as cement content and wood gradation can have a large impact on the final material strength, insulation properties and overall durability. Starting with the material mixing, our automated process utilizes the latest PLC controls including the highest precision available radar measuring systems. This ensures very precise moisture content calibration that results in consistent mixes every time. Consistent mixes translate to consistent material and strength. Our commitment to quality extends from the mix to every step of the process. Each production run is QC tested for strength and weight to ensure that every block will perform in the field.