Pre-stressed beams or panels

A method of manufacturing a pre-stressed beam or panel comprising:

• providing a timber-based component;
• providing a pre-stressing member arranged along the timber-based component;
• applying a tensile force to the pre-stressing member;
• providing discrete concrete anchors at locations that are spaced apart along the timber-based component;
• coupling the pre-stressing member to the concrete anchors;
• releasing the tensile force on the pre-stressing member to transfer a compressive force to the timber-based component through the concrete anchors to form the pre-stressed beam or panel,
• wherein the concrete anchors are provided by pouring concrete at two spaced apart locations that are spaced apart along the timber-based component and that are positioned at or adjacent the ends of the timber-based component to form end anchors, embedding respective portions of the pre-stressing member, and wherein the coupling the pre-stressing member to the anchors comprises allowing the concrete to substantially cure, before the tensile force on the pre-stressing member is released;
• pouring concrete at one or more locations between the two end anchors to form one or more intermediate concrete anchors embedding a respective intermediate portion of the pre-stressing member;
• allowing the one or more intermediate concrete anchors to substantially cure;
• and
• cutting the beam or panel through the one or more intermediate concrete anchors and through the respective anchored intermediate portion of the pre-stressing member to form two or more shorter pre-stressed beams or panels.