InventWood, a US-based innovator in engineered wood products, has unveiled “Superwood,” a novel modified timber reportedly stronger than steel that could revolutionize sustainable construction and provide new applications in military defense. The company’s advanced wood composite has demonstrated exceptional durability in preliminary ballistic tests, resisting penetration by projectiles that easily pierce natural timber.
- Breakthrough in Engineered Wood: Strength Beyond Steel
- Sustainable Construction: A Climate Solution?
- Advanced Wood Products Rise to the Challenge
- Manufacturing Efficiency and Alternative Raw Materials
- Industry Perspectives: Expanding the Palette of Wood Options
- Fire Resistance and Durability Concerns
- Recycling and Circular Economy in Wood Construction
- Future Outlook: Toward Greener and Stronger Buildings
Breakthrough in Engineered Wood: Strength Beyond Steel
At the forefront of timber innovation, InventWood’s co-founder and executive chairman, Alex Lau, describes Superwood as a product with unique structural properties arising from a proprietary chemical and mechanical treatment process. “We treat the wood by removing lignin, a natural polymer, and then compress the material to reduce its volume by approximately 80 percent,” Lau explained. This process significantly enhances the hydrogen bonding within the cellulose fibers, resulting in a material denser and stronger than traditional wood.
In controlled laboratory tests, InventWood fired gas gun projectiles at thin panels of wood, comparing natural timber against their modified product. “While the projectile blasted straight through natural wood, Superwood withstood the impact without penetration,” Lau said, emphasizing the material’s remarkable toughness. He suggested that Superwood could find applications in military contexts, such as battlefield shelters, although he noted, “we haven’t tried dropping bombs on it yet.”
Sustainable Construction: A Climate Solution?
With the construction industry under pressure to reduce carbon emissions, engineered wood products like Superwood are gaining attention for their environmental benefits. Concrete, a cornerstone of conventional construction, is responsible for an estimated 8% of global carbon emissions due to the energy-intensive process of cement production. Wood, by contrast, acts as a carbon sink, storing carbon dioxide absorbed during its growth cycle.
“Engineered wood can play a crucial role in decarbonising construction, locking up carbon long-term while maintaining structural integrity,” said Dr. Morwenna Spear, research fellow at Bangor University’s BioComposites Centre. However, she cautioned that wood’s durability must be thoroughly vetted for variable climates: “For external applications in regions like the UK, where moisture and drying cycles are frequent, I’d want to see robust data on long-term weathering and resistance.”
Advanced Wood Products Rise to the Challenge
Superwood is part of a rapidly evolving landscape of engineered timber materials designed to overcome traditional wood’s shortcomings, such as susceptibility to moisture, insect damage, and limited strength. Popular products include:
- Glulam (Glue-Laminated Timber): Layers of wood glued with grain orientation aligned, creating strong, dimensionally stable beams.
- Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT): Wood layers stacked with alternating grain directions, forming panels used for walls and floors. A recent study showed that replacing concrete with CLT in community centres can reduce carbon emissions by nearly 10%.
InventWood envisions Superwood serving primarily as a durable exterior cladding or finishing layer, complementing these structural engineered wood products. “It’s not intended to replace traditional products like CLT but to enhance their aesthetic appeal and longevity,” Lau said.
Manufacturing Efficiency and Alternative Raw Materials
InventWood has significantly improved its production efficiency. While the initial process took over a week, current methods allow the creation of Superwood panels in a matter of hours. The primary raw material is poplar wood, chosen for its fast growth and availability, yet the company is exploring bamboo as a feedstock.
“Bamboo can be cultivated in three to four years, providing a highly sustainable source of biomass that draws down atmospheric carbon efficiently,” Lau noted.
Industry Perspectives: Expanding the Palette of Wood Options
Other companies globally are innovating with engineered wood alternatives. Germany’s Pollmeier produces BauBuche, laminated veneer lumber using beech a species not traditionally favored in construction while Australia’s 3RT manufactures high-density veneer panels from low-value trees and pulp logs, successfully applied in window frames and furniture.
Michael Ramage, director of the Centre for Natural Material Innovation at the University of Cambridge, highlighted that engineered wood broadens architects’ material choices: “These new wood products are almost like ‘pseudo-species,’ each with distinct properties that expand the palette for designers.”
However, Ramage identified ongoing challenges to wider adoption, notably financing and insurance: “Questions remain whether mortgages and insurance premiums for wooden buildings will be as accessible or affordable as those for concrete structures.”
Fire Resistance and Durability Concerns
Concerns about wood’s vulnerability to fire have intensified following the devastating wildfires in regions such as Los Angeles. Lau addressed these worries, stating that Superwood has demonstrated fire resistance in internal tests, though full-scale fire testing remains pending.
Additionally, Superwood has shown resilience against wood-boring insects, a persistent threat to natural timber. While harder to work with than untreated lumber, the material is compatible with standard saw blades fitted with carbide or diamond tips.
Recycling and Circular Economy in Wood Construction
The rise of engineered wood products also raises questions about recyclability. Dr Spear emphasized the importance of repurposing timber from demolished buildings. “Research from the UK has demonstrated the potential for incorporating waste wood into CLT-style panels, promoting circularity in building materials,” she said.
Moreover, recycled wood products are already commonplace: particle board, widely used in furniture manufacturing, often consists of recycled timber fibers. “So much of the furniture in our homes contains recycled wood, illustrating how commonplace these innovations have become,” Spear added.
Future Outlook: Toward Greener and Stronger Buildings
Superwood’s development fits within a broader shift toward sustainable building materials that meet the dual demands of environmental responsibility and high performance. As InventWood and other firms refine their technologies, the construction sector may increasingly embrace wood composites as alternatives to carbon-heavy materials like concrete and steel.
Regulatory frameworks, building codes, and supply chain adaptations will play pivotal roles in this transition. Experts agree that while wood cannot replace concrete entirely particularly for foundational elements it holds great promise for above-ground structures and cladding.
“In the fight against climate change, innovations like Superwood bring exciting possibilities, combining natural aesthetics with advanced material science to build a more sustainable future,” Dr Spear concluded.
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