Exclusive: InventWood is about to mass-produce wood that’s stronger than steel
Exclusive: InventWood is about to mass-produce wood that’s stronger than steel
Exclusive: InventWood is about to mass-produce wood that’s stronger than steel | TechCrunch
InventWood's Superwood represents a breakthrough material that transforms ordinary wood into a substance stronger than steel through molecular restructuring and densification[1]. The company is launching a 90,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Frederick, Maryland in Q3 2025 to begin commercial production[7].
Key features of Superwood:
- 50% more tensile strength than steel with 10x better strength-to-weight ratio[^9]
- Fire-resistant, rot-resistant, and pest-resistant while maintaining wood's natural appearance[^7]
- Created through a two-step process involving chemical treatment and hot-pressing[^8]
- Can be produced in hours rather than weeks using "food industry" chemicals[^9]
Environmental Impact:
- Could replace up to 80% of global steel and concrete use[^5]
- Potential to reduce carbon emissions by 37.2 gigatons over 30 years[^5]
- Trees act as carbon stores: steel produces 1.85 kg CO2 per kilogram, while wood removes 1.8 kg CO2[^5]
Business Development:
- Secured $15 million in Series A funding in 2025[^7]
- Total capital raised exceeds $50 million[^7]
- Formed partnership with Intectural for North American distribution[^7]
- Initial products will focus on building facades before expanding to structural applications[^9]
[1]: [InventWood — Technology](https://www.inventwood.com/technology) [5]: InventWood aims to 'replace steel and concrete' [7]: [InventWood Announces $15 Million First Close of Series A](https://renewable-carbon.eu/news/inventwood-announces-15-million-first-close-of-series-a-to-launch-revolutionary-superwood-material/) [8]: New Atlas - 'Superwood' that's 50% stronger than steel is coming this year [^9]: TechCrunch - InventWood is about to mass-produce wood that's stronger than steel
Isn't that a pretty pointless first application for a material that's (presumably) significantly more expensive than ordinary wood and which barely benefits from the extra strength? A facade doesn't need to be super strong and the higher density will probably also lead to a worse insulation.
Ordinary wood cannot be used for building facades due to fire hazards. The treated version is fire resistant.
Thanks for the info. Were all the wooden facades and houses that are existing for ages then treated with a special fire retardant?