Architects' wood

Treating fast-growing, naturally unsustainable wood species in such a way that the wood has a life span of at least 50 years, without chemical additives... This makes Platowood's wood the most sustainable choice for cladding, window frames and interior construction, among other things. The company originated when Shell investigated in the 1970s whether oil could be extracted from wood. This proved unprofitable, but a hydro-thermal modification process was found to alter wood at the molecular level. 

Director Bart Raymann: "The researchers took the patent of the discovery (codenamed Plato) and developed it further. They discovered that hydro-thermal modification, or platonizing, changed the wood in a positive way by using not only heat, but also water. By first heating the wood with steam, the sugars - vulnerable to mold - are broken down. Then the wood is dried and finally "baked. Unlike thermally modified wood alone, a lower temperature is sufficient here. This preserves the strength of the wood." 

The only renewable resource

The Arnhem-based company produces the wood sustainably. "We generate our own, green electricity and the steam for our process is supplied by a nearby power plant for which steam is a residual product. In addition, wood is of course a sustainable material; it is the only renewable raw material. We very consciously choose fast-growing wood. Wood species that normally could not be used because they are not suitable without hydro-thermal processing. During the lifetime of the platonized wood, about 50 years, a new tree grows again in certified forests. In addition, wood is a sustainable material in itself because trees store a lot of CO2."

Wood types and finishes

Platowood's durable and aesthetic wood has many architectural possibilities. Here there is a choice of three wood species. Fraké comes from responsibly managed forests with OLB certification in West Africa. With its sleek appearance, it is mainly used for cladding. The second wood species is Spruce, a wood species with a rustic appearance. The newest wood species is Poplar, quickly embraced by architects for its warm color and calm appearance.

Raymann: "Because of the refinement process, Platowood wood can be used outdoors without finishing. It then grays into a beautiful silver-gray hue. We also offer different finishes. For example, to make the graying process even, the wood can be provided with a pre-graying finish called Weathered Color. This finish will slowly degrade while the wood naturally grays in the meantime." 

Window frames that rival hardwood

"To do even more with our wood, for some time now we have also been supplying frame wood. For this we use pieces of Fraké wood previously left over from the production of the facade wood. Our frame, window and door wood is supplied pre-planed and unprocessed as semi-finished products and is KOMO certified. Thanks to platonizing, our wood can stand comparison with hardwood. This is also increasingly recognized by the market, resulting in strong growth for our company."