InventWood’s new Frederick facility will ship its first
Superwood batches in Q3 2025—an engineered timber with a
strength-to-weight ratio nearly ten times that of steel.
InventWood, a University of Maryland spin-off, is preparing to
scale a wood-based material dubbed Superwood—a product with a
strength-to-weight ratio almost ten times higher than steel
while remaining markedly lighter and renewable. The company’s
first commercial batches are scheduled for shipment from a new
facility in Frederick, Maryland, in the third quarter of 2025.
The underlying technology originates from research led by
materials scientist Dr. Liangbing Hu. In 2018, Hu reported a
method that transforms ordinary timber into a substance up to 12
times stronger and 10 times tougher than its natural form.
Rather than leaving the discovery in the laboratory, he refined
the process, cutting production time from more than a week to
just a few hours, before licensing the patents to InventWood.
InventWood has since attracted $15 million in the first close of
its Series A round, led by the Grantham Foundation with
participation from climate-focused investors. The startup has
raised over $50 million, funding the new manufacturing line and
a strategic partnership with distributor Intectural to speed
adoption across North America.
Superwood’s performance stems from molecular engineering.
Standard lumber—principally cellulose and lignin—is treated with
food-grade chemicals to modify its structure, selectively remove
components, and densify the remaining cellulose. Subsequent
compression multiplies hydrogen bonding between fibers, yielding
a material that InventWood reports as 50 percent stronger in
tensile load than steel and resistant to fire, water, rot, and
pests.
Initial production targets architectural façades for commercial
and high-end residential projects. Over time, InventWood aims to
replace structural elements such as beams and columns,
addressing construction’s heavy carbon footprint by substituting
steel and concrete with a domestically sourced renewable
alternative.
Source:
techcrunch.com
