Ferndale, WA, May 11, 2006 -- Chemco Inc., has introduced a new wood hardening technology for the flooring and furniture industries. Its newest product, Alowood, is an organically hardened wood product made from sustainable, plantation-grown timber.
This innovative technology has the ability to more than double the strength, hardness and durability of plantation-grown softwoods, and is available with certification by the Forest Stewardship Council. Chemco currently sells Alowood to wood floor and furniture manufacturers in the United States and Japan. Only recently has the technology been made available to the public in North America.
“Alowood is completely earth-friendly,” said John Gibb, president of Chemco Inc., a wood modification technology company located in Ferndale, Wash. “Much of the destruction of the world’s rainforests is being fueled by the worldwide demand for hardwood, which has resulted in both an epidemic in illegal harvesting and limited supply of beautiful hard woods. We wanted to give consumers the option of selecting a hard wood product that is environmentally friendly and sustainable, and give manufacturers the option of a ready and plentiful supply of hard wood that is competitively priced.”
Alowood is manufactured using a combination vacuum and pressure injection process that replaces air and moisture in the wood with Everdex, a patent-pending, all-natural additive made primarily from cornstarch. A dye can be added to the process, giving Alowood the capability of a wide range of wood colors. The wood is then thermally cured in an oven, permanently locking in the additive and color. Alowood is capable of surpassing other medium- to high-density hardwoods for durability and strength, such as Oak and Maple, while still maintaining the warmth, color and character that’s synonymous with hardwood. Applications include flooring, cabinetry, millwork, furniture, musical instruments, architectural trim and doors.
Alowood features four colors, Black Alowood (ebony), Brazilian Alowood (rosewood), American Alowood (cherry) and Natural Alowood (ash). Other colors in production are Canadian Alowood (maple), Virginia Alowood (silver walnut), Pacific Alowood (teak), California Alowood (oak) and Appalachian Alowood (walnut).
