Company says synthetic wood will last for decades

At the 2015 AWFS fair, exhibitor Accsys Technologies caused some buzz with its Accoya wood, a modified wood product meant to last for decades in about any indoor and outdoor application.

“Accoya wood has been used in some of the most extreme applications, including a submerged pedestrian bridge, docks, and coastal siding, outdoor furniture and cabinetry, windows, and doors,” Accsys Technologies marketing manager Laura Ladd says.

Accoya wood is manufactured with a proprietary acetylation process that chemically alters the wood’s free hydroxyls into stable acetyl groups. Acetyl groups are naturally present in all wood species, which means that nothing toxic is added. The altered cell structure of the wood makes it an unrecognizable food source for insects and prevents fungal decay, according to the company.

The product comes with a 50-year above-ground and 25-year below-ground warranty against rot and decay.

The company compares Accoya wood to hardwood for its machinability and says it requires no special tools for crosscutting, ripping, planning, routing or drilling. Uses include decking, doors, millwork, siding and windows.

It’s available in 4/4 to 12/4 stock from several U.S. distributors. To find a dealer, visit www.accoya.com.

This article originally appeared in the January 2016 issue.