Bathroom furniture manufacturer Woodio, a university research spin-off, is preparing to take a major step: it is scouting for a location for its first industrial-scale production facility in the Helsinki area.
According to CEO Petro Lahtinen (Petro Lahtinen), the Woodio philosophy can be distilled into the “impossible but inspiring” claim that “the future of bathrooms is made of wood”.
The traditional view is that wood does not like humid environments, but the company has already proven that this is not necessarily true.
The company’s operations are based on a new material, the origins of which can be traced back to a Christmas party at the University of Helsinki’s chemistry laboratory. Various raw materials were mixed together in the festive spirit and left, but the next morning it was discovered that one of the mixtures had hardened in an especially intriguing way. This discovery led to the development of a new material that is 80% wood chips. The chips are sourced either from aspen or from forestry industry by-products. The wood material is bound together with bio-resin. This material is used to create a completely new range of washbasins, toilet bowls and bathtubs.
New material outperforms ceramics
Compared to the ceramics traditionally used in bathroom fixtures, Woodio’s material has eight advantages: it is lightweight, impact-resistant and recyclable, it is made from renewable materials, its production requires little energy, it acts as a carbon store, and it can be produced in a variety of colours and patterns.
The lightweight nature is an advantage for transport and makes installation easier. Regarding impact resistance, P. Lahtinen says he tested it by hitting the products with a hammer: “It simply didn't break.”
The components of the material are renewable, and the material can be recycled, for example, to make MDF boards, or burned for bioenergy.
Production requires very little energy. The process involves preparing the moulds for casting, filling them, and letting the products dry at room temperature. The mould can be removed within four hours.
The items are then hardened at a low temperature for a few hours, usually 40 °C. Then, all that remains is finishing and testing.
The carbon dioxide footprint of Woodio products is up to 80 per cent lower than their ceramic competitors. Moreover, the wood products act as a carbon store throughout their entire life cycle.
For comparison, the ceramic industry consumes a great deal of energy because the products must be fired at temperatures of up to 1500 °C. Globally, the ceramic industry generates as much carbon dioxide as 200 million cars, as well as sulphur and nitrogen oxide emissions. Furthermore, it consumes a large amount of drinking water.
The problems caused by ceramic production are well known. To replace ceramics, companies such as Durat and Vieser offer materials on the market made from recycled or renewable components.
Home interior design
But how can a wood-based material withstand the constant humidity of a bathroom? P. Lahtinen says it is no problem at all. Woodio has tested the material by immersing it in water for up to six months, and it has caused no negative effects.
“And this is not due to any coating. Even products with sawn and untreated surfaces do not suffer,” says P. Lahtinen.
The material is suitable for mass production, and all products have the same practical properties as ceramic items. They do not require any additional maintenance.
To date, Woodio has produced bathroom furniture, including a range of washbasins, bathtubs, interior panels and, most recently, toilet bowls for clients, including many hotels all across Europe. However, the company has bigger plans. P. Lahtinen states that the goal of Woodio is to become the leading eco-material brand in the world.
“We are exploring possibilities for making furniture and interior elements, such as panels, for any room in the house,” explains Lahtinen.
To expand production capacity, the company is looking for new premises in the Helsinki region. P. Lahtinen believes the new factory could be established within a couple of years. However, the expansion is not intended to reduce
the price of the products, which is relatively high. “Our goal is to maintain Woodio as a premium brand. One way to describe the value of the brand is that the value of the aspen chips in our products multiplies by 400,” said P. Lahtinen. “However, this does not mean that we cannot sign contracts with other brands, such as Ikea or Ido, to use our material. They can, of course, set prices for their products as they see fit,” pointed out Petro Lahtinen.
Clients in 26 countries
The company Woodio was founded in 2016 as a research spin-off from the University of Helsinki’s chemistry laboratory to develop and commercialise materials. The first products reached the market in 2019. Currently, the company has clients in at least 26 countries.
The company currently employs 33 staff. Operations were financed by, among others, the Paasikivi family, who are the main owners of tap manufacturer Oras, Metsä Group’s innovation company Metsä Spring, the European Union and Business Finland. The company’s turnover in 2021 was EUR 350,000, and the projected turnover for this year is EUR 600,000.
“In our current premises, we can reach a turnover of approximately two million. In the new factory, our production capacity could be ten times higher, and we could employ dozens of new people. But this requires us to successfully agree on seven-figure funding,” says Lahtinen.