Accoya is revolutionizing the timber market, but it’s important to understand that it’s a processed wood product. One question that arises is where the original wood comes from.
In this article, we’ll give you the scoop on the origin of Accoya wood.
What is Accoya?
First, let’s define what Accoya is. Accoya is a modified wood product, not a traditional wood species. Monterey pine, also known as Pinus Radiata, is the main raw material used for Accoya production.
Where does Accoya wood come from?
Monterey pine is naturally found in a small area around Monterey and Cambria in California. However, it’s also grown in other regions like New Zealand, Chile, and South Africa.
The radiata pine grows much faster in these areas due to the climate, allowing for large amounts of CO2 to be bound and enough wood to be available for processing into Accoya.
The production of Accoya
As previously mentioned, Accoya wood products are modified in Europe, specifically in the Netherlands. The radiata pine is acetylated.
The company responsible for this process is Accsys Technologies. They have further developed and perfected this process, which has been developing for decades.
The Accoya Secret
Acetylation is treating Accoya with acetic acid, which fundamentally alters the properties of pine wood.
As a result, the wood product becomes virtually impervious to environmental impacts, mold, and fungal infestation and is exceptionally durable.
Additionally, Accoya maintains its properties over time. It’s no coincidence that Accoya is currently manufactured in the Netherlands and that this method uses acetic acid.
But before we dive into the specifics, let’s take a closer look at the development procedures for modifying wood.
How was Accoya developed?
The history of Accoya dates back to the 1920s when a Dutch chemist attempted to prevent the wood from rotting through a chemical treatment.
The first attempt involved using acetone, but the inventor had little success. It wasn’t until several decades later that the idea was revisited and modified.
In the 1960s, a researcher swapped acetone for acetic acid and made progress, but the technique was still not ready for commercial use.
It wasn’t until the 1990s that the process was perfected and commercialized by Accsys Technologies, an Arnhem-based company. Today, the company’s major products are Accoya wood and Tricoya wood elements, which have recently gained popularity.
The appeal of Accoya is clear: it’s one of the top wood products in terms of size, splinter-freeness, and durability.
Additionally, using Monterey pine from New Zealand is more environmentally friendly than logging for tropical woods, which (unmodified) have similar properties to Accoya.
Conclusion: The origin of Accoya wood is transparent
The origin of Accoya wood is straightforward: it comes from New Zealand, where a fast-growing pine species is harvested as raw material.
This wood is shipped by sea to Europe, transforming it into the premium Accoya wood product at the Accsys Technologies factory in the Netherlands.
From there, it is distributed to global manufacturing companies, using it in products such as Accoya wood decking boards.