A new type of engineered wood developed by US-based InventWood could transform the way buildings are constructed—potentially making them bullet-resistant. The product, known as Superwood, entered full production earlier this year and is a heavily modified timber that is “stronger than steel.”
In laboratory testing, researchers fired a bullet-like projectile from a gas gun at thin wood samples, including an early version of Superwood. While the projectile easily pierced natural timber, it failed to penetrate the modified version. “Clad it with a new type of modified wood, and it might,” said Alex Lau, co-founder and executive chairman of InventWood, who spoke to the BBC about whether a house clad in Superwood could take a bullet. Lau suggested the product could have military applications, such as battlefield shelters, though he acknowledged, “we haven’t tried dropping bombs on it.”
As the construction industry seeks to decarbonise, traditional materials like concrete—associated with high greenhouse gas emissions—are facing increasing scrutiny. While timber-based construction is seen as a climate-friendly alternative, natural wood has limitations: it can degrade when exposed to moisture or insects and often lacks the strength required for demanding structural applications.
Engineered wood products are helping to overcome these challenges.
Lau explained that Superwood is created by chemically removing lignin, a polymer found in wood, and then compressing the timber to reduce its volume by 80%. “You can almost massage the wood so you’re squeezing air and imperfections out,” he said. The process creates additional hydrogen bonds within the material, significantly enhancing its strength while preserving the wood’s natural grain.
InventWood has spent years refining its manufacturing process. What once took more than a week can now be completed in a matter of hours. The company currently uses poplar trees but is exploring bamboo as an alternative feedstock. “We can grow suitable bamboo feedstock in like three or four years,” Lau told BBC Technology Reporter Chris Baraniuk. “It’s really an efficient way to draw down carbon from the atmosphere.”
Superwood joins a growing portfolio of engineered timber products that are pushing the boundaries of timber-based construction. Glue-laminated timber (glulam), for example, involves layering wood with the grain aligned in the same direction to create strong, moisture-resistant beams. Cross-laminated timber (CLT) stacks layers with alternating grain directions to form panels used in walls and floors. Whilst a study published in June suggested that using CLT instead of concrete to build a community centre could reduce carbon emissions associated with construction and operation by nearly 10%.
Lau said Superwood is not intended to compete directly with products like CLT or glulam. Instead, it could serve as a structurally sound and aesthetically appealing finishing layer or as durable external cladding. Morwenna Spear, research fellow at Bangor University’s BioComposites Centre, described the technology as “promising,” but noted that external wood in climates like the UK must withstand frequent wet-dry cycles. “I’d want to see some data coming from them about that,” she said.
Other companies are also innovating in the engineered wood space.
German firm Pollmeier has developed BauBuche, a laminated veneer lumber made from beech—a species not typically used in construction. “By processing it into veneers, Pollmeier found a way to use it much more structurally,” said Michael Ramage, director of the Centre for Natural Material Innovation at the University of Cambridge. Australian company 3RT uses thin veneer sheets from low-value trees or pulp logs to replicate the structure and density of high-value hardwoods, commonly used in window frames, kitchen cabinetry, furniture, and staircase treads. Spear noted that the growing diversity of engineered wood products gives architects and designers more flexibility. “It may be that we think of these new products almost as pseudo-species,” she said. “It just increases that palette of options to people.”
Despite growing momentum, challenges remain. Ramage pointed out that financial and regulatory factors still favour traditional materials. “Is the mortgage the same rate as a mortgage on a concrete building? Is the insurance the same price?” he asked. Nonetheless, he advocates for broader adoption of wood products due to their carbon storage potential. “We’re always going to need concrete in the ground for foundations,” he added. Concerns about fire resistance persist, especially in the wake of devastating wildfires such as those that struck Los Angeles in January. Lau said Superwood has passed fire-resistance tests and has also proven resilient against wood-eating insects. Although it is tougher to work with than natural timber, it can be cut using carbide or diamond-tipped blades.
Spear emphasised the importance of recycling timber alongside the rise of engineered wood. Researchers in the UK have demonstrated that waste wood from demolished buildings can be repurposed into CLT-style panels. She also pointed out that recycled wood is already common in everyday products. “So much of our furniture is made… of particleboard – a huge proportion of that comes from recycled timber,” she said.
- To find out more information about blast-proof timber products, click here to read Wood Central’s special coverage of blast tests conducted by the US Army. And to learn more about Superwood, click here for Wood Central’s coverage from May.
