Ludwigshafen, Germany and Lucerne, Switzerland - A versatile and sturdy lightweight board will be presented by BASF, the world's leading chemical company, and Swiss Krono Group, a leading European wood-based material manufacturer, at Ligna 2013. The jointly developed lightweight solution is up to 30% lighter than conventional particle board. Available from a thickness of 28 mm, it is ideal for a range of applications in furniture and interior design. Visitors to Ligna, the world's premier trade fair for the forestry and wood industries which runs from May 6-10, 2013 in Hanover, will have the chance to see the new material for themselves as part of a special presentation devoted to lightweight construction at Stand D42 in Hall 17.

The material owes its lightness to BASF's Kaurit® Light technology. Under a top layer of fine wood chips is a lightweight middle layer consisting of larger wood chips and a binder made of a foamed polymer. This construction makes the material up to 30% lighter than conventional particle board. In its raw form the particle board can be used as a basic material for furniture production and can be processed with a range of finishes. The boards can be recycled or incinerated just like conventional particle board. In fact for recycling purposes, the boards can be mixed with conventional particle board for the manufacture of standard or lightweight chipboard.

"Kaurit® Light technology is an excellent lightweight solution that offers reduced weight and high strength. For the first time, we can offer our customers an innovative and high-quality lightweight board," says Prof Dr Joachim Hasch, Managing Director of Kronopol Sp. z o.o., a subsidiary of the Swiss Krono Group based inLucerne.