ST. JOE, Ind. — Arbor Wood Co., a manufacturer of thermally modified wood products, entered into an agreement to purchase a thermokiln from Finland-based Jartek.

Arbor Wood said its annual production will increase by 3 million board feet when the thermokiln is completely installed.

This Jartek thermokiln will be the first of its kind in the United States and its purchase launches Phase One of Arbor Wood Co.’s multi-kiln expansion at its Indiana manufacturing operations. The thermokiln utilizes advanced heat treatment methods to thermally modify wood products while preserving their quality and durability. With its highly automated process and energy-saving features, the thermokiln will operate at lower levels of energy consumption than standard kilns, improving their environmental footprint as a result.

Jon Heyesen, CEO of Arbor Wood, said, "This purchase kicks off a phased expansion in response to our ever-increasing product demand and enables us to deliver high-quality, environmentally responsible products for our customers. We selected Jartek’s proprietary, open-system technology as the premier choice for manufacturing thermally modified wood products. 2025 is shaping up to be a banner year for the company as we expand our operations in St. Joe to accommodate the Jartek thermokiln and a second milling operation."