BELGIUM – Modified wood cladding and decking manufacturer Kebony announced the opening of the company’s new factory in Flanders, Belgium.

 

 “The opening of our second factory is a momentous occasion in Kebony’s history and will be vital to our continued growth for many years to come,” said Kebony CEO Bruno Van den Branden said. “We are delighted to be in a position where we can significantly increase our production capacity of environmentally friendly products, which will only serve to help us to continue positively influencing the sustainable construction industry worldwide.”

 

The Kebony technology modifies sustainably sourced softwoods by heating the wood with a bio-based liquid. By polymerizing the wood’s cell wall, the softwoods reportedly take on the attributes of tropical hardwood including high durability, hardness, and dimensional stability.

 

 

The company says it has experienced continued annual growth with international sales rising by an average of 30 percent year-over-year for the past seven years.

 

In order to meet the increased demand, the new factory has been opened to enable Kebony to double its current annual production capacity to more than 200,000 square feet of Kebony Clear wood. Kebony’s original factory in Norway will continue to specialize in the production of Kebony Character wood while maintaining its status as the company’s research and technology hub.

 

Situated in the heart of Europe, the new factory is ideally located to benefit from a variety of European connections. The close proximity to the port of Antwerp will enable the export of Kebony products to European and oversea markets, such as North America, to become more efficient and cost-effective. 

 

Construction of the facility was delivered within budget, with funding supplied by European investors. Plans for further investment would give Kebony the potential to quadruple its current production to nearly 900,000 square feet.