Flexible Wood from dukta finds rising interest
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ZURICH - Switzerland firm dukta gmbh, seeing continued adoption of its Dukta Flexible Wood, has named Spinneybeck, Buffalo, New York, as a U.S.-based seller.

Dukta Flexible Wood is a sandwich of engineered wood and felt layers that allows the material to be bent and shaped readily into curves and contours. Dukta's Zurich location serves as a development and design office, from which it helps clients develop new applications based on its internationally patented dukta incision process, for use in architectural interiors and for numerous products. (At the 2019 Executive Briefing Conference, a video short on dukta is among several materials fabrication videos the will be shown during session breaks.)

Photo courtesy Creatop in Uznach, Switzerland.

Around the world dukta has licensed building owners and designers, and wood products firms, to use its Dukta Flexible Wood, advising customers through technical and design matters, including Creatop in Uznach, Switzerland and in the U.S., Spinneybeck, a Getzville, New York fabricator of custom architectural interior surfaces and furnishings. 



Two brothers, Serge and Pablo Lunin, have been jointly leading dukta gmbh since 2015. The complex, versatile and patented process has its roots in wood bending experiments dating to 2007. Thanks to a CTI research project and various exhibitions and awards, dukta has become synonymous with flexible wood products throughout the world. Since 2015, products based on dukta processes have been manufactured and marketed throughout Europe by licensed partners.

Creatop in Uznach, Switzerland
 
The origins of dukta – flexible wood go back to 2007. In a training course run by Serge Lunin, Christian Kuhn had the idea to construct a lounger made from multiple curved wooden elements. Together they tested the alternatives to the well-known processes such as steam bending or gluing layers together. They carried out numerous experiments which showed that certain arrangements of incisions give the wood a great deal of flexibility but also weaken it. From humble beginning, the investigations soon became more targeted and, by 2009, they had received many awards and started to lead an 18-month CTI research project.

Together with the Institute for Design and Technology at the ZHdK, the architecture, wood and construction departments at Bern University, as well as Schreinerei Schneider AG in Pratteln, Serge Lunin and Christian Kuhn started an 18-month CTI research project under the leadership of Ralf Michel. This enabled them to attain the fundamentals for further product development and manufacture. Both founders investigated technical production issues in addition to the phenomenological investigations.
ForschungKommission für Technologie und Inovation.

In August 2011, Serge Lunin and Christian Kuhn founded dukta GmbH with the aim of establishing dukta on the market. In 2013/14, work concentrated on large contracts such as the cinema and concert hall in Toni-Areal, as well as on the two large Wood Loop exhibitions in the Winterthur Museum of Commerce and the Brengenzerwald Exhibition Centre in Andelsbuch. The designer Pablo Lunin has been Serge Lunin’s business partner since early 2015. Developing new products and working with new partners in production and distribution domestically and internationally are the current focus. https://dukta.com/en/  www.executivebriefingconference.com
 

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Bill Esler | ConfSenior Editor

Bill wrote for WoodworkingNetwork.com, FDMC and Closets & Organized Storage magazines. 

Bill's background includes more than 10 years in print manufacturing management, followed by more than 30 years in business reporting on industrial manufacturing in the forest products industries, including printing and packaging at American Printer (Features Editor) and Graphic Arts Monthly (Editor in Chief) magazines; and in secondary wood manufacturing for WoodworkingNetwork.com.

Bill was deeply involved with the launches of the Woodworking Network Leadership Forum, and the 40 Under 40 Awards programs. He currently reports on technology and business trends and develops conference programs.

In addition to his work as a journalist, Bill supports efforts to expand and improve educational opportunities in the manufacturing sectors, including 10 years on the Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation; six years with the U.S. WoodLinks; and currently on the Woodwork Career Alliance Education Committee. He is also supports the Greater West Town Training Partnership Woodworking Program, which has trained more than 950 adults for industrial wood manufacturing careers. 

Bill volunteers for Foinse Research Station, a biological field station staddling the border of Ireland and Northern Ireland, one of more than 200 members of the Organization of Biological Field Stations.