In a strategic move to address the rising demand for sustainable building materials, Oy Lunawood Ltd and Atlanta Hardwood Corporation have announced the formation of Lunawood LLC, a joint venture aimed at revolutionising the North American market for thermally modified wood products.
Beginning January 1, 2025, Lunawood LLC will manage all North American sales, including those of products manufactured at Lunawood’s Finnish facilities. The joint venture will also establish a production facility at Atlanta Hardwood Corporation’s plant in Cleveland, Georgia. This facility will focus on producing thermally modified timber from locally sourced hardwood, with distribution planned both within North America and globally. Production is scheduled to commence by mid-summer 2025, marking a significant milestone as Lunawood becomes the first Finnish company in the mechanical wood industry to set up manufacturing operations in the United States.
Joint Venture Combining Expertise
Since its founding in 2001, Lunawood has been a pioneer in the thermal modification of Finnish pine and spruce, developing the patented ThermoWood® process. Through the new joint venture, Lunawood’s cutting-edge expertise in thermal modification, production, and commercialization will be combined with Atlanta Hardwood Corporation’s deep market knowledge, logistics capabilities, and profiling facilities. The full range of Lunawood products will be stocked and sold across North America from Atlanta Hardwood’s facilities in Cleveland, GA, and Clarksville, TN.
“Lunawood is known as a growth-driven company exporting already to over 60 countries. Having found a partner that shares our ambitions and is committed to serving the North American market comprehensively, we recognized a joint venture as the ideal solution to leverage both of our core competencies and enable our growth,” said Arto Halonen, CEO of Oy Lunawood Ltd. “We are also happy to be able to serve the Northern American market with shorter delivery times for Lunawood Collection products, thanks to local inventory,” he added.
Commitment to Sustainability and Growth
For Atlanta Hardwood Corporation, this partnership represents a long-awaited milestone. Hal Mitchell, President of Atlanta Hardwood Corporation, noted, “We have partnered with the best producer of the most environmentally friendly building product on the planet. This joint venture will allow Lunawood to become the world’s leader in thermal modification in both North American and Nordic species. We are excited to offer volume production of these quality-tested, sustainable and durable products to the North American market. Scaling the manufacturing of U.S. lumber has been a dream since our first thermal modification kiln was installed 10 years ago. This joint venture allows us to accomplish that goal.”
Meeting Rising Demand for Green Building Materials
The U.S. market has seen surging demand for thermally modified timber, driven by the growing need for sustainable building materials for indoor and outdoor applications. This trend aligns with a broader movement toward green building construction, with architects and builders seeking environmentally friendly alternatives to chemically treated wood and exotic hardwoods. Applications such as interior architectural accents, exterior cladding, and decking are particularly in demand, reflecting the market’s preference for durable and sustainable solutions.
With Lunawood LLC and its planned production facility, the joint venture is poised to lead the market in thermal modification, offering innovative solutions to meet the rising expectations of North American builders and designers while strengthening Lunawood’s global position.
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