Business News

BASF and SAIB join forces to develop a light wood-based material using Kaurit Light technology

Monday 25. October 2010 - Joint development of a particle board that is at least 20% lighter

Market launch of the new product is planned for 2011
Presentation of the lightweight material at the SICAM trade fair in Italy

At SICAM, which will run in Pordenone, Italy, between October 20 and 23, 2010, BASF, the world’s leading chemical company, and SAIB, one of Italy’s biggest derived timber manufacturers, will present their joint project to develop a lightweight particle board. The new wood-based material, based on the Kaurit Light system, will be at least 20% lighter than conventional particle board. The product, which is being presented at SAIB as “Light”, will be launched in 2011.

“Thanks to our strategic partnership with BASF, we’re developing exciting new possibilities in industrial furniture production. At the same time, we’re satisfying furniture manufacturers’ requirements for a new, lighter material,” says Adriana Conti, Managing Director of SAIB S.p.A. “The lightweight panel fulfills all regulations for particle boards and can be used as a conventional board”, explains Wolfgang Gutting, Vice President, Glues and Impregnating Resins at BASF. In addition to the new Light raw particle board, SAIB also has plans to produce water-resistant V100 panels.

Particle board made with Kaurit Light technology consists of wood chips, a polymer (Kaurit Light) and a bonding agent (Kaurit glue). Before being added to the wood chips, Kaurit Light is foamed in a so-called pre-foamer. The rest of the manufacturing process is identical to that of conventional particle board. The usual machines and materials can also be used for further processing.

For more information about the new, lightweight material, visit the SAIB stand (A39) in Hall 6 at SICAM in Pordenone. SICAM is the international trade fair for components, technical products and accessories for the furniture industry.