Panels & Furniture Asia May/June 2020

May / June 2020, Issue 3 | Panels & Furniture Asia FLOORING | 39
TherraWood is perhaps best known for its unique wood
polymer composite (WPC) material, which is solely
manufactured by the company at its manufacturing
facilities in Corlu, Tekirdag, 100km west of Istanbul.
WPC is a unique blend of PVC, high quality wood fibre and
other proprietary components, creating a cost-effective,
durable and safe material that resembles the appearance
of wood for both residential and commercial outdoor
recreational areas. With WPC, TherraWood produced a range of
outdoor solutions that include decking, siding, fence, pergola
and railing.
On what makes WPC outperform similar materials from
other competitors, Van Wassenhove shared that “one of the
differences is that we are using PVC as a component, while
many other manufacturers are using PE and PP. PVC is a
harder component compared to PE or PP, hence we are able to
offer hollow profiles for some products such as WPC-coated
hollow aluminium railings, combining strength, durability and
lightweight into one.”
Besides, products made from WPC require low maintenance and
are resistant to decay, insects and UV damage. Coupled with
anti-slip and splinter-free properties, the composite material
can be used to make safe structures for outdoor environment.
The products also come in a range of elegant colours. “The main
component for the decking’s top coat is rice husks, which can
prevent water penetration.”
For the environment conscious consumers, products created
from WPC are 100 per cent recyclable and FSC certified.
“We have always been using the same supplier providing us with
cut-off, therefore we know the quality of the pine wood used is
always the same,” said Van Wassenhove.
MOVING INTO SOUTHEAST ASIA
A prominent brand in the Middle East, 50 per cent of
TherraWood’s productions are exported.
“Our biggest market is in the Middle East region, followed closely
by Europe and Northern America. For Asia, we still have to invest
more in marketing our products. We are actively looking for partners
that will distribute and promote our materials in Southeast Asia,”
said Van Wassenhove.
TherraWood is currently operating at an annual capacity of
6000 metric tons and has 65 employees, including production