Superwood debuts as timber engineered 50 percent stronger than steel

InventWood, a University of Maryland spin-off, is preparing to scale a wood-based material dubbed Superwood—a product with a strength-to-weight ratio almost ten times higher than steel while remaining markedly lighter and renewable. The company’s first commercial batches are scheduled for shipment from a new facility in Frederick, Maryland, in the third quarter of 2025.

The underlying technology originates from research led by materials scientist Dr. Liangbing Hu. In 2018, Hu reported a method that transforms ordinary timber into a substance up to 12 times stronger and 10 times tougher than its natural form. Rather than leaving the discovery in the laboratory, he refined the process, cutting production time from more than a week to just a few hours, before licensing the patents to InventWood.

InventWood has since attracted $15 million in the first close of its Series A round, led by the Grantham Foundation with participation from climate-focused investors. The startup has raised over $50 million, funding the new manufacturing line and a strategic partnership with distributor Intectural to speed adoption across North America.

Superwood’s performance stems from molecular engineering. Standard lumber—principally cellulose and lignin—is treated with food-grade chemicals to modify its structure, selectively remove components, and densify the remaining cellulose. Subsequent compression multiplies hydrogen bonding between fibers, yielding a material that InventWood reports as 50 percent stronger in tensile load than steel and resistant to fire, water, rot, and pests.

Initial production targets architectural façades for commercial and high-end residential projects. Over time, InventWood aims to replace structural elements such as beams and columns, addressing construction’s heavy carbon footprint by substituting steel and concrete with a domestically sourced renewable alternative.