The Art of Design Issue 29 2017 | Page 90

90 BENDYWOOD® BRINGS CREATIVE IDEAS TO LIFE Bendywood® is solid hardwood that can be worked and subsequently bent two- or three-dimensionally in dry condition. This enables not only to reduce working costs, but also to increase productivity and improve quality. In 1917 the first record of a patent for making pliable wood by The maximum rough size that can be produced nowadays is about steaming and longitudinal compression was recorded in Berlin, 120x120x2200mm. By using special joints (that resist the pressure Germany. It was in 1990 that Candidus Prugger bought the rights and during the bending) also handrails in lengths up to 6,6m and up to a further refined the technology, making the wood more consistent and diameter of 65mm can be produced. more efficient to produce. For instance, the stairs in the new Kaiser Gallery in Hamburg, Germany Bendywood® is a 100% natural wood, produced in an entirely natural and those in the Dolce & Gabbana store in Milan, Italy were made with way without the use of chemicals. First of all, the timber is carefully Bendywood®. selected at the sawmill to avoid any knots and to provide for a straight grain. Bendywood® can be bent up to a radius of about 10 times its own thickness. It is supplied in straight condition and needs to be bent by Through a particular thermomechanical process fresh green solid the customer himself. Thin sections can easily be bent by hand, thicker wood blanks are compressed along their length for about 20% and sections are to be bent using clamps and tension belts. Also ring rolling subsequently dried in this compressed form. In this way, the cell walls bending machines can be used (for bending handrails, for instance). are compressed (like an accordion), which allows them to straighten out again on the outside of a bend without getting into tension and The most important types of wood are beech, oak, ash, maple, cherry breaking. and walnut.