The market interest in thermal modification of wood as a sustainable building solution is growing rapidly due to various global, societal and political factors. Among others, the main key drivers are the international dimension of climate change and related activities to stop it, society’s critical awareness of the use of tropical rainforest timber, and legal restrictions on the use of environmentally harmful chemicals for improving properties of wood. Moreover, sudden developments like the Russian war against Ukraine mean that frequently used alternatives such as Siberian larch are no longer available. At the factory site in Raahe, we from TMW Raahe Oy currently build Finland’s most advance thermal modification production plant. With its (planned) finalization in August/September 2024, we will have implemented a technology that overcomes the weak points wood naturally has. In particular, thermally treated wood has a significantly increased durability and greatly improved (dimensional) stability. Since we use only hot water steam and no chemical additives, TMW Raahe Oy provides a highly sustainable building solution which suits a wide range of applications. It can be used for exterior cladding and decking applications, for windows and doors, in terms of landscaping (especially for children’s playgrounds or animal enclosures) and interior flooring, paneling and furniture. It is this complex framework of applications, each with its own requirements, in which TMW Raahe Oy has to meet diverse customer needs and outstand against various competitors. Thus, TMW Raahe Oy endeavoring to strengthen its position as the Finnish supplier of thermally modified wood of the highest quality. Within the scope of this project this strategic pillar should be further refined and, consequently, taken into suitable measures for successful market penetration and export activities. Against this background, the aim of this project is… 1) to achieve a deep understanding of customer needs, 2) to gain an in-depth understanding of competitor behavior at the market and their promised benefits 3) to reveal current market trends respectively dynamics. 4) to implement actions to successfully export our thermally modified wood
