The 21st century solution

Summary
• MicroPro is based on micronised copper technology.
• Its applications include decking, fencing, landscaping and agricultural products, house framing and outdoor play equipment.
• MicroShades micronised pigment colourant was developed for use with MicroPro.

The market for wood products is likely to become more complex and dynamic, particularly with the wood-fired biomass sector set to significantly increase competition for raw material. We will therefore need to make the most of the timber we have and improve the performance of timber products against other competing materials.

Osmose Europe’s marketing director Andy Hodge says that wood preservatives have historically been viewed as commodities. "All traditional treated wood products have a similar look and visual performance and at Osmose we didn't think that was good enough,” he said, adding that Osmose has identified areas where investment in new technology will bring out the inherent opportunities for growth, such as the emerging timber cladding market.

“We have a simple mission: Osmose believes in creating new opportunities for timber,” he said.

It is this belief in creating new opportunities which brought about the development of Osmose micronised wood preservatives, or MicroPro.

MicroPro technology is a revolutionary wood preserving process system based on micronised copper which can be used to pressure-treat wood products commonly specified for decking, fences, landscaping, agricultural products, house framing, outdoor play equipment and other general construction uses.

Environmentally preferred product

In the US, the Osmose micronised copper treated wood process is recognised by the international standards accreditation body SCS as an “Environmentally Preferred Product” based on life cycle assessments. European versions of micronised copper preservatives are working towards this EPP label and are manufactured using recycled copper. Osmose MicroPro technology has already attained a Greenguard accreditation for homes and schools which confirms that the treated wood has tested low on a range of air emissions.

Micronised timber offers parity of protection, protecting against fungal decay and insect attack but is visually very different from other treatments and offers an improved maturing process which appeals to both consumers and architects. This means that timber products treated with MicroPro will look lighter, and naturally attractive in exterior applications. Colour pigment can be introduced for long-term colour life, and the manufacturing process removes volatile organic compounds (VOCs). With no added VOCs, the products have improved corrosion resistance to metal fixings and fasteners.

Osmose researched and developed its micronised preservative technology system over 20 years, and in excess of 20 million m³ of MicroPro treated wood product has been sold to date, making MicroPro not just a success story for Osmose and its customers, but for the timber industry as a whole.

One satisfied user is M&M Timber. “We’ve worked with Osmose for over 15 years, so when we got to know about MicroPro we took the plunge and, with no pre-orders, installed a new kiln and started treating in November 2009,” said managing director Nigel Poyner. “It’s now a significant part of our business and growing each year.”

Richard Burbidge Ltd also saw a market opportunity for MicroPro and MicroShades. The latter is the only micronised pigment colorant that can be used as an “in-solution” system and was specifically developed for wood treated with the MicroPro preservative.

Market opportunity

“As the UK market leader in balustrade, we could clearly see the market opportunity for this product,” said product group manager Zoe Lewis. “We have successfully implemented the MicroShades range in B&Q and the MicroPro and MicroShades range is also available in Travis Perkins and other outlets.”

Brookridge Timber Ltd has also been at the forefront of the fast developing pressure treatment market and was an early adopter of the new technology, adding the MicroShades process to its portfolio of pressure treatments.

“Customer reaction to the micronised process and its fresh appearance has been fantastic, with orders being won purely on the basis of end-user preference for the micronised appearance,” said sales and marketing director Neil Lush. “Advantages over the older types of treatment include improved colour fastness – the colour actually improves over time when exposed to UV – and Greenguard certification.”

Of particular importance to Brookridge are Osmose’s regular external audits of its procedures, bringing a new approach to a quality assurance within the preservative industry. This confirms that, when ordering MicroPro micronised pressure-treated timber, end users can be sure they are purchasing timber where the correct species has been selected for end use, it has been treated with the correct user class cycle for end use, the plant is operating with the correct solution strength and all operators are fully trained.

Benchmark scheme

The Wood Protection Association recently launched its Benchmark scheme, but before this there was no third-party quality assurance programme in the UK and there have been concerns that preservation treatments have been used at different levels by different companies, and not necessarily in accordance with British Standards. The branding programme ‘MicroPro Micronized Timber’ attached to Osmose’s MicroPro system indicates that any wood or material treated with this technology will be in accordance with procedures approved by Osmose, and companies using this technology are licensed to use the official trademark and branding.

“MicroPro is a timber treatment technology which works differently,” said Mr Hodge. “It ticks environmental, performance and aesthetic boxes. We have discovered that there are synergies between the way this technology is being adopted in the UK and its introduction and success in the US, where it represents around 75-80% of the residential wood preservation market. I’m sure it won’t be too long before micronised timber becomes the product of choice for high quality residential and commercial timber projects.”