In the rapidly evolving landscape of sustainable construction materials, a remarkable innovation is about to make its commercial debut. InventWood, a University of Maryland spin-off company, is preparing to ship its first commercial batches of a revolutionary wood-based material called Superwood from its new manufacturing facility in Frederick, Maryland, in the third quarter of 2025.

The Revolutionary Material

Superwood represents a significant breakthrough in materials science, boasting performance characteristics that challenge conventional building materials. According to InventWood, this engineered timber product possesses 50% more tensile strength than steel while maintaining a strength-to-weight ratio approximately ten times better. Beyond its impressive structural properties, Superwood offers resistance to fire with a Class A fire rating, and demonstrates remarkable resilience against water damage, rot, and pest infestation.

The genesis of this innovation can be traced back to 2018, when materials scientist Dr. Liangbing Hu developed a method to transform ordinary timber into a substance up to 12 times stronger and 10 times tougher than natural wood. Rather than allowing this discovery to remain confined to academic research, Dr. Hu refined the manufacturing process, dramatically reducing production time from more than a week to just a few hours before licensing the patents to InventWood.

The Science Behind Superwood

What makes Superwood exceptional is its molecular engineering approach. The manufacturing process begins with standard lumber—composed primarily of cellulose and lignin—which undergoes treatment with food-grade chemicals. This treatment selectively modifies the wood’s structure, removing certain components while densifying the remaining cellulose fibers.

The material then undergoes compression, which multiplies the hydrogen bonding between fibers. This intricate process results in the creation of an engineered wood product with properties that surpass traditional building materials in several key performance metrics, as reported by Notebookcheck.

Market Applications and Growth Strategy

InventWood’s initial commercial focus targets architectural façades for commercial and high-end residential construction projects. However, the company has broader ambitions to eventually replace structural elements traditionally made from steel and concrete, such as beams and columns. This strategy addresses the construction industry’s substantial carbon footprint by offering a domestically sourced, renewable alternative to carbon-intensive materials.

The company’s growth trajectory has been supported by substantial investment. InventWood recently secured $15 million in the first close of its Series A funding round, led by the Grantham Foundation with participation from climate-focused investors. In total, the startup has raised over $50 million, which has funded its new manufacturing line and a strategic partnership with distributor Intectural to accelerate adoption across North America, as TechCrunch reports.

Industry Implications

The emergence of Superwood comes at a critical time for the construction industry, which faces mounting pressure to reduce environmental impact while maintaining structural integrity and safety. By offering a material that combines superior strength with sustainability credentials, InventWood potentially addresses multiple industry challenges simultaneously.

Some industry observers on forums like BudgetLightForum have raised questions about manufacturing constraints, particularly regarding size or length limitations compared to steel’s extensive extrusion capabilities. Others have drawn comparisons to historical precedents such as Duramold, a compressed wood material developed during the Howard Hughes era for aircraft construction that was largely forgotten after World War II.

As InventWood prepares to bring Superwood to market, the construction industry stands at a potential inflection point. If the material fulfills its promise at commercial scale, it could represent a significant step toward more sustainable building practices without compromising on structural performance or durability.