Steel Wood introduces game-changing UAE-patented SDB at Dubai WoodShow

Dubai / Emirates Business

Steel Wood Industries, a Dubai-based manufacturer of environment-friendly and sustainable wood products, has announced the introduction of a game-changing revolutionary product – Steel Wood Density Board (SDB) – that is set to change the wooden furniture and associated industries in the region, at the forthcoming Dubai WoodShow that takes place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from March 12-14.
SDB is a highly engineered 100 percent recycled wooden board having the premium quality features including ten times the strength of average plywood or MDF boards – attained by a constant density gradient, revolutionary internal bonds, modulus of elasticity and modulus of rapture and compressed core creation process ensuing to a flawless uniformity – enabling a balanced panel with a premium face, an edge screw holding capacity and very low emissions aligned with low VOC contents.
“Steel Wood – the miracle of the desert – recycles around 35,000 tonnes of waste wood per year – equivalent to 86,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide not released into the environment or taking out 18,415 cars out of the road per year,” Ghassan Farouk Afiouni, Managing Partner and Innovative Director of Steel Wood Industries, said.

“Steel Wood saves $112.4 million worth of carbon dioxide per year, as per the current carbon price in the international market.”

Due to its smooth surface, SDBs are suitable for different coatings – veneering, laminating, painting, bevelling and varnishing. SDB is available in a variety of thicknesses, a sanded and un-sanded surface to one or both sides.
The new product, manufactured by Steel Wood Industries, comes at a time when scientists are trying to developed a new type of ‘super wood’ that is more than 10 times stronger and tougher than normal wood – and this innovation could potentially become a natural and inexpensive substitute for steel and other materials.
Key to the new wood’s superpowers is a special chemical treatment followed by a heated compression process. The resulting chemical bonds make the wood strong enough to one day be used in buildings and vehicles. However, Steel Wood Industries’ SDB is a step towards that direction.
A product of the UAE, SDB is produced from 100 percent recycled waste wood collected from construction sites and processed through an industrial plant with glue made on site from raw material chemicals made in the UAE and GCC – that makes SDB a completely UAE product. The SDB production line generates very low emissions of Eo and E1 with the world’s highest mechanical properties.
Its production line is a fully close-loop system where all dust generated is used to manufacture boards or digested as green energy.
“Steel Wood – the miracle of the desert – recycles around 35,000 tonnes of waste wood per year – equivalent to 86,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide not released into the environment or taking out 18,415 cars out of the road per year,” Ghassan Farouk Afiouni, Managing Partner and Innovative Director of Steel Wood Industries, said. “Steel Wood saves $112.4 million worth of carbon dioxide per year, as per the current carbon price in the international market.”
A Strategic Partner of Dubai WoodShow, Steel Wood Industries will showcase its latest innovations at the Dubai WoodShow – the largest exhibition of wood and wood-based products in the Middle East. This formidable collaboration between Dubai WoodShow and a distinctive-modelled manufacturer will establish a building block for new green and sustainable products that will help the country’s Green Economy movement.

Established in the UAE in 2012, Steel Wood Industries is the only wood board production facility in the GCC and the first in the Middle East with a sophisticated environmental-friendly production facility that sources all its feedstock from recycled wooden products in the UAE, without cutting a single tree.

With 60 employees, Steel Wood Industries produces 40,000 cubic metres of SDB per annum or 30,000 tonnes of wood per year.

Ghassan Farouk Afiouni says, “We have set up the industry for a sustainable future for all that will help reduce carbon footprints. The recycled wooden products at Steel Wood Industries help us to reduce a net of over 65,000 metric tonnes of negative carbon footprints per year – which is equivalent to 101,560 airline flights round trip (A 2,000 mile round trip produces 0.64 metric tonnes of Carbon Dioxide as per www.cotap.org medium flight range) or 140 aircraft operation at double round trips on medium flight range on normal schedule per year.

“This opens doors for Steel Wood Industries to tactically partner with major airlines locally and/or worldwide as a strategic environmental partner; being a ‘One Entity’ with high cumulative negative carbon footprint for offsetting.

“A true green and sustainable industry, Steel Wood Industries business is in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of UAE and Ruler of Dubai – who remains our true inspiration.

“Evolving from the heart of the GCC, Steel Wood Industries is determined to be regional partners with property developers for a variety of sustainable green products including the innovative SDB.”

In addition, Steel Wood Industries hopes to convert the UAE as one of the major key player in the composite-panel industry to cover UAE local demand and international market. With the high-end technology developed at Steel Wood Industries, the UAE and the GCC can manufacture panels while curing the globe; something that was unthinkable a few years ago. That’s why, they called it – The Miracle of the Desert.

“Steel Wood Industries is continuously receiving proposals for franchising or partnership for expanding the factory in different countries – including China, Brazil, Kuwait, and Romania etc.,” Ghassan Afiouni says. “All contacts wanted to adopt the sustainable model producing revolutionary products with outstanding physical and mechanical properties while curing the environment.”

Research shows that 70 per cent of the timber and wood products are used in construction industry while the rest are used in real estate, interiors, furniture and other industrial applications.

The statistics reflect a growing demand for wood products in the region, primarily driven by the overall economic growth as well as the growth in the region’s large construction sector.

Dubai WoodShow, since its inception in 2006, remains the only dedicated trade show in the Middle East for the wood and woodworking machinery industry. It is a convergence point for manufacturers, traders, suppliers, machinery companies and end-users in the wood industry chain. Steel Wood Industries’ Strategic Partnership will help the wood, furniture and joinery industries to encourage local manufactured products.

Dawood Al Shezawi, CEO, Strategic Marketing and Exhibitions, organiser of the Dubai WoodShow says. “As a home-grown UAE industry, Steel Wood Industries remains ahead of the game with its innovative products that deserves to be recognised and accepted by the construction, furniture, wood and joinery industries.

“Steel Wood Industries has a strong national vision that is aligned with the vision of our country to transform it into a green and sustainable economy.”

The vast range of products showcased at the Dubai Wood Show include wood products, woodworking machinery, blades and knives, tools, abrasives, industry solutions, and much more. The show, being highly specialised, provides the perfect opportunity for the regional and international companies to showcase and learn about wood and woodworking and to build new strategic relationships with buyers, traders and investors.

In order to capture the market, more than 300 exhibitors from 100 countries are all set to showcase their innovative solutions at the next edition of Dubai Wood Show, which will showcase new designs, style and product innovation on managing home space in innovative ways.

The Dubai Wood Show is one of the biggest events of the industry in the region and across the world. Last year’s edition is witnessing the largest participation, in terms of visitors, exhibitors and the exhibition space. In addition, the organisers anticipate more than 300 exhibitors from over 106 countries to visit the show. The total area of the exhibition is 17,388 square meters, offering exhibiting the companies a chance to display their products and offerings in a vast setting.