| |
About CHEMCO
History
Founded in 1981, CHEMCO has become a worldwide leader in modification and enhancement technologies for wood products. Located on a 40-acre site 2 hours north of Seattle, WA, CHEMCO’s history is deeply rooted in the manufacturing of fire resistant wood products for exterior construction. The “ban wood roofing movement” in California in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, sparked groundbreaking research in wood enhancement for fire resistant construction. CHEMCO was one of the early pioneers in fire retardant technologies, and became the only producer of fire resistant wood roofing allowed for sale in California, and also the first company to open previously closed areas in Japan for wood construction.
Today, CHEMCO continues to be at the forefront of wood modification technologies, both in the fields of fire resistance and wood hardening. CHEMCO currently produces an organically hardened wood called Alowood, which offers an ideal alternative to traditional hard woods, and is used in a myriad of applications; from wood flooring to furniture. Alowood production employs the Everdex Treatment Process, a patented combination of vacuum and pressure injection technology that replaces air and moisture in the wood with an agriculturally grown additive. CHEMCO’s line of wood flooring, called Verdant Flooring, utilizes this technology.
CHEMCO operates a handcrafted log home company called Caribou Creek Log Homes, which builds custom log homes, lodges and resorts, using time-honored traditional craftsmanship.
Research & Development
CHEMCO is the only wood enhancement facility in the United States that has a Research & Development division, including complete laboratory and pilot testing equipment. CHEMCO continues to invest in the development of wood enhancement technology.
Manufacturing Process
CHEMCO's computer-controlled wood enhancement production process is one of the most accurate, consistent, and efficient in the country. CHEMCO uses a vacuum pressure impregnation process to remove moisture and air from the wood cells and replace it with its safe, environmentally friendly additives. The enhanced product is then thermally cured in a kiln, to lock the additives into the wood cells. When the process is complete, the cellular structure of the wood has been altered to make it an enhanced wood product. |
|
