From the side streams of the production process to a unique product

The article was published in Jiiri magazine (Stark Suomi) in November 2024

From the side streams of the production process to a unique product

Koskisen’s multipurpose and durable Zero furniture board is a modern interior board, produced from Finnish biobased raw materials. Zero is suitable for, amongst others, the needs of the furniture industry.

There is no similar product available on the market at present, even though the demand for low emission panel products is extensive. Koskisen has been researching various types of glues for decades and a new, unique, gluing technique has been found as the result of this product development.

The binder (lignin) in Zero furniture board is a wood based, 100% renewable raw material and a by-product of pulp manufacturing. Koskisen has further developed lignin so that it is suitable for use as a glue. Lignin has no added substances that could evaporate into the air, and it does not contain any added formaldehyde or fossil based raw materials. The carbon footprint of Zero is significantly smaller than in conventional furniture or chipboards.

Zero arouses interest for a reason

Koskisen’s product manager Eemi Valjakka says, that Zero furniture board has been received with great interest by customers. The new product is naturally in a challenger position, when compared with products which have been on a market for decades.

“We’ve also made efforts to inform architects and designers about the product. Currently Zero is being exported to Scandinavia, The Netherlands, and The United States, not only to the domestic Finnish market.”

Stark (a wholesaler in Finland) is stocking melamine coated Zero in 16mm and the uncoated version in both 16mm and 18mm thicknesses. Other flexible options are available from our production. Different thicknesses can be produced, and our agile production capabilities make it possible to fulfil varying customer needs.

“Koskisen is simply the perfect size of company to do this kind of testing and product development in collaboration with the customer. Where minimum order quantities of special products are typically large, we can produce smaller batches”, Valjakka continues.

Machine as you wish

End uses for Zero furniture board are, for example fixtures and fittings in kitchens and bathrooms, furniture, laminate tabletops, doors and panels, in addition to fair furniture, shopfitting and other special furniture. Eemi Valjakka says that, at Koskisen, continuous development is ongoing, and the goal is to grow the product range.

Zero is an excellent solution when a low carbon footprint needs to be assured, for example in construction. The carbon footprint of wood base materials are clearly smaller compared to non-renewable materials and they sequester carbon for decades to come.

Zero furniture board meets the standards set for furniture boards in terms of bending strength and internal bond strength. Zero is produced in P2 grade, its compact and smooth surface provides an excellent base for coating with the desired finish.

Zero furniture board can be sawn, drilled and machined with any tool suitable for woodworking, the use of clean raw materials ensures that Zero is easy to machine, and keeps saw blades in good condition. Please remember, that a well-maintained saw blade cuts the board better and gives savings in maintenance costs.

Did you know this about Zero furniture board?

Advantages of Zero panels