Swedish startup Nordic Timber Labs establishes first production facility in Lahti

Nordic Timber Labs is a startup company founded and operated by three Swedish experts who are all under 30. The company’s treatment method is the first of its kind in Finland - a way to pressure impregnate wood to improve its fire properties and hence increase its usage as a building material. 

-    'After conducting an extensive analysis of the wood industry and its challenges, we found it strange that there are so few solutions available to battle one of the main challenges with wood – Fire,’ says one of Nordic Timber Labs’ founding partners, Vincent Parasnis.

The company’s treatment method is the first of its kind in Finland - a way to pressure impregnate wood to improve its fire properties and hence increase its usage as a building material. 

The method used by Nordic Timber Labs uses a pressure impregnation method to improve the fire properties of wood products. This enables further usage of wood to replace fossil based materials in large scale construction, where fire safety requi­rements are tough. 

Lahti chosen for the first production site

Founded two years ago, Nordic Timber Labs is launching its first wood treatment plant in Lahti, Finland, more precisely in Nastola. 
Lahti has not been chosen as the company’s domicile by coincidence. Having carried out a meticulous market analysis, the company deems Lahti to be the best location in the Nordic countries. 

-    'Several highly well managed and traditional wood industry businesses and sawmills operate in the Lahti region, all potential clients for us.’ Vincent Parasnis explains. 

-    'Moreover, being chosen as the European Green Capital of the Year was further a factor that drew our attention to the Lahti region. The title indicates that the City of Lahti is a pioneer in environmental matters that sees added value in a new operator like us,’ Parasnis’s business partner Martin Lindquist continues.

Reliable Finns

Vincent Parasnis and Martin Lindquist say they have been warmly welcomed by Lahti Region Development LADEC and have received plenty of help. Head of Client Management Sari Kesäniemi has identified suitable facilities for the company and helped with the necessary permit applications and a partner network. Furthermore, Marketing Manager Tarja Pellinen has discussed the commu­nication aspects of establishing the operations in the Lahti region with the entrepreneurs. 

-   'The help we have received from LADEC has been invaluable, and we will continue to take advantage of it going forward,’ says Martin Lindquist, who enjoys the Finnish business culture.

-   'The business culture in Finland has proven to be charac­terized by respect for both suppliers and customers. If a Finn agrees to see you at one o’clock, they will be there on the dot,’ Lindquist says. 

Young entrepreneurs have strong faith in the future.

 'The help we have received from LADEC has been invaluable, and we will continue to take advantage of it going forward.'

- Martin Lindquist.

-    'Our production facility will initially employ three people, but we believe that we will be able to increase our production exponentially in the coming years. A lot of the production is already automated, but we also carry out plenty of continuous testing. Our partners, such as Lunawood, are well-known for their top-quality heat modified wood. Our solution allows them to add a fire protected option to their product range - perfect as an indoor or outdoor surface material in public buildings, for example,’ Parasnis says excitedly.