Near Troyes, Woodoo is accelerating its research into “augmented wood”, a new ecological material

2023-10-03 11:52:39

Founded in 2016 at the Technopole de l’Aube in Rosières-près-Troyes, the company of startuper Timothée Boitouzet has grown significantly. It now has around forty employees, spread across the Troy area and Paris. With fundraising of $31 million in the spring, it intends to accelerate its main objective: inventing the carbon-free materials of tomorrow by valorizing wood through the combination of different materials. “It’s a logic of 1 + 1 = 3,” explains Sébastien Frin, financial director of Woodoo. Wood plus a new material will make it possible to create enhanced wood with new mechanical, physical or optical properties. » Innovative materials to drastically reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

Woodoo produces new augmented wood technology, such as slim wood, primarily intended for the automotive industry.

The research work is colossal. “Doctors, engineers, partnerships with major schools like the University of Technology of Troyes. The result, 50 patents valued in France and internationally” according to Sébastien Frin. In Rosières, the laboratory works closely with the region’s sawmills, local manufacturers, and even with the Crogny forestry school. In a rational management logic. “We allow the forest to grow, and we also try to choose depreciated wood, which no one wants, of poor quality or with holes,” reveals Christelle Petitjean, responsible for the logistics chain. It is our chemists who will ensure that this is not a constraint. »

Also a way of promoting the sector in a suffering market: “The trade balance for wood in France is quite catastrophic,” confirms Sébastien Frin. It goes to countries which will take care of the 1st and 2nd transformation, before selling them to us at a higher price. Economically, it’s a bit of heresy! »

Slim wood, stack wood, flow wood

Here, Woodoo is developing its three major technologies: slim wood, intended primarily for the automobile industry, must replace materials such as glass and plastic thanks to its transparent rendering. “For decoration, whether dashboards or doors, for the transmission of information, pictograms, or even a tactile atmosphere,” explains Martin Camus, research and development engineer. This material, when lit, can pass information. And when we turn it off, we find the neutrality of wood. » A way to benefit from on-board technologies, but discreet and authentic.

The prefect of Aube Cécile Dindar (right) visited the Woodoo research laboratories on September 18, alongside financial director Sébastien Frin (left) and his teams.

Stack wood is an evolution of Slim which makes it possible to offer a much more resistant product for the construction sector, replacing aluminum, steel or concrete. A technology still in the development phase: “There are a lot of players in the construction sector who are interested in our process,” indicates Sébastien Frin. This is one of the projects where the decarbonization potential is the most interesting. »

Finally, flow wood, a very flexible wood which is aimed at the textile industry, in particular to replace leather of animal origin. A technology already well advanced at Woodoo with the opening of a first manufacturing line a few days ago.

Projects promoted within the framework of the French Tech 2030 program supported by the government: 125 companies which have high potential for the France of 2030 will benefit in France from financial aid and monitoring in the construction of their projects. For Aurélie Contrecivile, sub-prefect of Aube and departmental referent of the program, there is no doubt: “Woodoo is a company which is carrying out a project with enormous potential for the region. »