NUO “soft wood” from Schorn & Groh

Winner of the “Best of the Best” award in the “Materials & Nature” category, this is NUO – a fascinating wood textile that is as soft as leather and as supple as fabric.

NUO is made of premium veneer originating exclusively from sustainably managed forests. The thin real wood (0.5 mm) is bonded to a textile backing and then lasered. The laser process engraves many fine lines that give the wood surface its incomparable flexibility and breathtaking beauty.

NUO bends in three dimensions, making it perfect for unusual shapes, as a brand-new soft material for furniture and even upholstery, and for high-end interior design, where it can be used for things like wall and ceiling coverings with acoustic effects.

The modern engraving on the soft, flowing wood textile also makes it possible to create exciting new designs for furniture and wood surfaces in interior design. There are four different types of engraving to choose from, ranging in size from 1.5 mm to a maximum of 4 mm. Six different wood species are currently available, including oak, walnut, ash, and beech, along with two fineline versions.

The backing material gives the lasered wood surface the strength it needs and ensures that NUO is easy to work with. Depending on the application, NUO can be equipped with various backings: microfibre, cotton, or fleece. NUO eco, the standard version, comes with a cotton backing. It is made from 90% renewable raw materials and is suitable for normal uses. The NUO prime version, featuring a strong microfibre backing that is still just as flexible as the cotton one, was developed for applications with heavier wear or products with higher tear resistance.

NUO rigid, by contrast, is made of high-quality lasered veneer with a fleece backing. This version is suitable for adhesive bonding with rigid and smooth backing materials or on larger-radius rounded edges or surfaces.

NUO’s specific properties, including the material’s flexibility, weight, and thickness, depend primarily on the species of wood used, the textile backing material, the type of application, and the surface treatment. The material can be given a protective varnish coating upon request.

For more information visit sg-veneers.com