Catalogue of excellence Development, quality and achievements

YEARS since 1951 Introduction

The Slovenian company Silvaprodukt has The result of extensive research and field tests been operating since 1951 and is the leading is a selection of high-quality and efficient Slovenian manufacturer of wood protection wood protection products and services, which products, offering innovative and efficient are recognised by the industry as innovative, solutions for more than 70 years. environmentally friendly and oriented towards the principles of a green and circular economy.

All our products and services are result of decades With the aim of continuously improving the quality long cooperation with the Biotechnical Faculty of our products, developing new innovative in Ljubljana, Department of Wood Science and solutions for wood protection and improving the Technology, and laboratory and field tests carried experience of our customers, we regularly take out by various independent scientific part in international research projects. Under the institutions throughout Europe auspices of the EU-funded international project, and the world. Interreg Italija-Slovenija Durasoft, we are currently conducting field tests of our protective agent Silvanolin® in the Venetian Lagoon for purpose of protecting Venetian piles and other wooden infrastructure in the lagoon. In previous WinTherWax project, funded by the

Planica Nordic Centre – central structure and the Gorišek brothers ski-flying hill Location: Rateče – // Authors: Abiro d.o.o., Stvar d.o.o., Blaž Babnik Romaniuk, Matej Blenkuš, Miloš Florijančič, Klemen Kobal, Aleš Vodopivec, Marko Smrekar // Landscape architecture: Studio AKKA d.o.o., Ana Kučan, Luka Javornik // Year of completion: 2015 // Photo by Miran Kambič

2 Luxury serviced apartments Bled Location: Bled // Author: Ržišnik Perc design engineering company // Year of construction: 2019 // Photo by Mijaks Archives

European Commission for small and medium- sized companies under the Horizon 2020 financial instrument, together with our partners M Sora and the Biotechnical Faculty in Ljubljana, we developed an innovative wax called Silvacera® which is used for surface protection of wood and has excellent water- repellent characteristics. This innovative surface coating was used in combination with our patented Silvapro® thermally modified wood for the production of the Natura optimo XLT window, for which M Sora company received many international awards.

Our products and services therefore guarantee Tradition, references, patents, awards and quality protection of wood. We also ensure that recognitions bear witness to professional expertise using our solutions and proper wood protection and quality, which undeniably ranks us at the very procedures, natural wood lifespan will extend top in the area of wood protection. Seventy years several times, resulting in much lower or even no of experience in the field of wood protection gives costs of subsequent maintenance and renewal, us the confidence to claim that we are capable of which is extremely important for any user. delivering appropriate and high-quality services and products in the area of wood protection, regardless Unless otherwise stated, photos are part of the Silvaprodukt archive. Cover: Škocjanski zatok Nature Reserve. of client’s demands.

3 Patents

In order to protect our intellectual property, which Slovenia is the result of accumulated knowledge throughout decades of laboratory and field tests and research, and close cooperation with the Biotechnical Faculty of the University of Ljubljana and other research institutions around the world, our company has patent-protected many different products and procedures. We are particularly proud of the patents “Process of thermal modification of wood and device for implementation of the process”, which is marketed under the commercial name Silvapro®, and “Solution for wood preservation”, a product marketed under the commercial name Silvanolin®.

Competitive advantages of thermally modified wood by Silvapro® procedure: • improved resistance against wood pests, • much longer service life of wood, • reduced thermal conductivity, • improved dimension stability, • exotic dark appearance (throughout the whole cross-section!), • improved waterproofing, The unique procedure of wood protection called • 100% people and environment friendly, Silvapro® is an environmentally-friendly and award- • permanent protection, without further winning procedure for primary wood protection. In maintenance. a very short time, thermal modification of wood has become the so-called new-generation of wood protection, because the procedure is completely »Silvapro® is a completely natural natural, without usage of any chemicals or additives! new-generation wood preservative!« With Silvapro®, wood is subjected only to elevated temperature in a chamber designed specifically for this procedure.

4 Competitive advantages of the wood preservative Silvanolin®: »Silvanolin® is one of the most • primary water-borne wood preservative, environmentally friendly and efficient • patented and verified formula for efficient primary wood preservatives in the world!« fixation with wood, • successfully tested by many independent international institutions, European Union (all members) • 3-times longer service life of wood, • permanent protection, without further maintenance.

Australia Russia After excellent results of field and laboratory tests of our preservative Silvanolin® conducted over a period of more than ten years, and supported by positive feedback of our satisfied customers, we are firmly confident in its superior quality and potential, and have therefore patent-protected it on all relevant economic markets across the world. United States of America

5 Certificates of Conformity

Our products are accompanied by Certificates of Conformity, obtained from Testing and Certification Centre at the Biotechnical Faculty in Ljubljana and BAM Institute (Bundesanstalt für Materialforchung und – prüfung, Berlin, ). For the purposes of issuing certificates, our products have been extensively tested according to various European standards. Below are listed some details of the exceptional results achieved in these tests by our main product Silvanolin®, of which we are particularly proud of.

Certificate of Conformity Certificate of Conformity Certificate of Conformity Silvanol Rumeni in GB Silvanol lazura B Silvanolin®

6 European standard EN 46-1 Anti-insect activity Basic application of the protective agent Silvanolin® ensures highly efficient protection of wood against wood insects! European standard EN 46-1 (+ EN 73, EN 84) Anti-insect activity (on artificially aged wood) Test results have shown that Silvanolin® efficiently protects wood from wood insects even on (artificially) aged wood.

European standard EN 117 and Becker Method Anti-insect activity – termites Silvanolin® also enables highly efficient protection against dry-wood termites.

European standard EN 152-1 Activity against blue stain fungi Tests have shown that Silvanolin® ensures complete protection against Certificate of Conformity the development of blue stain fungi. Silvanolin® European standard EN 113 Activity against wood-decay fungi Silvanolin® ensures complete protection against the most dangerous species of wood-decay fungi.

European standard ENV 807 Activity against soft-rot fungi Silvanolin® ensures highly efficient protection against soft-rot fungi.

Double layer test Activity against wood-decay fungi (above ground) Silvanolin® highly efficiently protected specimens against organisms and factors of decay within the test period of 10 years.

European standard EN 252 Activity against wood-decay fungi (under ground) Test results have shown that our protective agent Silvanolin® efficiently protected wood specimens that were placed in the ground (constant and direct contact with soil) during a period of 10 years.

7 Field testing

The quality of our products is continuously checked and monitored with field and laboratory performance tests, from which some are being continuously conducted for more than a decade. Our products are tested by local educational and research institutions, such as the Biotechnical Faculty in Ljubljana, the Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZAG), as well as numerous international independent research institutions around the world, such as BAM Bundesanstalt für Materialforchung und prüfung (Germany), Bangor University, BioComposites Centre (United Kingdom), Berner Fachhochschule – Architektur (Switerland), and many others. In the process of the development of our products and services, the following tests were crucial:

Model wooden facility for testing terrace elements, wooden façades, thermal envelope and wooden roofing Under the auspices of the Department of Wood Twenty-two different materials protected with our Science and Technology, a model facility has been solutions are being exposed on the facility: built to verify which types of wood and which • Silvanolin® – our internationally patented water- forms of protection are the most appropriate for borne primary wood preservative, ensuring a long functional and aesthetic service • Silvapro® – our patented, completely natural wood life for wooden façades, roofs, terraces, doors protection procedure, with implementation of and windows. The facility is equipped with more only thermal modification to the wood, without than 150 measuring points for monitoring moisture adding any chemicals, content and temperature of wood, rainfall, shrinking • Silvacera® – innovative surface coating of and swelling of wood and various forms of wood completely natural origin with excellent water- deterioration. repellent properties, intended for surface and decorative protection of wood. The model facility was built in 2013. Testing is still in progress.

8 Model wooden facility for testing terrace elements, wooden façades, thermal envelopes and wooden roofing. The Silvaprodukt company tests 22 different materials of various wood species and treatments at the facility.

9 Field testing of the preservative Silvanolin® in constant contact with soil

More than 5000 small specimens have been exposed These tests have at various locations around the world, in accordance proved that Silvanolin® with the European Standard EN 252. One of the test provides a very efficient long fields is at the location of our production facility in term wood protection for wood in Ig, near Ljubljana. Testing has been conducted on this constant contact with soil, exposed to all site for more than 10 years. Specimens are regularly outdoor conditions! Testing on this field began in checked by the Department of Wood Science and September 2009 and is still in progress! Technology of Biotechnical Faculty in Ljubljana.

10 Test field in Ig near Ljubljana

Test benches for determining the life expectancy of wood in ecologically-sensitive areas

In order to determine the service life of wood in Every bench is made of four different materials ecologically-sensitive areas, we are conducting field of autochthonous softwoods (spruce, Scots pine, tests within consortium of seven partners under Silvapro® thermally modified spruce, and spruce the auspices of project DuraSoft in the Interreg impregnated with Silvanolin® preservative). All model -Slovenia project scheme, where we have benches are the same and equipped with sensors placed test benches in carefully selected for measuring moisture content of specimens, as ecologically-sensitive areas at five moisture is the key factor that determines the service locations, four in Slovenia and one in life expectancy of wood. Tests within the DuraSoft Italy, i.e., in Seča, Velika Planina, project began in march 2020.

Bilje, Ljubljana, and Jamlje CMYK village near Lake Doberdò.

Test bench within the DuraSoft project on Velika Planina

11 Test field of the Department of Wood Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty in Ljubljana Tests of our wood specimens, in accordance with The wooden the European EN 252 standard and the Double Layer beams that test, are being conducted in the test field of the carry the testing Biotechnical Faculty in Ljubljana for more than 10 specimens and are not years. In this wide and diverse test field, our company treated with our primary tests solutions for efficient protection of wood wood preservative Silvanolin® against different wood pests in actual conditions are at the end of their service life, (exposed to all natural influences) and with various while all control (unprotected) specimens forms of accelerated ageing. Part of specimens is had completely decomposed after 5 years. connected to electronic surveillance system, which The specimens protected with Silvanolin® are intact conducts constant monitoring and measuring of even after more than 10 years of exposure. Testing in various parameters, thus enabling us to have detailed this field began in April 2009 and is still in progress! insight into the process of wood decay development.

Comparison of samples after exposure to seawater. Unprotected larch wood already completely decays after six months of exposure to seawater, but spruce protected with Silvanolin® is still completely intact after more than four years of exposure. Placing test samples in the sea

Unprotected LARCH specimen after 6 months of exposure SPRUCE specimen, protected with Silvanolin® after 4.5 years of exposure

12 Monitoring wood moisture content with the resistance method Healthy (protected) samples on a degraded unprotected wooden load-bearing structure Undamaged samples, protected with Silvanolin® protective agent, after being exposed for more than 10 years

Efficiency testing of Silvanolin® for protecting the wood in the sea

The performance of the wood preservative Silvanolin® has also been tested and proven in the Adriatic Sea, which is an extremely aggressive and destructive environment for all unprotected wood species because of its biotic diversity and the presence of marine wood borers. The results of the test conducted in accordance with European Standard EN 275 showed that even aggressive marine borers cannot damage specimens that have been previously properly impregnated with our wood preservative Silvanolin®. The images clearly show Test the difference between the protected (after 4.5 field in years) and the unprotected (after only 6 months) the sea specimens after being exposed to seawater!

13 Testing of the Silvanolin® preservative against dry-wood termites

Silvanolin® was tested at the BAM Institute (Bundesanstalt für Materialforchung und – prüfung, Berlin, Germany), with the aim of determining its performance against dry-wood termites according to European Standard EN 117. The test showed that, with appropriate application, our wood preservative Silvanolin® also efficiently protects wood against dry- wood termites.

14 Test rotating cube H2020 within the WinTherWax project

Test cube from the H2020 WinTherWax project for testing wooden façades and windows

As a partner in the research project WinTherWax under company M Sora, and Ljubljana – Biotechnical the European scheme Horizon 2020, the Silvaprodukt Faculty), Germany (Leibniz Universität Hannover), Company set up 5 test facilities (cubes), at which (SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden) we have been testing our systems for protection of and Spain (Inspiralia, Campus de Cantoblanco) wooden façades, doors and windows since 2015. The with the aim of finding out efficiency of our wood specimens have been protected according to our protection systems in different climates; from the unique procedure of thermal modification of wood hottest and driest to the wettest and coldest. All called Silvapro® and with our natural wax Silvacera®. changes in wood specimens are being electronically The model facilities were set up at five locations recorded and analysed. The project was successfully across Europe: Slovenia (Žiri – head office of partner completed in 2016, but the test is still running.

15 Exposure

Brussels Paris Lisbon Shipped Exposure nov.2013 jan.2014 m a r. 2014 june.2014 Sept. 2014 13

16 Exposure

Exposed test tables within the COST campaign FP 1303

Brussels Paris Lisbon Testing withShipped COST FP 1303 test bench with SilvaproduktExposure materials nov.2013 jan.2014 mIn addition a r. 2014 to the above, our products arejune. being 2014tested at more than 30 locationsSept. around 2014 the world, tested and verified by numerous other independent including more than twenty throughout Europe, scientific institutions around the world. The map covering whole diversity of climate zones of the13 old shows some locations across Europe and the world continent. Test tables are equipped with sensors for at which we are testing efficiency and quality of monitoring moisture content in wood, temperatures, our protective agents and solutions. The test table wood decay and other variables, which provides us COST FP 1303 with our materials (thermally modified with quality feedback about the performance of our wood according to our patented procedure Silvapro® products and services throughout time. Testing is and vacuum pressure impregnated specimens with still in progress. our patented wood preservative Silvanolin®) are

17 List of references

1 Terrace of a private house 2 Franja Partisan Hospital 3 Sanc Michael theme park 4 Pier in Ankaran 5 Private house Tango 6 Koren eco campsite 7 Ugar equestrian centre 1 2 8 Bridge over Krka river

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9 Wooden extension of the BF in Ljubljana 10 Zoo in Ljubljana 11 Children’s wooden playhouses Hutko 12 Green estate Trnulja 13 Pikol Restaurant 14 Wooden extension and fence 15 Planica Nordic Centre 16 Kindergarten Pedenjped, Pedenjcarstvo // Location: Ljubljana, Kašelj // Authors: Maja Ivanič, Anja Planišček, Andraž Intihar, Urša Habič // Co-authors: Nena Gabrovec, Iztok Šušteršič, Damjan Černe, Andreja Zapušek Černe, Primož Fijavž, Marjan Manček // Year of 15 16 completion: 2018 // Photo by Miran Kambič 19 In Silvaprodukt, d.o.o., we have been engaged in the manufacture of products and services intended for the protection and finishing of wood for more than 70 years.

Based on rich experience and regular monitoring of developments in both science and practice, and paying special attention to cooperation with scientific research institutions, our products and services follow global trends in the field of wood protection.

We strive for environmental protection and sustainable development, which is why we are constantly improving existing products and developing new ones that are even more environmentally friendly. We ensure that our products and services comply with the applicable standards in the field of wood preservation and that their effectiveness is regularly verified by the University of Ljubljana andother independent institutions in Slovenia and abroad. Based on our experience and knowledge gained over more than seven decades of operation, we have become a real WOOD PRESERVATION CENTRE, where we advise, inform, educate, produce, test and research.

YEARS since 1951

Silvaprodukt, d. o. o. +386 1 28 00 570 p. p. 2403 [email protected] Dolenjska cesta 42 www.silvaprodukt.si 1000 Ljubljana Slovenia