Kebony

What Kebony does

Kebony is a Norwegian manufacturer of bio-based modified wood products, founded in 1997 and headquartered in Skien, Norway. The company produces modified wood using its patented Dually Modified™ process, which transforms sustainable softwood (typically pine) into durable, hardwood-class products using food waste byproducts (sugarcane bagasse, corncobs) as modifying agents. The technology applies two simultaneous modifications: an active modification that reduces water-related dimensional movement and a passive modification that forms a polymer-like cross-linked structure to enhance hardness, strength, and decay resistance. Output carries up to a 35-year warranty on premium grades and multiple third-party certifications (FSC, PEFC, Nordic Ecolabel, ICC Code Compliance, EPDs), positioning the company in the premium sustainable building materials segment.

Kebony sells through a global distribution network of dealers and installers serving architects, designers, commercial construction, and homeowners. Its core product lines are Kebony Clear (knot-free, premium grade with 35-year warranty) and Kebony Character (knotted, 30-year warranty), used primarily for decking, cladding, rough sawn applications, and outdoor furniture. Pricing is project-quote-based, with notable commercial installations including Hunter's Point South (NYC), Burke Museum (Seattle), 7 Cedars Resort (Washington), Pier 26 (NYC), and Lusail City Boardwalk (Qatar). The company has 51-100 employees, operates subsidiaries across Europe, North America, and the Middle East, and maintains a network of 165+ documented commercial projects.

Kebony has raised approximately $60M+ in disclosed funding across multiple rounds, with the largest being a EUR 30M growth-equity round in 2021 led by Jolt Capital and Lightrock. Earlier rounds include $20.5M from Investinor in 2015 and $4.85M from ETF Partners and Investinor in 2014. The company has been consolidating manufacturing into its Kallo, Belgium facility, closing its original Skien plant in 2025 as part of a European operational restructuring. It has also expanded its product surface through a Stora Enso partnership for wood panels, a fire retardant treatment achieving Euroclass B-s1,d0, and launches of Shou Sugi Ban cladding and exterior coatings, signaling a deliberate move from a single-product wood specialist toward a broader architectural surface portfolio.

Name

Kebony

Legal name

Kebony AS

Website

https://kebony.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kebony is a Norwegian manufacturer of patented bio-based modified wood products (Dually Modified™), selling FSC/PEFC-certified decking, cladding, panels, and outdoor furniture through a global dealer network serving architects, commercial construction, and residential customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Engineered Wood Products

NAICS

Wood Preservation (321114), Wood Product Manufacturing (321)

SIC

Lumber & Wood Products (No Furniture) (2400)

akta.pro primary industry

Treated Wood & Preserved Timber Products (IMADADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wood Treatment & Preservation for Engineered Wood Products (IMAMACAM), Engineered Wood Siding, Trim & Mouldings (IMAMACAI), Wood Flooring & Wood Veneer Products (IMADADAI)

Keywords

• Modified wood products
• Sustainable timber
• Wood decking materials
• Architectural cladding
• Fsc certified lumber

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Wood Product Sales: Kebony generates revenue through the sale of modified wood products including decking, cladding, and outdoor furniture. Products are sold through dealer network and direct sales, with pricing based on product type, grade (Clear or Character), dimensions, and quantity. Revenue is generated from both residential and commercial construction projects.
2. Product Accessories: Sale of complementary products including fasteners, finishes, and installation accessories. These products support the main wood product installations and provide recurring revenue opportunities within existing customer base.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kebony is a Norwegian manufacturer that produces modified wood products by converting sustainable softwoods into high-performance timber using its patented "Dually Modified" technology. The resulting wood is engineered to match or exceed the durability, hardness, and dimensional stability of tropical hardwoods, and is sold for use in decking, cladding, and architectural applications.

Product overview

Kebony is a Norwegian company specializing in environmentally friendly wood modification technology that converts sustainable softwoods into high-performance timber with properties comparable or superior to tropical hardwoods. The product portfolio centers on two main wood grades: Kebony Clear (knot-free, sophisticated) and Kebony Character (visible knots, natural aesthetic). These are offered across three primary application categories: Decking (including Boardwalk variants for heavy-use), Cladding (with multiple profiles and fire-retardant options), and Rough Sawn products for construction. Surface treatments include Colours & Coatings for enhanced protection and aesthetics, and Shou Sugi Ban for traditional charred wood finish. The company also provides BIM objects for architectural design integration and a range of accessories. All products are backed by 30-35 year warranties and carry FSC and PEFC certifications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Dually Modified: Proprietary wood modification technology that enhances softwood properties to match tropical hardwood performance
• Kebony Clear
• Kebony Character

Products and services

• Kebony Clear Premium clear-grade modified wood product made from sustainably sourced softwoods, used by architects and designers for high-end architectural and outdoor applications.
• Kebony Character Character-grade modified wood product that retains the natural grain and knots of the original softwood, offered for visible architectural applications where a rustic or natural appearance is desired.
• Kebony Decking Decking boards manufactured from Kebony modified wood, designed for outdoor terraces, boardwalks, and platform applications where durability and weather resistance are required.
• Kebony Cladding Exterior cladding profiles manufactured from Kebony modified wood, intended for facade applications on residential, commercial, and institutional buildings.
• Kebony Fire Retardant Treatment Optional fire-retardant treatment service applied to Kebony modified wood to enhance fire safety performance for use in building applications where fire codes apply.
• Kebony Colours & Coatings Factory-applied colour and coating options offered for Kebony modified wood products, providing pre-finished surfaces with specific aesthetic and protective qualities.
• Kebony Rough Sawn Rough-sawn surface finish variant of Kebony modified wood offered for architectural and landscaping applications requiring a textured appearance.
• Kebony Shou Sugi Ban Charred-wood cladding finish option based on the traditional Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique, offered for distinctive architectural facade applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduces water sensitivity dramatically through active modification of wood cell walls
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.

• Stora EnsocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop eco-friendly wood-based panels. Stora Enso, a major forest products company, partnered with Kebony to leverage modified wood technology for sustainable panel products.
• Fritzøe EngrosregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorwegian distribution partnership to strengthen Kebony's presence in the Norwegian market. Fritzøe Engros serves as a key distribution partner for Kebony products in Norway.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Accsys Technologies: Accsys produces Accoya acetylated wood and Tricoya panels using a proprietary wood modification process. It is the most direct competitor to Kebony in modified wood for decking, cladding, and structural applications, targeting the same architect/specifier channel with sustainability-led positioning.
• Lunawood: Finnish producer of thermally modified softwood (Thermowood) for decking, cladding, and interior applications. Lunawood targets the same premium sustainable-wood specification market as Kebony, using a competing modification technology.
• Thermory: Estonian manufacturer of thermally modified real wood for decking, cladding, saunas, and interior applications. Thermory overlaps directly with Kebony's product lines and sustainability-led positioning in Europe and North America.
• Abodo Wood: New Zealand-based producer of thermally modified wood (including Vulcan and Protector ranges) for architectural decking and cladding. Abodo serves the same architect/specifier-driven, sustainability-positioned segment as Kebony.

Broad incumbents

• Trex Company: Largest US manufacturer of wood-alternative composite decking and railing, serving residential and commercial outdoor living markets. Trex is a broad incumbent competing against real wood products including Kebony in decking specifications.
• The AZEK Company: Manufacturer of composite decking, trim, mouldings, and cladding under TimberTech and AZEK Exterior brands (now part of James Hardie Industries). AZEK is a broad incumbent in low-maintenance outdoor building products competing with Kebony in decking.
• Boral Limited: Australian-headquartered building materials group with timber, brick, and masonry product lines serving residential and commercial construction. Boral is a broad incumbent in construction materials whose timber portfolio overlaps with Kebony's architectural wood categories.
• West Fraser Timber: Major North American lumber, engineered wood (OSB, LVL, plywood), and pulp producer. West Fraser is a broad incumbent in wood building products, serving similar construction end-markets though focused on commodity panels rather than modified specialty wood.
• Boise Cascade: US-based manufacturer and distributor of engineered wood products (I-joists, LVL) and lumber, serving residential and commercial construction. Boise Cascade is a broad incumbent in wood building products with overlapping customer channels to Kebony's dealer and contractor segments.

Others

• Stora Enso: Global forest products major and Kebony's strategic co-development partner for modified wood-based panels. Stora Enso is not a direct competitor but a partner and ecosystem participant whose broader building solutions portfolio overlaps in adjacent wood-based construction categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/KebonyWood/videos
• Xx.com/kebonywood
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kebony-asa

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kebony