Technical center hardwood
Technikum Laubholz is a German state-backed research institute developing wood-based sustainable technologies — including textile fibers, carbon fibers, nanocellulose, and cellulose composites — serving automotive, textile, and industrial customers via contract R&D, prototyping, and technology licensing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersBlaubeuren, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Technical center hardwood does
Technikum Laubholz GmbH is a privately held German research institute founded in 2021 as an initiative of the state of Baden-Württemberg to drive industrial transformation toward a defossilized, regionally anchored bioeconomy. The institute operates across three research fields — Sustainable Materials, Biotechnology, and Plant Polymers — and is headquartered in Göppingen with a central laboratory in Blaubeuren. Its technology portfolio centers on converting hardwood (primarily beech) into industrial-grade materials: WDBSD TX® wood-based textile fibers (pilot plant opened August 2023), WDBSD CF® wood-based carbon fibers (pilot plant opened October 2024), nanocellulose/microfibrillated cellulose via the KIckBio project, CELLUN sustainable fiber composites, and SkaDES enzymatic processes for sustainable surfactants.
The institute generates revenue through contract R&D, prototype and small-series production, strategy consulting, and technology licensing to industrial partners, supplemented by public grant funding from EU Structural Funds (EFRE/ESF), the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Food, Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection (MLR), and the federal BMWK. Customer and partner relationships span automotive (Porsche, ElringKlinger), industrial automation (FESTO), textiles (TEXOVERSUM, Neo.Fashion., Cordenka, Fiber Engineering), and research (DITF Denkendorf, Hochschule Aalen). In November 2025 TLH announced the formation of two wholly-owned subsidiaries — CILWA GmbH i.G. and VIACARBO GmbH i.G., effective January 2026 — to advance industrial commercialization. Per ION Analytics (June 2026), the company anticipates reaching break-even in five years and is presently at pilot production scale.
Technical center hardwood firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Technical center hardwood
- Legal name
- Technikum Laubholz GmbH
- Website
- https://technikumlaubholz.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Technikum Laubholz is a German state-backed research institute developing wood-based sustainable technologies — including textile fibers, carbon fibers, nanocellulose, and cellulose composites — serving automotive, textile, and industrial customers via contract R&D, prototyping, and technology licensing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Technical center hardwood industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Bioeconomy Research and Development Services
- NAICS
- Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (32522)
- SIC
- Broadwoven Fabric Mills, Man Made Fiber & Silk (2221), Pulp Mills (2611)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Bio-based Textiles & Fibers (lyocell/viscose, cellulose filament, nonwovens) (IMAMALAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Nanocellulose & Cellulose Derivatives (CNC/CNF, MCC, ethers/esters) (IMAMALAD), Wood-based Biocomposites & Natural Fiber Composites (WPC, bio-reinforced plastics) (IMAMALAF), Man-Made Fiber Manufacturing (Polyester/Nylon/Acrylic/Viscose) (IMAOAAAB)
Keywords
Where Technical center hardwood is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Blaubeuren
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Technical center hardwood business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Contract Research & Development: Contract development services for new processes and applications, translating ideas into market-ready solutions for industrial partners.
- Prototype & Small Series Production: Production of functional prototypes and small series, preparing solutions for industrial scaling.
- Strategy & Consulting: Analysis of potential, development of bioeconomy strategies, and support for companies transitioning to sustainable practices.
- Project Funding (EU, State, Federal): Research projects funded by EU Structural Funds (EFRE, ESF), Baden-Württemberg Ministry, and BMWK provide operational funding for technology development.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels10 records
Technical center hardwood product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Technikum Laubholz is a research institute that develops industrial processes for converting hardwood into high-performance materials, including wood-based textile fibers (WDBSD TX®), wood-based carbon fibers (WDBSD CF®), nanocellulose, and cellulose-based sustainable composites (CELLUN). It sells these capabilities to industrial customers through contract R&D, prototypes, small-series production, strategy consulting, and patent licensing across automotive, textile, defense, aviation, cosmetics, and pulp-and-paper sectors.
Product overview
Technikum Laubholz is a research institute developing innovative and sustainable wood-based technologies for industrial applications. The portfolio centers on WDBSD TX® (wood-based textile fibers from beech wood) and WDBSD CF® (wood-based carbon fiber from hardwood), complemented by the CELLUN sustainable fiber composite materials project. Research initiatives include KIckBio (AI-optimized nanocellulose production) and SkaDES (enzymatic processes for sustainable chemicals). Service offerings include Strategy & Consulting, Prototypes & Small Series production, and Contract Development. The company operates across three research focus areas: Sustainable Materials, Biotechnology, and Plant Polymers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WDBSD TX®: Wood-based textile fibers made from beech wood revolutionizing the textile industry
- WDBSD CF®
- SkaDES
- KIckBio
- CELLUN
- Waldmacher Award
- Laubholztage
Products and services
- WDBSD TX® (Wood-Based Textile Fibers) Proprietary wood-based textile fiber technology developed by Technikum Laubholz, providing a sustainable alternative to conventional textile fibers for industrial buyers in the textile and apparel sector.
- WDBSD CF® (Wood-Based Carbon Fibers) Proprietary wood-based carbon fiber technology offering a renewable, lower-emission alternative to petroleum-derived carbon fiber, targeted at automotive, defense, and aviation manufacturers.
- CELLUN Sustainable fiber composite material made from cellulose, developed through a research project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) via FNR, intended for industrial applications.
- Contract Development Custom research and development service through which Technikum Laubholz develops wood-based material solutions to client specifications for industrial customers.
- Prototypes & Small Series Manufacturing service providing prototypes and small-series production runs of wood-based material innovations for industrial clients evaluating new bio-based inputs.
- Strategy & Consulting Advisory service supporting companies and institutions in strategy development for wood-based material innovation and sustainable bioeconomy transformation.
Quantifiable outcome
- 30 tonnes/day global nanocellulose production after 40+ years of development
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Technical center hardwood
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Technical center hardwood technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability4 records
Feature7 records
Technical center hardwood partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Neo.Fashion.corePartnership for sustainable fashion collaboration. Neo.Fashion. contributed design expertise for the first WDBSD TX collection presented at Berlin Fashion Week 2024.
- TEXOVERSUM Fakultät TextilflagshipCollaboration for sustainable fashion using WDBSD TX wood-based textile fibers. First collection 'WDBSD TX Endless Fiber. Infinite Possibilities.' presented at Berlin Fashion Week 2024.
- PorschecoreAssociated partner in CELLUN research project developing sustainable fiber composite materials for automotive applications. Interest in lightweight, sustainable materials.
- FESTOcoreAssociated partner in CELLUN project. TLH participated in Festo Innovation Day 2025 (100th anniversary). Festo provides automation expertise and interest in sustainable materials.
- ElringKlingercoreProject partner in CELLUN developing sustainable fiber composite materials for industrial applications.
- CordenkacoreProject partner providing regenerated cellulose fibers for CELLUN composite materials. Supplier of reinforcement fibers.
- CG TecminorProject partner in CELLUN research consortium focusing on composite material development.
- Fiber EngineeringcoreProject partner focusing on fiber development and complete material circularity for CELLUN after end of life.
- manaomeaminorAssociated partner in CELLUN project for sustainable fiber composite materials.
- Deutsche Institute für Textil- und Faserforschung Denkendorf (DITF)corePrimary research partner in CELLUN and other projects. DITF developed HighPerCell cellulose fibers and holds fiber technology patents acquired by TLH. Partners in biobased carbon fiber innovation.
- Hochschule AalencoreResearch cooperation agreement between Technikum Laubholz and Hochschule Aalen for joint research activities in sustainable materials.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Technical center hardwood competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Stora Enso Oyj: Forest products major with a biorefinery and biomaterials division producing cellulose-based solutions (e.g., wood-based carbon materials, lignin products). Comparable for its wood-based biomaterials R&D and commercialization playbook.
- Sappi Europe (Sappi Ehingen): Global pulp, paper, and dissolving pulp producer that has been pushing into biomaterials, cellulose specialties, and bio-based composites. Cross-comparable as a wood-based biomaterials incumbent already represented on TLH's supervisory board via Sappi Ehingen MD.
- SGL Carbon: Large established carbon fiber and composite materials producer serving automotive, aerospace, and industrial markets. Comparable as the incumbent against which WDBSD CF wood-based carbon fiber must compete for lightweighting applications.
- Eastman (Naia): Major specialty chemicals/materials incumbent whose Naia cellulosic fiber addresses the same sustainable apparel market as WDBSD TX. Comparable via its branded cellulosic yarn play and global brand partnerships.
Emerging players
- Renewcell (Circulose): Cellulose-to-fiber recycling innovator (Circulose brand) supplying dissolving pulp to textile fiber producers. Comparable as an emerging cellulose fiber circularity player targeting the same sustainable apparel customer base.
- CelluForce Inc. Producer of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) at commercial scale from wood pulp. Adjacent peer for the nanocellulose portion of TLH's portfolio, focused on a narrower segment but operating commercially.
Direct peers
- Lenzing AG: Global leader in lyocell and modal cellulose fibers (Tencel). Most directly comparable peer for WDBSD TX wood-based textile fibers, competing for the same sustainable apparel and home textile customers.
- Kelheim Fibres GmbH: Specialty viscose fiber producer with strong focus on functional and sustainable cellulose fibers. Comparable as a European-based cellulose fiber innovator targeting technical and sustainable textile applications.
- Borregaard AS: Industrial producer of microfibrillated cellulose (Exilva) and other bio-based specialty cellulose products from wood. Direct reference point for KIckBio's nanocellulose scale-up ambitions and commercial go-to-market in MFC/CNC.
- Sateri: One of the world's largest producers of dissolving wood pulp and viscose/lyocell cellulose fibers, with multi-plant industrial scale. Closest direct competitor for cellulose staple fiber volume markets that WDBSD TX targets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Technical center hardwood social profiles
Digital presenceTechnical center hardwood financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Technical center hardwood leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Technical center hardwood subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Technical center hardwood funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Technical center hardwood M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Technical center hardwood
What does Technical center hardwood do?
Technikum Laubholz is a research institute that develops industrial processes for converting hardwood into high-performance materials, including wood-based textile fibers (WDBSD TX®), wood-based carbon fibers (WDBSD CF®), nanocellulose, and cellulose-based sustainable composites (CELLUN). It sells these capabilities to industrial customers through contract R&D, prototypes, small-series production, strategy consulting, and patent licensing across automotive, textile, defense, aviation, cosmetics, and pulp-and-paper sectors.
Is Technical center hardwood a public or private company?
Technical center hardwood is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Technical center hardwood founded?
Technical center hardwood was founded in 2021. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Technical center hardwood based?
Technical center hardwood is headquartered in Blaubeuren, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Technical center hardwood make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Contract Research & Development is the primary driver. The others are prototype & Small Series Production, strategy & Consulting and project Funding (EU, State, Federal).
Who are Technical center hardwood's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Stora Enso Oyj, Sappi Europe (Sappi Ehingen), SGL Carbon and Eastman (Naia). Emerging players are Renewcell (Circulose) and CelluForce Inc.. Direct peers are Lenzing AG, Kelheim Fibres GmbH, Borregaard AS and Sateri.
Does Technical center hardwood have an API?
No public API is recorded for Technical center hardwood.
What industry is Technical center hardwood in?
Technical center hardwood's product category is Bioeconomy Research and Development Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAMALAK, Bio-based Textiles & Fibers (lyocell/viscose, cellulose filament, nonwovens), with a secondary code of IMAMALAD, Nanocellulose & Cellulose Derivatives (CNC/CNF, MCC, ethers/esters). Its NAICS code is 32522 and its SIC code is 2221.