ACCOYA® WOOD RECREATES THE HISTORIC WEST BRABANT DEFENSE CANAL

Located in the southwest of the province of North Brabant, the West Brabant Canal is a Dutch defensive line dating back to the early 17th century*. In a recent restoration project, Accoya® wood was chosen for the construction of a bridge providing access to Fort de Roovere, the largest fort surrounded by a moat. The bridge's design maintains the fort's integrity without obscuring the spectacular view of the site.



 RO&AD Architects (RO Koster and Ad Kil) built a nearly invisible bridge that sits in the water and extends up the edges around the fort, following the existing line and mimicking the old trenches. The bridge is made of Accoya® timber sheet piles on the sides and a hardwood platform and stairs in between. Accoya® timber was chosen for its longevity, stability, and environmental benefits and is constructed using a tongue-and-groove joint.



“Accoya® wood is ideal for exterior joinery, decking, cladding, pipe sheathing, and bridge sheathing because it exceeds the durability and stability capabilities of even the finest tropical hardwoods, with a 50-year above-ground and 25-year ground-contact warranty,” said Victor Vos, Managing Director of European Sales at Accsys Technologies. “Its exceptional properties make it an ideal material to meet the restoration project’s key specifications – recreation, education, and respect for nature. Sourced from forests certified as sustainable and naturally renewable by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programs for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), it helps create an environmentally friendly yet cutting-edge structure that blends beautifully with the landscape.”



Victor also stated, “Another key reference project for Accoya® is in the province of Flevoland, Holland, which used 20 linear meters of canal cladding, installed over 16 years ago, and this project demonstrates the incredible performance of this modified wood justifying the decision to use Accoya® in the West Brabant restoration project. The use of Accoya® in this type of canal cladding over a period of 16 years without any deterioration, reinforces our confidence that this bridge structure will continue to provide a sustainable solution.”



The bridge was opened on November 11, 2010, and the project recently received the prestigious BNA (Association of Dutch Architects) Building Award for 2011, South Region. Due to the bridge's success, the architects are now considering recommending Accoya® for a 25-meter-high observation tower to be built in the same area.



-FIN-



It was built to connect several towns and villages, including Bergen op Zoom and Steenbergen, protected by earthworks and walls. The defense was used when the Netherlands was attacked by the Spanish and, later, the French.



For further information, an interview or high-resolution images, please contact Charlotte Fougères/Tom Niblett at Fuel PR on 020 7498 8211 or by email at charlotte@fuelrefuel.com / tom@fuelrefuel.com



To access the Accsys Technologies Plc newsletter archive, log in to www.accsysplc.com/news.asp



Notes to Editors:

 Accsys Technologies PLC (www.accsysplc.com) is a company whose business is primarily focused on the production of Accoya® wood and the licensing of technology through its subsidiary, Titan Wood Limited, whose production site is located in Arnhem, the Netherlands, the European office in London and the US office in Dallas, Texas. Accsys Technologies PLC is listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market and on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange by Euronext NYSE, under the symbol 'AXS'. Accsys's operations comprise three main units: (i) the Accoya® wood production site; (ii) the Technology Development Division, which focuses on a program of continuous improvements to process engineering and operational protocols for the acetylation of wood, currently under development, as well as the development of technology for the acetylation of wood components; and (iii) the licensing of technology for the production of Accoya® wood and Tricoya® wood components worldwide.



Acetylation of wood is a process that increases the amount of 'acetyl' molecules in wood, thus changing its physical properties. The process protects the wood from rot by making it inedible to most microorganisms and fungi, without making it toxic—unlike conventional treatments. This process significantly reduces the wood's tendency to swell and shrink, making it less prone to cracking, and dramatically reducing maintenance after staining.



Wood Accoya® (www.accoya.comAccoya® is produced using a patented process that efficiently converts sustainably sourced softwood and non-sustainable hardwood into what is aptly described as "high-tech wood." Distinguished by its wear resistance, dimensional stability, and perhaps most importantly, its reliability (in terms of both consistent supply and quality), Accoya® is particularly well-suited for outdoor applications where performance and appearance are valued. Unlike most tropical and European hardwoods, its color does not fade when exposed to ultraviolet rays. Furthermore, the Accoya® production process does not compromise the wood's rigidity or its machineability.



The combination of UV resistance, dimensional stability, wear resistance and retained stiffness means that Accoya® wood offers a wealth of new opportunities for architects, designers and engineers who set standards. For uses in shipbuilding, where weight is also important, Accoya® wood provides shipbuilders for the first time with a wood that is strong, lightweight and retains its natural beauty for much longer. To access the full Accoya® news archive, log in to www.accoya.com/news.asp.