Shaped parts made of BECKER belmadur® are perfectly suited to weatherproof applications.

• As durable as teak (durability class 1)
• The same colour and surface feel as standard beech shaped parts
• Doubled hardness
• Finishing possible with varnishing or covering UV coating.
• Low moisture expansion and shrinkage
• Combinable with teak cover veneers

FAQ-BECKER belmadur®  

1. Questions and answers regarding process technology

1.1. How do you manage to render the shaped parts as weatherproof as this?
The veneer cell walls are impregnated with bemadur® solution and the cellulose fibres are then interlinked which permanently stabilizes the wood during the pressing process.

1.2. Is this chemical absolutely harmless for humans?
The technology is based on a very well-analyzed agent. Neither heavy metals nor organic halogen compounds are imbibed into the wood. A similar technology is already used for textiles on a broad basis and meets high toxicological and ecological standards (Ökotex 100): “You can wear it on your skin”. The modification causes a reduction of formaldehyde emissions from the wood. If the shaped parts are varnished, values that are significantly below the threshold values applicable for example for the use of wood materials in interior rooms can be achieved.

1.3. Is the entire shaped part impregnated with the chemical?
The entire shaped part consists of belmadur® veneers. Therefore, the part is completely water-resistant.

1.4. Is the adhesive weather-resistant as well?
A specific water-resistant 2-component adhesive system is used for pressing the shaped parts, thus rendering the adhesive joint particularly weatherproof. In this way gluing class 3 (alternating boiling test) according to DIN EN 314-2 is obtained.

1.5. What material should the pressing tool be made of?
On account of a higher pressing temperature during the linking process wooden tools are not wear-resistant enough. Therefore, aluminium pressing tools have to be used.

1.6. Can an analysis be used to determine later on whether the supplied shaped parts were made from Becker belmadur®?
It is possible to determine later on whether a shaped part was made from Becker belmadur® shaped wood by using a chemical analytical procedure.

1.7. Is the belmadur® procedure patented?
The procedure is worldwide patented by BASF and the company Becker is integrated as exclusive development partner.

2. Questions and answers regarding the parts’ properties

2.1. Why does the linked beechwood not disintegrate?
During the belmadur® proceedings the cellulose in the cell walls is linked. Therefore, fungi which normally destroy the wood are prevented from decomposing the cellulose structures. These fungi now lack their food source in the treated wood.

2.2. Does it feel different to touch than non-linked wood and is there a perceivable difference in the way the product looks?
The surface is harder and therefore smoother. The warm colour of the beech remains the same.

2.3. Is Becker belmadur® sea-water-resistant?
There is no substantiated evidence as yet. But based on first tests it can be expected that the good properties of Becker belmadur® shaped wood persist even in case of contact with salt water. 

2.4. How will the material react in case of wood-earth contact?
If non-treated beech wood comes into contact with earth, within a few months it will be infested with fungi which destroy the wood. Thanks to belmadur® the material remains mostly stable. At the university of Göttingen tests with solid wood have been running for more than 4 years without the wood starting to decompose.

2.5. Are there limits to the deformability of visible woods?
Linked veneers only swell very little which makes them somewhat brittle.
Therefore, the three-dimensional forming cannot go as far as is the case with conventional forming. The forming capability of thin precious wood veneer is used as point of reference.

2.6. What is the smallest radius possible?
With veneers as thin as 1.1 mm even radiuses of R 25 can be pressed.

2.7. What is the maximum thickness of a shaped part to be pressed?
On account of the linking process a maximum thickness of 25 mm has to be planned.

2.8. Is the shaped part more stable as well on account of the increased hardness?
The elasticity of the shaped part slightly decreases due to its hardness that is increased two-fold. For example, the width of the waist of a 9.5 mm thick chair shell should not be less than 300 mm.

2.9. How are the tolerances for the shaped wood?
The tolerances for the shaped wood are similar to the tolerances applicable up to now.

2.10. Can I put Becker belmadur® shaped wood into water?
Yes, without restrictions.

2.11. Is BECKER belmadur® shaped wood dishwasher-safe?
The tests in this area are very positive. Samples without surface treatment have up to now (as of 01/2007) been subjected to 400 washing cycles and apart from a lighter colouring (bleaching) the samples show no change.

2.12. Can I process Becker belmadur® shaped wood without restrictions?
Generally, the processing does not differ from conventional processing. On account of the increased hardness the breaking off of pieces from the edge of the wood part during milling can be almost totally avoided but the machining of the edges becomes more time-consuming.

2.13. Can I glue BECKER belmadur® shaped wood components together?
This can be done without any difficulties by using a water-proof glue according to EN 204 (D3).
Joints with dowels or biscuits should not be used.

2.14. Besides the many advantages of the BECKER belmadur® method, are there any changes in the properties that should be taken into account?
The weight of the shaped wood is increased by appr. 10% and the three-dimensional deformability is somewhat limited.

2.15. How did you test the material?
The university of Göttingen has been testing shaped parts in outdoor weathering since 2004. Besides, extensive testing with accelerated weathering methods has been performed to simulate the wear conditions over 8 years. All tests confirm the excellent durability of the product.

2.16. Can the material be easily disposed of?
The material can be disposed of via the usual channels of the waste disposal industry.

3. Questions and answers regarding the surface

3.1. Is untreated Becker belmadur® shaped wood suitable for outdoor use?
At the moment only coated BECKER belmadur® is available.
If uncoated shaped parts were used outdoors, they would turn grey from UV radiation similar to untreated teak. Dirt accumulations could result in blue stains. Nevertheless, blue stain fungi do not destroy the wood.

3.2. What kind of coating system do you recommend?
Your belmadur® shaped wood is coated at the factory with a water-based coating system from Sikkens. This surface prevents the greying of the shaped part. (www.sikkens.de)

3.3. Can transparent coating systems be used?
Unfortunately, this is not possible since a transparent coating does not provide sufficient protection from UV rays.

3.4. Are the varnished surfaces saliva-resistant?
Yes, a certificate from Sikkens is available to prove this.

3.5. How should I maintain coated BECKER belmadur® shaped wood?
The surfaces should be checked once or twice a year (depending on its utilization) and if damaged, they should be repainted with Sikkens varnish in the desired shade. To better maintain the value of the shaped wood, the Sikkens care milk system should be applied once per year.

3.6. Can I get a face veneer (sliced veneer) as cover layer?
Uncross-linked cover veneers of fatigue durability class 1 (“very durable”) can be pressed. Becker has already produced products with teak sliced veneers as cover layers in combination with Becker belmadur® veneers. These shaped parts are offered coated as well.

4. Questions and answers regarding distribution

4.1. What does belmadur® mean?
belmadur® is a pleasant sounding coinage. It associates beauty (bel); material (ma) and durability (dur).

4.2. Is belmadur® shaped wood exclusively available from Becker?
Weather-proof shaped parts that are produced using the belmadur® technology are only available from Fritz Becker KG who is a development partner of BASF

4.3. What are the minimum order quantities?
The minimum order quantity is 250 shaped parts per order. However, in individual cases other batch sizes can be agreed

4.4. Can you prove that the wood really comes from sustainable German forestry?
Becker KG is PEFC-certified. (PEFC/04-31-03-41)

4.5. What guarantee do you offer?
If the shaped wood is used for its intended purpose only, we provide a five-year guarantee on the durability (bonding). The surface coating is excluded from this guarantee.

4.6. Can I buy ready-varnished parts from Becker?
We are able to supply coated shaped parts with finished surfaces.