Steam bending is the core process at our factory: timber is conditioned and steamed until the lignin fibres plasticise, then formed over a mould and held while it cools and dries. These answers describe how the process works and what we check at each stage.
Page created 2026-10-14.
Questions and answers
What actually happens when wood is steamed?
Heat and moisture together plasticise the lignin matrix between cellulose fibres. At roughly 20–25% moisture the fibres can slide over one another instead of snapping, which is what allows a flat board to follow a curve.
How do you decide the steaming time for a section?
Time scales with thickness, at about 15 minutes per centimetre as a working rule. We test the smallest and thickest section of each batch so the whole part bends uniformly rather than the thin part tearing first.
What is the role of a steel strap?
A steel strap compresses the outer fibres during bending so they stretch rather than crack. With a strap the radius limit improves to about 1:2 of thickness; without it, expect around 1:5 to be the practical floor.
Do you build the bending moulds in-house?
Yes. Tooling is developed in-house from your drawing or a physical sample, typically in 7 to 15 days. We keep tooling on file for the life of the programme so repeat orders reproduce the same curvature.
How do you avoid defects such as cracks and case-hardening?
Three controls: condition the stock evenly before steaming, bend within the species-specific time window, and dry slowly and evenly afterwards. Uneven drying is the usual cause of case-hardening, so we hold the parts until moisture is even through the section.
When should I choose press-curving instead of steam bending?
Press-curving in a heated mould is faster and more repeatable for thinner solid sections and all laminated plywood. Steam bending is the right choice for thick solid sections and very large radii where a press would be impractical.
What tooling do I need to provide?
A drawing with the radius, section dimensions and tolerance is enough to start. If you only have a sample or a sketch, send it – we can measure it and reverse engineer a drawing for your approval before tooling.
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Still have a question?
Send us your drawing, radius and section size and we will confirm feasibility, tooling and lead time. You can also request a quote or message us on WhatsApp.