Medite Tricoya jumps into action

The incredibly versatile Medite Tricoya MDF has recently been utilised in the construction of a unique sculpture.

The Vrouw Moeder Kind Centrum, a hospitable health-centre for mothers and newly born children in The Netherlands, has joined forces with Coillte Panels Products and the Fiction Factory to build a 6-metre model kangaroo.

The installation is hoped to enhance the positive experience for children visiting the centre. Chosen for its durability, longevity and versatile design capabilities, Medite Tricoya, with its additional weather resistant characteristics, provides the ideal solution for the one-of-a-kind sculpture.

The 111-piece model, which takes the shape of a kangaroo with its young sitting in the pouch, hopes to contribute to the overall positive experience for sick children visiting the centre. The symbolic sculpture portrays the intense bond between parent and child in a safe and soothing environment, and aims to welcome, inspire and soothe visitors. The kangaroo can be recognised from several levels of the building and from various ground floor points.

Medite Tricoya, the sustainable, FSC certified MDF, is one of the greatest advances in modified wood panel products over the past 30 years. Selected for this project due to its extreme durable characteristics, Medite Tricoya offers a host of benefits compared to traditional MDF.

The sculpture, situated in the patio area of the VMK, required a dimensionally stable material that would not swell, shrink or decay with changes in the weather. Medite Tricoya benefits from the latest advancements in acetylation technology, which naturally alters the wood’s chemical structure so that it is not affected by the effects of water absorption. The versatile MDF can be cut, coated, coloured, sanded, glued, machined and fastened as quickly, smoothly and easily as the highest quality standard MDF, providing a further host of positive characteristics for designers and joiners.

“With machining flexibility as per normal MDF, Medite Tricoya offered them complete design freedom and enabled them to create a unique 111-piece sculpture with additional weather resistant characteristics”, explained Peter Clifton, Medite Tricoya Product Manager from Coillte Panel Products.

“The potential applications for Medite Tricoya continue to expand and this installation shows just how versatile the material can be. Its great knowing that, with a 50 year material guarantee, the sculpture can be enjoyed by many families in the future.”

Thomas De Wit, from the Fiction Factory commented: “Our carpenters, which regularly work with a variety of wood and board to produce creatively challenging installations, utilised Medite Tricoya in the construction of the kangaroo due to its extreme durable characteristics. The dimensionally stable Medite Tricoya, offered us peace of mind with the knowledge that the material would not swell, shrink or decay with changes in the weather.”

In addition the product has been tested by the BRE, to EN350-2 of 1, or ‘very durable’; this is the equivalent to teak and more durable than oak. BRE also tested the creep and duration performance as well as its resistance to weathering.