LIGNOLOC - Wooden nails that "weld" wooden elements without pre-treatment or adhesive

A remarkable innovation caught our eye at LIGNA 2025: LIGNOLOC, an industrial system of wooden nails that works without metal or glue - and creates a permanent bond between the elements through a natural process called "lignin welding" (Lignin Welding). This technology is developed by Austrian company BECK Fastening and rethinks the way fastenings can be made in timber construction, furniture and interior design. But what does "welding wood with wood" mean? And where can this innovation be applied?

The science behind wood welding: what it means Lignin Welding? How does welding between wood fibers work?

LIGNOLOC is not just an environmentally friendly replacement for metal nails. It is a complete system based on a real physico-chemical principle: lignin welding (Lignin WeldingWood is mainly composed of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin - a naturally occurring compound that binds fibers together, acting like a natural 'resin'.

LIGNOLOC nails are made of beech wood and pneumatically driven, designed for modern applications in industrial production and green timber construction - and beyond. Their mechanical properties allow them to be inserted into solid wood or structural wood materials without pre-trainingwith the FASCO pneumatic gun.

Lignin welding is the bonding phenomenon that occurs when two or more pieces of wood are heated rapidly (in milliseconds) to temperatures of about 160°C or more, followed by mechanical compression. This temperature determines melting natural lignin made of wood, which becomes adhesive and then hardens on cooling to form a solid bond. With LIGNOLOC nails, this process takes place just as the nail is hammered into the wood. The friction raises the temperature to over 160°C, and the lateral pressure and 'pushing back' of the wood mass on the nail creates the optimal conditions for this organic welding.

Here's how it works with LIGNOLOC wooden nails:

1. Using densified wood nails (beech compressed at high pressures up to a density of ~1300 kg/m³).

2. Inserting nails with a special pneumatic gun, at high pressures (8-10 bar), with penetration speeds above 100 km/h.

3. Local generation of frictional heat between the nail and the wood into which it is inserted.

4. On contact, this heat causes the lignin in both the nail and the base wood to soften and fuse.

5. When it cools, the lignin hardens, resulting in a irreversible solid wood-to-timber welding, resulting in a natural joint without any added glue or metal.

The result? The wooden wooden hut has a twice the tensile strength than a similar sized steel nail. This is a method permanent, natural and extremely durableand tests show that in many cases the wood gives way before the joint breaks. It is a patented technology that offers real structural strength - validated by international standardized tests (ETA, ASTM D1761).

Key benefits

✔️ Fast processing without pre-preparation

LIGNOLOC dowels are inserted with pneumatic guns - completely eliminating the need for pre-prepping or gluing, as is done with wooden dowels. They are made as follows save time and money.

✔️ Corrosion resistant and dimensionally stable

Being 100% wood, do not rustThey do not swell and are resistant to fungal attack. They can be used in use categories 1, 2 and 3 according to EUROCODE 5.

✔️ More sustainable than metal nails

From manufacturing to recycling, LIGNOLOC stands out for its environmentally friendly properties. And material homogeneity also benefits in terms of thermal insulation - no thermal bridges.

✔️ Wear-free post-machining of tools

LIGNOLOC nails protect cutting tools and circular blades. Prefabricated elements can be cut or machined without risk of tool damage.

Beech - the ideal raw material for LIGNOLOC nails

Beech is the most suitable wood for making LIGNOLOC nails, thanks to its vertical growth and homogeneous cell structure. The nail is strengthened by compressing the cells and impregnating them with resin, which gives the wood outstanding durability, including outdoors.

Unlimited applications: from indoors to outdoors, from furniture to load-bearing structures

The LIGNOLOC nail range is versatile and adapted to the real needs of the industry:

• Interior: decorative cladding, wooden furniture, saunas, flooring, OSB and floorboards, processing of recycled wood, coffins

• Exterior: facade, laminated timber construction (CLT), solid wood wall systems

• Industrial: automated furniture production, robotized lines with LIGNOLOC heads

• Shipbuilding, pallets industrial (nails without protruding heads, fully recyclable)

Recycled wood - nails that fit in perfectly

When working with reclaimed wood, LIGNOLOC nails in old wood visually harmonize with the texture of the material, without the need for masking. This aesthetic and time advantage makes recycling wood even more attractive.

Interior cladding and natural furniture - with visible or invisible fastenings

Wood veneers are usually mounted invisibly for aesthetic reasons. But LIGNOLOC wooden nails can also be fitted visiblewithout compromising on appearance. In the production of natural furniture, LIGNOLOC nails give a clean, warm finish, suitable for both indoor and covered outdoor spaces.

Industrial production - time saving, material homogeneity

The ecological and functional benefits of LIGNOLOC nails can also be exploited on an industrial scale. The system can be used manual, with pneumatic guns, or automated, with LIGNOLOC heads mounted on industrial robots.

In CLT production - no damage to vacuum membranes

In the production of Cross-Laminated TimberLIGNOLOC nails for fixing visible coatings not only have an aesthetic advantage over aluminum nails, but also does not damage the press vacuum membrane.

Solid wood wall systems - a quick alternative to dowels

In solid wood construction, LIGNOLOC is an alternative metal-free to wooden dowels, providing a quick and solid hold. Unlike metal nails, the wall can be machined afterwards no tool wear.

Pallet production - sustainability and recycling

Pallets fixed with LIGNOLOC protect the transported goods and do not have protruding metal ends which can scratch. At the end of their life, they can be shredded and easily recycled.

Complete green solution - from site joinery to premium furniture

LIGNOLOC brings a truly revolutionary technology to the wood industry, where joints don't just fix - they become an organic part of the construction. Welding lignin not only binds - but permanently bindsnaturally. It offers versatility, durability, aesthetics and energy efficiency, and the fact that it's all made from wood sets a new standard in sustainable construction.