Sometime this year a manufacturing plant in India will begin producing corrugated bamboo panels developed at Washington State University.
A team of researchers at WSU’s Composite Materials & Engineering Center developed the panels in partnership with Ocean, a Tacoma startup founded by Alexa Bednarz.
Bednarz managed global health programs at the Gates Foundation. Working in Delhi, India, she learned how building materials affect living conditions, especially among the very poor.
“I realized roofing was a big pain point, and if you could develop a roof that could keep people cooler, last longer, is quieter and more sustainable, there was an opportunity there,” she said.
She knew that roofing made from fast-growing bamboo existed, but also knew it needed improving. So she approached Vikram Yadama, director of the Composite Materials & Engineering Center (CMEC) at WSU, who has long experience in creating building products from natural fibers.
“It’s going to happen,” he said. “While we’re doing all that we’re continuing to make panels at CMEC and do further testing and development. We’re looking at roofing panels, but we’re also looking at siding and structural wall panels, and evaluating different kinds of coating and adhesives.” [Read more…]