Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research
Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut WKI

Building the future with renewable raw materials.
Since 1946.

Sustainability has been the central theme at the Fraunhofer WKI since its foundation in 1946. Founder and eponym Dr. Wilhelm Klauditz Dr. Wilhelm Klauditz sought solutions for the optimal exploitation of raw wood – a commodity which had become scarce as a result of the war - as well as for the technical utilization of waste wood and small-dimensioned wood. He is considered a pioneer of the modern wood-based materials industry. Today, the Fraunhofer WKI utilizes the entire spectrum of renewable raw resources in order to develop sustainable materials, components and chemical products. A particular focus is on the use of plant residues and waste materials.

About us

News

 

Press note / 6.2.2026

Does rapidly progressing climate change necessitate better concepts for protecting people indoors?

Professor Tunga Salthammer from Fraunhofer WKI and Professor Lidia Morawska from Queensland University of Technology address this question in a recent article published in the journal WIREs Climate Change.

 

Press release / 2.2.2026

Multi-Layer Flax Fiber Fabric for Alternative Seating Furniture with Flexible Geometries

As part of their research project titled Linum Tube, researchers from the Fraunhofer WKI have created modern seating furniture that is easy to disassemble, adapt and transport, and is also highly recyclable. The modular systems are made of only two materials: fabric produced from natural fibers and steel tubes.

 

Press release / 17.10.2025

Biomaterials based on fungal mycelium

At the Fraunhofer WKI, researchers are demonstrating the potential of building with mycelium. Through the targeted combination of fungal mycelium and organic substrates such as fibers from elephant grass, residual materials can be used in order to produce a 100 percent bio-based, degradable, renewable and low-energy construction material.

 

Press release / 2.10.2025

Bio-based adhesives for wood-based materials

Fraunhofer researchers are developing formaldehyde-free adhesives made from lignin and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) for the production of sustainable particle boards using regional wood residues. Bio-based adhesives are a key technology for the bonding of materials and the conservation of finite resources, and represent a promising growth market.

Events and Fairs

 

Workshop

HighTex with Fraunhofer

November 4, 2025
Münchberg, Germany

 

Workshop

Surface Inspection with Image Processing

December 3 to 4, 2025
Karlsruhe, Germany

 

Conference and exhibition

International Wood Construction Conference

December 3 to 5, 2025
Innsbruck, Austria

 

Conference and exhibition

European Wood-based Panel Symposium

October 14 to 16, 2026
Hamburg, Germany

Locations

 

Headquarters Braunschweig

Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research
Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut WKI

Riedenkamp 3
38108 Braunschweig

Phone +49 531 2155-0
Fax +49 531 2155-334

Email: info@wki.fraunhofer.de

 

Center for Light and Environmentally-Friendly Structures ZELUBA®

Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research
Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut WKI

Beethovenstraße 51F
38106 Braunschweig

 

Application Center for Wood Fiber Research HOFZET®

Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research
Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut WKI
Heisterbergallee 10A
30453 Hanover

Phone +49 511 353248 23

 

Fraunhofer Center Circular Economy for Mobility (CCEM)

c/o Open Hybrid LabFactory e.V.
Hermann-Münch-Str. 2
38440 Wolfsburg