Wood'Ligne, the first range of wooden sunshades co-designed and co-developed by Tellier Brise-Soleil with the École Supérieure du bois de Nantes

The result of close collaboration with the École Supérieure du Bois (ESB) in Nantes, this strategic project represents an unprecedented alliance between Tellier Brise-Soleil's recognized expertise in solar protection and a mastery of wood, a material with complex properties but great aesthetic and environmental richness.

A natural return to wood and support from ESB

Today, the majority of sunshades available on the market are made of aluminum, the industry having favored this material for its ease of design, simplified maintenance, and durability. As the industry has grown, aluminum has gradually become the dominant material, and Tellier Brise-Soleil has built its expertise on working with aluminum.

With its new Wood'Ligne range, based on seven wood species, Tellier Brise-Soleil is responding to a growing demand from project owners and architects who want to incorporate authenticity into their projects. Wood embodies a living element that works, evolves, and develops a patina, bringing authenticity and a biophilic quality that other materials cannot match.

By choosing this exceptional renewable material, Wood'Ligne is committed to responsible architecture. Wood captures CO₂ during its initial life cycle, resulting in a favorable carbon footprint and fully aligning with increasingly stringent environmental regulations. Wood'Ligne thus replaces aluminum infill panels with wooden ones, elegantly protecting any type of building without compromising thermal, mechanical, or aesthetic performance.

The company, based in Chemillé-en-Anjou (49), is entering this market segment with credibility and legitimacy, thanks to the training provided by ESB Nantes. This need, identified in 2023 by the R&D teams, led the company to partner with this leading national institution. Four people from the specification, sales, and R&D departments participated in an intensive program: two days on the fundamental properties of wood, a one-day debriefing session on its application as a sunshade and its design, and specific advice on wood species suited to the mechanical and installation constraints. ESB supported Tellier Brise-Soleil through the testing and trials phases, guaranteeing recognized expertise at each stage of development.

Test scheduling and validation

The Wood'Ligne range is based on an experimental validation schedule. A campaign of mechanical, aging, and fastener performance tests is underway to evaluate suitable fastening methods and verify that each wood species meets performance requirements. This experimental program focuses on validating the fasteners and board assemblies according to the different installation methods used in the Wood'Ligne range: the boards' ability to withstand the required loads in real-world configurations, including pull-out, tensile, and bending tests under various load conditions. Accelerated aging protocols subject the wood species to humidity-drying and light-dark cycles, replicating the aging process of several years in just a few weeks. This rigorous approach will guarantee high confidence in the final performance and durability under real-world conditions.

Technical specifications and architectural integration

Wood'Ligne's wooden infill panels integrate seamlessly with aluminum and stainless steel base plates for sunshade structures. The combination of wood and aluminum creates a stable and reliable structure with simplified on-site installation. The wooden panels are available in several standard sizes: THT poplar, THT spruce, THT ash, and THT fraké are offered in 140×21 mm sections. Accoya Grey and Light are available in a range of 140×21, 140×28, 140×41, 190×21, 190×28, and 190×41 mm sections. Kebony Clear is available in 96×22, ​​145×22, and 140×38 mm configurations.

Non-standard sections are available upon request, allowing architects considerable creative freedom. The dimensions adhere to the RAGE and PACTE guidelines, reference standards for sunshades, ensuring the structure's durability. Fixing and structural components remain in aluminum or stainless steel (flats, SpeedFix brackets, plates), and the screws are stainless steel. The three available fixing types guarantee integration tailored to each architectural configuration.

All wood species comply with current durability standards. Poplar, spruce, ash, and THT fraké fall under use class 3.1 or 3.2 according to standard NF EN 335, which covers exterior structures not in permanent contact with water. Accoya and Kebony achieve use class 4, suitable for frequent or prolonged exposure to moisture. In terms of flammability, all Wood'Ligne wood species are classified as category D (Europe) according to fire reaction standards, confirming satisfactory performance in built environments.

The aluminum or stainless steel structure is finished according to standard RAL color charts, with 60-80 micron powder coating for aluminum and 20 micron anodizing for stainless steel. Qualicoat, Seaside, Qualimarine, Qualideco, and Qualanod certifications attest to the superior quality of these finishes, guaranteeing their durability and resistance to weathering and specific environments.

The seven essences of Wood'Ligne

Wood'Ligne is based on seven wood species, each selected for its specific properties and its ability to meet distinct architectural requirements.

THT Spruce: Nordic density and performance

Sourced from sustainably managed Northern European forests, THT spruce combines controlled density, natural aesthetics, and competitive pricing. Unlike local species such as Douglas fir or pine, spruce offers superior density and ensures a well-calibrated supply with minimal manufacturing waste. All the spruce used by Tellier Brise-Soleil comes from sustainably managed forests in Northern Europe, Finland, and Sweden. THT spruce offers good wood density through precisely calibrated supply, the characteristic look of a softwood with its darker grain, and a very competitive price. Sourced from sustainably managed Northern European forests, THT spruce combines controlled density, natural aesthetics, and competitive pricing.

Unlike local species such as Douglas fir or pine, spruce offers a higher density and ensures a well-calibrated supply with minimal manufacturing waste. All the spruce used by Tellier Brise-Soleil comes from sustainably managed forests in Northern Europe, Finland, and Sweden. THT spruce offers good wood density through calibrated supply, the character of a softwood with its darker grain, and a very competitive price. Its heat treatment ensures good dimensional stability, improved durability, and a uniform color. It is a reliable alternative to local softwoods with a more refined appearance and well-calibrated industrial processing. Spruce exhibits superior water repellency and dimensional stability, improved durability, uniform color and shade throughout, and accelerated graying of the products under ultraviolet light. Sourced from Europe and treated in France, it grays quickly and evenly, offering a uniform patina appreciated by architects.

THT Spruce: Nordic density and performance

Thermally modified poplar offers an excellent aesthetic and economic compromise for low-environmental-impact projects. This French species has few knots and, after thermal modification, becomes very lightweight. It is less susceptible to cracking and splitting, defects often found in wood exposed to the elements. Aesthetically, it is similar to the prestigious Red Cedar. Its thermal treatment enhances its durability and gives it a uniform light brown color.

With its few knots, poplar generates minimal waste during production, thus optimizing industrial profitability. Heat-treated poplar offers increased resistance to insects and fungi, ensuring a consistent supply. It benefits from enhanced water repellency and dimensional stability, improved durability, uniform color throughout, and accelerated graying under ultraviolet light. Sourced and treated in France, this wood exhibits a rapid and uniform graying, particularly valued for facade applications.

THT Ash: local nobility and refined grain

Thermally modified ash (THT) embodies the premium local wood for wooden sunshades. A prized French wood valued for its natural refinement and enhanced performance, THT ash is admired for its high density, stability, and refined grain. After thermal modification, it becomes stable, durable, and aesthetically pleasing. The heat treatment gives it a beautiful brown hue and excellent resistance to biological damage.

THT ash offers increased resistance to insects and fungi, combining natural beauty, technical performance, and a unique grain. Its dimensional stability is excellent, largely due to its high density of up to 700 kg/m³. It boasts enhanced durability, consistent color and shade, and a uniform, natural silvery-grey patina. Particularly robust, it is ideally suited to demanding architectural projects, both aesthetically and technically. This durable wood, treated in France, ages naturally to a harmonious silvery-grey, developing a subtle and refined patina over time.

The Fraké THT: exotic graphics and lightweight

Fraké THT, an exotic wood from West Africa, is distinguished by its unique marbled grain and remarkable lightness. This wood, also known as Limba, comes primarily from the tropical forests of West Africa (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, Republic of Congo, and others). With a straight grain and often regular texture, it sometimes displays dark marbling that gives it a very graphic and distinctive appearance.

Thermally treated, fraké gains stability and durability for long-lasting outdoor use. It combines high technical performance with strong aesthetics, developing a gradual, natural gray patina. THT fraké offers enhanced natural durability through a heat treatment process without the addition of chemicals, making it resistant to wood-boring insects and fungal attacks. It exhibits good dimensional stability in outdoor conditions, a marbled grain structure providing strong aesthetic value, a lightweight wood that facilitates installation, particularly on facades, and a gradual, uniform gray patina under the influence of ultraviolet light. FSC-OLB certified, it enhances projects focused on differentiation and sustainability. An exotic species sourced from sustainably managed forests, it offers architects a unique visual appeal and undeniable technical performance.

Accoya: a molecular revolution with a 25-year guarantee

Accoya represents a major technological breakthrough in the field of modified wood. Made from acetylated radiata pine, Accoya is an ultra-stable and durable wood, with a minimum 25-year warranty above ground. Thanks to a revolutionary scientific process called acetylation, it modifies the wood to give it properties superior to those of the best hardwoods and, in many cases, to aluminum and PVC.

The cellulose in wood naturally contains hydrophobic acetyl groups, present in small numbers, but too few in natural wood to provide optimal durability and stability. Acetylation is a reaction between wood and acetic anhydride (concentrated acetic acid) at high temperature to increase the number of moisture-resistant acetyl groups. Accoya acetylated wood is composed of the same constituents as natural wood, but in optimized proportions. It therefore contains more moisture-resistant groups and fewer groups that bind with water.

Its molecular modification renders it impervious to warping, swelling, or shrinkage. Accoya brings unprecedented reliability to wood; it is controlled and dependable to prevent any visible swelling, shrinkage, or deformation. Highly durable, it withstands all types of climates, making it suitable for demanding environments such as coastal or mountainous regions. Free of toxic additives and 100% recyclable, it adapts to all climates, including extreme environments. Available in adjustable planks, Accoya is ideal for high-end architectural projects requiring absolute performance and uncompromising reliability.

Accoya Grey: contemporary simplicity

Accoya represents a major technological breakthrough in the field of modified wood. Made from acetylated radiata pine, Accoya is an ultra-stable and durable wood, with a minimum 25-year warranty above ground. Thanks to a revolutionary scientific process called acetylation, it modifies the wood to give it properties superior to those of the best hardwoods and, in many cases, to aluminum and PVC.

Accoya Clair: lightness and chromatic transition

The light version of Accoya features a light ivory hue that gradually evolves into a soft gray. This initial shade lends a particular lightness to facades, creating an effect of natural luminosity. Available in six standard sections (140×21, 140×28, 140×41, 190×21, 190×28, and 190×41 millimeters), including reinforced thicknesses, it offers greater compositional flexibility. The 41 mm thick adjustable slats allow for installation tailored to specific architectural requirements. The chromatic transition from ivory to gray creates a gradual patina that is highly valued in demanding architectural contexts, symbolizing the acceptance of time and natural aging.

Kebony Clear: biological impregnation and a 30-year guarantee

Kebony Clear embodies an innovative approach to wood modification. Kebony is a Scandinavian wood modified using an environmentally friendly furfuryl impregnation process. Kebony technology is a patented, eco-conscious process that enhances the properties of softwoods using a biologically derived liquid. The process permanently alters the wood's cell walls, giving Kebony the same characteristics as high-quality hardwoods and a rich brown color throughout.

Impregnation is the process by which wood is immersed in furfuryl alcohol, produced from a biological liquid made from agricultural plant waste, to make it dimensionally stable. After impregnation, the wood is heated, a process also known as polymerization. The resulting polymer, now permanently enclosed within the wood cells, is stable and will not disintegrate or escape from the wood.

Kebony combines the aesthetic appeal of hardwood with high durability and chemical-free stability. Backed by a minimum 30-year warranty and requiring minimal maintenance, it contains no toxic substances or chemicals. Suitable for demanding environments (coastal, mountainous) and 100% recyclable, its warm brown hue naturally weathers to a gray patina over time. Recyclable, innovative, and certified, it is ideal for high-end, sustainable, and eco-responsible projects. Available in adjustable planks, Kebony is perfectly suited to harsh climates.