Endura™ Thermally Modified Ash

Where science meets nature

The scent is the first thing you notice.

It’s warm and inviting, like a crackling hearth on a winter’s evening. It’s the distinctive aroma of Endura™, our thermally modified ash that brings British woodlands to urban landscapes.

Homegrown excellence

Classification: Very Durable
Source: British Woodlands

Endura™ begins its journey in local woodlands, where quality ash grows in abundance. While untreated ash would quickly succumb to our famously unpredictable British weather, science steps in to transform this familiar timber into something rather extraordinary.

The timber embarks on a remarkable transformation, subjected to temperatures reaching 214°C in a process first pioneered by our Scandinavian neighbours. This gentle baking fundamentally alters the wood’s properties, improving its quality and creating an additional layer of protection that results in a product that is both more durable and more stable.

Beauty in transformation

The process yields a material of striking aesthetic quality. The strong grain pattern and lack of knots create a visual rhythm that catches the eye, while the deep, dark chocolate colour offers a sophisticated alternative to imported hardwoods.

Our craftspeople particularly appreciate how Endura™ combines the beauty of premium timber with practical advantages. It’s lighter to transport and assemble than traditional alternatives, yet doesn’t compromise on strength or durability.

Proven performance

We don't simply take laboratory classifications at face value. Before introducing Endura™ to our range, we subjected it to our own rigorous stress tests based on BSI standards.

The results were impressive. The modified ash matched – and in some aspects exceeded – the performance of FSC Iroko timber. A single unsupported metre of Endura™ can comfortably hold the weight of nine adults, though we’d suggest a slightly more considerate approach to public seating arrangements.

Our signature Railroad bench range, crafted with Endura™, has weathered eight British seasons in our outdoor showroom, standing as a testament to its resilience and longevity.

Sustainability without compromise

Choosing Endura™ means reducing reliance on imported tropical hardwoods while supporting British forestry. The timber travels mere miles rather than continents, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of your project.

Ash trees, once a common sight across our landscape, are sadly under threat from ash dieback disease. Using Endura™ provides an economic incentive for managing our remaining ash populations and replanting for future generations.

Technical considerations

Improved dimensional stability reduces warping and splitting, even in variable weather conditions.
Upgraded from durability Class 4-5 to Class 1 through thermal modification.
No chemical treatments or coatings required.
Naturally beautiful appearance that weathers gracefully.

A thoughtful choice for lasting landscapes

Over its lifetime, a public bench will seat thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of visitors. From seaside promenades to historical landmarks, these modest pieces of furniture become part of our collective experience, quietly supporting moments of contemplation, conversation, and community.

Endura™ is crafted with this legacy in mind. It represents our belief that choosing the right materials should represent the perfect intersection between aesthetics, durability, and environmental responsibility.

For further information about incorporating Endura™ Thermally Modified Ash into your project, please contact our design team.

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Iroko

Classification: Very Durable
Source: West Africa
Weathering: 3 months

A West African species that is rich in natural oils with a ‘Very Durable’classification, which is also relatively stable, readily available and is cost effective. Iroko is the timber that we use on the vast majority of our timber surfaced seating products, most often supplied in a smooth planed finish that will typically fade to silver-grey within 12 months.

If supplementary treatments are required to retain the original colouration for longer, the natural oils must be either allowed to dissipate through weathering over 3 months outdoors before application, or be cleansed if treatments are applied at the outset (applying a treatment directly to freshly machined timber tends to result in it sitting on the surface and not penetrating into the grain).

iroko timber texture from Furnitubes bench

Endura Thermally Modified Ash

Classification: Very Durable
Source: British woodlands

Endura Thermally Modified Ash uses quality ash grown in local woodlands. The modification process makes the ash very stable and confers a high level of durability.

The strong grain, lack of knots and deep dark chocolate colour of Endura ash offer a locally grown alternative to imported hardwoods.

The ash is subjected to temperatures up to 214°C, improving the quality and essentially acts as an additional layer of protection to create a more durable and stable product.

This technique was first pioneered in Scandinavia to try and mitigate the use of tropical hardwood and use the ash and pine that they were surrounded by to replace that tropical hardwood that they were so reliant on.

Reclaimed Tropical Hardwood

Classification: Very Durable
Source: UK
Partner: Ashwells Reclaimed Tropical Hardwood
Species: Ekki, Greenheart, Jarrah, Opepe

Reclaimed hardwood timber is a great alternative to using raw timber as it offers a more environmentally friendly material option without compromising on quality.

As part of our commitment to delivering more sustainable street furniture solutions, we have partnered with Ashwells, reclaimed tropical hardwood specialists.

Our Fordham range is now exclusively manufactured from reclaimed hardwood timber, with more ranges to follow.

Read more about reclaimed tropical hardwood here.