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At Millworks, we continually respond to changes in the timber market to ensure our products meet the evolving needs of architects and homeowners, focusing on materials that deliver long-term performance, design flexibility, and strong environmental credentials.
We’re pleased to introduce two new sustainable, thermally modified timbers, Abodo Vulcan® and Imbue™. Sourced from FSC-certified Radiata Pine, each offers reliable durability, long-term value and lasting visual appeal. This guide highlights the two distinct design pathways of Abodo Vulcan and Imbue, showcasing where each excels and helping you choose the right material for your project.
Performance and sustainability
Both Abodo Vulcan and Imbue are thermally modified using heat and steam, altering the structure of the wood without chemical preservatives. Each achieves Durability Class 1 (EN 350), providing confidence in long-term performance when specified and installed correctly.
The modification process reduces moisture content and improves dimensional stability, resulting in timber with lower movement compared to untreated softwoods. This makes both products well suited to the UK climate, where fluctuating moisture levels can challenge less-stable alternatives.
Sustainability is central to both Abodo Vulcan and Imbue. Sourced from renewable, FSC-certified Radiata Pine plantations, the rapid growth cycle helps to reduce reliance on slow-growing species and contributes to increased carbon capture, supporting healthier buildings with lower environmental impact.
With comparable performance credentials, product selection can focus on visual intent, application, and design goals — the areas where Abodo Vulcan and Imbue are purposefully distinct.
Choosing the right visual language
Refined, consistent architecture: Abodo Vulcan®
Abodo Vulcan is characterised by its engineered vertical grain (VG) construction, delivering a clean, linear and highly consistent appearance with minimal visual variation. Its uniformity makes it a popular alternative to vertical grain Western Red Cedar, which has become increasingly harder to source and is subject to price volatility.
The vertical grain improves stability and supports factory coatings, ensuring long-lasting finish performance and consistent aesthetics. Over time, coated Vulcan retains its refined aesthetic making it ideal for contemporary, precision-focused architecture.
Natural character and material expression: Imbue™
Imbue provides a mostly clear-grade appearance with natural grain, offering warmth, texture, and subtle variation across elevations. Its rich brown tone enhances visual appeal, and over time, untreated Imbue will weather naturally to a soft silver-grey patina.
Imbue can also be factory coated for cladding applications, improving colour consistency and surface protection. Where designs require an immediate weathered aesthetic, factory coatings offer a pigmented solution that help the timber fade to its intended appearance over time.
Applications and installation
Thanks to their dimensional stability, both Abodo Vulcan and Imbue are compatible with the secret clip system. This innovative fixing method is designed to provide hidden fixings, consistent expansion gaps and faster installation.
Where Abodo Vulcan® is commonly specified
Abodo Vulcan is often chosen for external timber cladding where visual consistency and coating performance are key priorities. It performs across a wide range of profiles, board orientations and fixing methods, including secret fix and face fix systems.
Abodo Vulcan’s stability ensures that factory coatings maintain long-term integrity, reducing ongoing maintenance requirements.
Abodo Vulcan is available in long lengths and large cross sections, making it well suited for interior projects, providing ceilings and walls with premium finishing options and uniform aesthetics.
Where Imbue™ excels
Imbue is suitable for external timber cladding and timber decking, where its natural appearance and reliable performance make it a practical choice for designs that balance aesthetics and value.
For decking applications, Imbue’s stability ensures minimal warping, even in high-traffic areas, and its thermally modified nature means the timber does not secrete resin in hot conditions, making it safe and practical for long-lasting decks.
The timber’s versatility is particularly valuable for projects seeking visual continuity between cladding and decking, helping create cohesive indoor/outdoor spaces.
Support and resources
Our technical team works directly with architects, designers, contractors and homeowners to support every stage of your project — from concept to completion.
| For specifiers | For homeowners | For contractors |
|---|---|---|
| Technical advice and specification support | Product comparisons | Installation manuals and fixing advice |
| NBS Source listings | Finish guidance and maintenance expectations | On-site technical support |
| CAD Drawings and digital modelling | Pricing information and lead times | Product guidance and pricing |
Frequently asked questions
Abodo Vulcan and Imbue offer two distinct, reliable approaches to modern timber design. By considering performance, visual intent and application, you can specify the right material for your project with confidence. Contact our team on 01223 967733 or email info@millworks.co.uk for help on product selection and specification support.
Abodo Vulcan and Imbue offer two distinct, reliable approaches to modern timber design. By considering performance, visual intent and application, you can specify the right material for your project with confidence. Contact our team on 01223 967733 or email info@millworks.co.uk for help on product selection and specification support.
