PUUTAR is Wood Valorisation and Analysis Research Infrastructure, that brings together advanced research infrastructure and expertise from three Estonian universities to help companies and research partners develop, test and scale innovative wood-based materials, products and processes. The shared infrastructure connects 14 research units across eight institutes and supports the entire wood valorisation value chain in Estonia. Its capabilities cover the mechanical, chemical, biochemical and thermochemical valorisation of primary and secondary wood resources—from material analysis and performance testing to process monitoring, biotechnology and pilot-scale development. PUUTAR is funded by the Estonian Research Council and supports the Estonian Research Infrastructure Roadmap project TARISTU24-TK.
Through PUUTAR, industry and research partners can access specialised equipment, multidisciplinary scientific expertise and opportunities for collaborative research and development.
The infrastructure supports:
- Development and validation of new wood-based products and materials
- More efficient use of wood, by-products and recovered resources
- Product, material and process testing
- Scaling research results towards industrial applications
- Joint research projects and international collaboration
By connecting complementary expertise and facilities, PUUTAR creates a coordinated platform for advancing Estonia’s wood science and wood-processing industry. Its goal is to accelerate the transition towards higher-value, resource-efficient and sustainable uses of wood while providing companies with practical research support throughout the innovation process.
| Facility | Service info | Service contact |
|---|---|---|
| Complex for determining the physicochemical, structural and mechanical properties | Complex for determining the physicochemical, structural and mechanical properties of wood-based materials | Siim Salmar, UT |
| Complex for determining the thermal properties of wood-based materials | Termogravimeetriline analüsaator (TGA) võimaldab määrata materjalide ja kemikaalide massikadu (lagunemist) kuumutamisel. | Lauri Vares, UT |
| Cone calorimeter | Testing of materials at high temperatures, including investigation of behavior in a fire | Alar Just, TalTech |
| Determination of adhesive joints | Fast automatic determination of adhesive joints in wood materials. Equipment complex | Heikko Kallakas, TalTech |
| DMA | Dynamic-mechanical analysis of wood-based biomaterials | Andres Krumme, TalTech |
| EDS | EDS mõõteseade elementanalüüsiks madala vaakumi keskkonnas ja elektrit mittejuhtivate materjalide uurimiseks | Siim Pikker, UT |
| High-throughput screening of enzymes and strains | Enzyme design and characterization (for the hydrolysis of wood polymers or biotechnological valorization of wood sugars) | Petri-Jaan Lahtvee, TalTech |
| ICP-OES Spektrometer | Determination of micro and macro elements in wood biomass and biopolymers | Maria Kulp, TalTech |
| Manipulation kit for wood and wood products | Fully functional precision manipulation kit for wood and wood products | Ahto Kangur, EMÜ |
| On-line spectrometric monitoring | Complex of on-line spectrometric monitoring of wood chemical treatment processes | Ivari Kaljurand, UT |
| SCF continuous extraction line for wood pulp processing | Scaled Supercritical Fluid (SCF) Continuous Extraction Line for Wood Pulp Processing | Siim Salmar, UT |
| Thermochemical valorisation platform | Study of the thermal processing and valorisation of wood and wood waste | Timo Kikas, EMÜ |