About the Laboratory
The Forest Products Laboratory is a national research laboratory operating under the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The Lab is responsible for scientific research on wood and developing innovative wood products. The Forest Products Laboratory collaborates in partnership with academia, private companies, industry, and governmental agencies. As a world-class wood utilization research laboratory and wood research institute, the Forest Products Laboratory has been contributing to and developing innovative ways to utilize the nation’s forest resources since 1910.
Research conducted at the Lab includes but is not limited to specialties like testing fire materials testing and pilot-scale production of nanocellulose-based items. Research areas at the Lab focus on five emphasis areas:
Overall, the driving objective of the Forest Products Laboratory is to promote the nation’s economy, healthy forests, and quality of life for American citizens through wood and fiber utilization research.
The Forest Products Laboratory's mission is to identify and conduct innovative wood and fiber utilization research that contributes to conservation and productivity of the forest resource, thereby sustaining forests, the economy, and quality of life.
Hours and Contact Information
Hours
Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Central Time Zone
Email and Phone Numbers
Email: SM.FS.MailroomFPL@usda.gov
Phone: (608) 231-9200
TTY: (608) 231-9544 OR 711
Fax: (608) 231-9592
Address:
Forest Products Laboratory
1 Gifford Pinchot Drive
Madison, WI 53726
Shipping Address:
Forest Products Laboratory
507 Highland Ave
Madison, WI 53705
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Welcome to the Forest Products Laboratory: Animated Video
Who is the Forest Products Laboratory?
Our 80 research scientists and 168 support staff work with corporations, universities, and state governments from across the country.
Our research is instrumental in making the transition to a renewable bio-economy, and we are working on critical research related to numerous projects around the country that are driving the transition to the bio-economy. Projects our research will help include:
- Renewable packaging barrier films – GA Tech in Atlanta
- Fruit Coating – Rice University in Houston
- Cement Enhancement – Oregon State – Corvallis
- Greaseproof PFAS-free molded containers – Purdue Univ in Lafayette, IN
- Hardened CNC filled wood – Montana State
- Water filtration and purification – Mississippi State
- Flexible paper-based electronics – University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia
Our laboratories are specially equipped to break down and analyze the components of wood and optimize the processes for wood. We take pride in knowing that our research touches lives on a daily basis. We are responsible for many of today’s wood-based technologies, including:
- Wood preservatives,
- Glulam beams,
- Oriented strandboard, and
- Fiber-based packaging
Early research highlights include:
- Reduced timber demand for railroad ties by 75% through preservatives research,
- Increased average lumber yield per log from 25% to 60%,
- Wood frame technology used in over 90% of our Nation's homes,
- Designed and constructed Nation's first prefabricated home
Experiments in our labs take weeks or even months to complete and facilities are in constant use. Our world class laboratories offer a unique combination of capabilities carefully tailored to reveal the properties of wood.