Wood-Plastic Composite (WPC) is one of the most important innovations in modern building materials — combining the natural appeal of wood with the durability of polymer. But where did it begin?
The company that invented and patented the process to create WPC was Covema of Milan, Italy, in 1960. Founded by the Terragni brothers, Dino and Marco, Covema produced WPC under the trade name “Plastic-Wood.” This early breakthrough laid the foundation for an entirely new category of building material.
A few years after the invention of Plastic-Wood, the company Icma San Giorgio patented the first process to add wood fibre and wood flour to thermoplastics — the modern WPC process still used today. By blending wood powder with polymers, manufacturers could create a material that looks and feels like wood but resists water, termites and rot.
Today, at Om Industries, we carry this legacy forward — manufacturing premium WPC doors, frames, boards and sheets that are 100% waterproof, termite-proof and eco-friendly.