Our Story
Natural Wood Solutions began not as a corporation, but as an idea shared between two wood scientists with a passion for transforming an industry.
In 2013, Shane Kitchens, PhD, and Brian Lindsey—both armed with advanced degrees in Wood Science from Mississippi State University and years of combined commercial and academic experience—decided to build something different. They had spent their careers researching wood protection, studying wood performance, and solving problems others in the field didn’t even see yet. Together, they recognized an opportunity: the world of railroad infrastructure was ready for change.
What started as a small venture has grown over more than thirteen years into a true disruptor within the new railroad tie and specialty railroad bridge manufacturing space. Shane and Brian shaped Natural Wood Solutions with a clear vision—provide products that don’t just meet standards, but elevate them. Offer guidance that helps customers understand their materials as deeply as they do. Build trust by pairing science-driven innovation with hands-on industry knowledge.
Today, NWS is known not only for superior‑quality treated industrial products but also for the expertise behind them. The company supports partners across the treated wood and railroad sectors with technical insight, quality audits, product standard development, and more. Through multiple channels and a steadily expanding network, Shane and Brian’s original vision continues to grow: a company rooted in science, dedicated to quality, and committed to advancing an entire industry.
The “Original Borate Tie™
The most advanced wooden railroad product to be produced in over 100 years.
selective application techniques
prescription products
proprietary systems
Our Inventory Management system has a long history of enhancing advantages in the industrial wood products (logs, timbers, crossties, switch ties, bridge timbers, access mats, poles, pilings, etc.) market.
We increase the ability of these products to withstand biological challenges (which can adversely affect grade, performance, and overall life cycle) during the manufacturing process.
A foundation research project conducted in the 1980’s identified that the challenge with hardwood crossties prematurely failing was a direct result of incipient decay colonizing the raw material during the air-drying process. This led to an expanded research project in the 1990’s and the commercialization of the process in the 2000’s.
The addition of borates (DOT) to the traditional inventory management system eliminated a majority of the challenges and resulted in lower degrade, better performance, and increased life cycle for the crossties. The DOT was applied to the green tie before air seasoning and then the tie was encapsulated with an oil borne preservative to minimize the borate loss and provide a water repellent to the outer service.
This system has been modified and continues to be implemented into various wood product enhancement programs.
It is the proven benchmark for quality, performance and environmental stewardship.
