Production
HOLZTIGER toys are all handmade. First of all, the contours are stamped out on wooden boards, then the figures are cut out with a saw. A number of different steps follow to smooth off the rough surfaces and edges. The wood is then primed and finish-sanded - a process which results in a particularly smooth and soft surface. Next, the figures are hand-painted with water paints. To make the figures resistant to perspiration and saliva, each figure is subsequently painted - also by hand - with a water lacquer.
Once the HOLZTIGER logo is burnt in, the final step is a trip to quality control before the wooden figure is released for its journey to the playroom!

Play Quality
Children learn by touching and identifying the objects around them and by imitating the actions of their elders. Initially, they explore their immediate environs, become acquainted with house pets and farm animals and then go on to discover new and unknown animals in the zoo or local forests. The identification factor of HOLZTIGER toys with these experiences is high, allowing children to relive what they have learnt in real life or nature. And to make sure that playing and learning also stimulates a child's imagination, the forms of the figures are reduced to the minimum. The results are timeless and beautifully stylized wooden animals which allow a child's imagination to develop fully while playing and having fun.

Colors and Finishes
HOLZTIGER paints its figures with water-based acrylic paints (so-called water paints), which are totally non-toxic. The grain of the wood is still visible even after painting, so that the full character of the wood is retained. In choosing the colors for its wooden figures, HOLZTIGER dipped into all the most colorful pots, because vibrant colors are known to awaken a child's desire for exploration and discovery. The rich colors are complemented by the friendly faces painted onto the wooden figures.

Product Safety
HOLZTIGER wooden figures conform to the European and US Safety Directives for Toys (DIN EN 71/ASTM F963). The non-toxic paints and varnishes are furthermore subject to constant quality controls by the state supervisory authorities. Over and above this, HOLZTIGER makes additional voluntary commitments to quality and safety. For example, every wooden figure has an additional topcoat of satin-finish water paint to make it resistant to perspiration and saliva. Not every manufacturer can boast such high quality features. A HOLZTIGER whale will even "survive" a short swim in the bathtub without its colors fading! There are no small parts on HOLZTIGER wooden figures which could be swallowed. Small animals such as chicks or mice are purposely made to a large scale, meaning that when the HOLZTIGER cat chases a HOLZTIGER mouse, the cat sometimes bites off more than he can chew!

What age group?
HOLZTIGER wooden figures are large and chunky with rounded edges, meaning that even infants over the age of 2 can play with them in safety. Although the HOLZTIGER range includes no small parts which could be swallowed, it is still not advisable for infants under the age of 3 to play unsupervised with any of the smaller wooden figures. There is, however, no upper age limit for HOLZTIGER wooden figures - even adults can't resist the charm of the wooden figures.

Materials
As their name implies, HOLZTIGER wooden figures are made entirely of wood. Wood is by nature free from pollutants and as a sustainable raw material, has no negative impact on the environment. To meet the challenges posed by hard playroom conditions, HOLZTIGER uses only hardwood, whereby most of the figures are made of maple. Maple is not only hard and durable, but is also characterised by attractive graining. Dependent on the requirements, oak, beech and birch are also used as well as maple. So when you buy a wooden toy made by HOLZTIGER, you can be sure that it is not only durable and ecologically sound, but that it also meets the highest quality requirements.

Information provided by Holztiger.