a system and method for automated bending of wood strips . the system includes an preprogrammed automated robot arm that is fitted with a gripper for grasping and manipulating the wood board around a hot mandrel in order to bend the wood into intricate bent shapes . the wood strips are first soaked in water so that they pliable to bend around the mandrel . the heated mandrel plasticizes the lignin to allow the fibers to reorient in the wet wood strips thus fixing or locking the wood in the bent shape . the grippers are preferably pneumatic grippers formed from two plates that move towards each other to grasp or clamp onto the wood strip . a friction plate urges the wood strips against the heated mandrel to provide consistent and constant contact between the wood strip and the surface of the hated mandrel .