Understanding Plywood – A Flexible, Sustainable & Efficient Material Solution

lywood, also known as engineered wood panel, is a remarkable innovation in the wood processing industry. It is made by layering multiple thin sheets of wood (called veneers) in alternating grain directions and bonding them with specialized adhesives under heat and pressure. This cross-grain structure gives plywood superior strength, excellent shape stability, and warp resistance.

Basic Structure of Plywood

Plywood is composed of three main components:

• Core: Multiple veneer layers peeled from round logs.

• Face/Back Veneers: Thin surface layers selected for aesthetics.

• Adhesives: Used to bond the layers together, including:

+ Water-resistant glues: Phenolic, Melamine

+ Moisture-resistant glues (MR): Urea Formaldehyde (UF)

Types of Plywood by Usage

• Softwood Plywood: Made from species like Radiata Pine, Poplar.

• Hardwood Plywood: From species such as Meranti (Lauan), Canarium, Birch...

Applications

• Interior Use: Uses UF glue (cost-effective) for furniture and cabinetry.

• Exterior Use: Requires higher-grade adhesives like Phenolic or Melamine to ensure water and weather resistance.

Key Advantages of Plywood

• Excellent load-bearing capacity

• Minimal warping, shrinking, or twisting

• Smooth, durable surface with high brightness

• Outstanding moisture resistance and dimensional stability

Popular Types of Plywood on the Market

• Commercial Plywood: MR glue, for indoor use

• Water-Resistant Plywood:

  • Formwork Plywood: For construction

  • Moisture-Resistant Plywood: Ideal for kitchen cabinets, doors, humid environments

  • Marine Plywood: For boats, made with hardwood + waterproof glue

• Fancy Plywood: Thin core (<6mm) with decorative veneer (≥0.2mm) for high-end furniture

Our Product Lines Include

• Standard Commercial Plywood

• Structural Plywood

• Film-Faced Shuttering Plywood

• Natural Veneer-Faced Plywood

• Marine Grade Plywood (BS1088 Standard)

• Plywood for Container Flooring

Specialty Engineered Wood Panels

• Lamin Board / Multiboard

• Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL)

• Blockboard / Lumber Core

Raw Material Sourcing

We source wood from Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Africa, and South Africa, including:

• Meranti (Philippine Lauan)

• Keruing, Kapur, Okoume (Gaboon)

• Radiata Pine, Birch, Poplar, Light Mixed Hardwoods

Adhesives Based on Standards & Environments

• Standards: JPIC, IHPA, BS...

• UF (Urea Formaldehyde) – For indoor use (low-cost)

• MR (Moisture Resistant) – Moderate moisture protection

• Melamine – High durability, good for damp environments

• Phenolic (WBP – Waterproof Boiling Proof) – Ideal for marine and shuttering applications

Face Grade Classifications

• A/B – High visual quality, minimal defects

• B/BB – Good face, average back

• B/C – One quality face, back suitable for veneer overlay

• BB/CC, PBB, Utility, B2, B3 – For structural or underlayer use

Standard Sizes

• Thickness: 2.5mm – 25mm

• Width: 1220mm (4 feet)

• Length: 2440mm (8 feet)

Looking for reliable, high-quality plywood for furniture, construction, or industrial production?

Contact us today for personalized consultation and quick quotations!