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Manufacturing process of plywood

The entire plywood-making process begins with log selection. At this stage, both hardwood and softwood are carefully identified and segregated in terms of species and quality. The primary objective is to find logs that would produce veneers with acceptable physical and aesthetic characteristics. Some of the more commonly used hardwoods and softwoods in making plywood are Gurjan, Oak, Teak, Mahogany, and Poplar.

Once suitable logs are selected, they are treated through a water spraying process to produce good quality veneer during the peeling process.

The next step in the plywood-making process is to measure the conditioned logs for crosscutting. Once cut to length, a debarking machine removes the bark. The debarking process also aims to improve cross-section roundness.

The selection of logs is the first step in the plywood-making process. Both hardwood and softwood are carefully identified and separated into categories. The main goal is to discover the wood that makes veneers with acceptable physical and aesthetic properties. Gurjan, Oak, Teak, Mahogany, and Poplar are the most utilized in our plywood production.

After selecting the logs, they are treated with water spraying to generate a high-quality veneer during the peeling process.

The next step is crosscutting, wherein the conditioned logs are measured. Next, a debarking machine removes the bark after being trimmed to length. The debarking technique also seeks to increase the roundness of the cross-section.

The logs are peeled into thin veneers using a rotary machine. They may be cut into continuous sheets or clipped into pre-set widths and lengths right once.

Veneers with evident flaws get discarded because veneer quality is an essential component in establishing plywood grade. Some have a decreased surface area after being clipped. Surface area isn't a problem, though, because the smaller veneers combine to produce regular 4x8 or 3x7 sheets.

Components of plywood

Plywood is of three main types;

  1. Commercial Grade Plywood (MR Grade IS:303)
  2. Boiling Water Resistant Plywood (BWR Grade IS:303)
  3. Boiling Water Resistant Plywood (BWP Grade IS:710).

These three are called different names by different brands. We will be discussing the types of plywood in further detail later below.

The species of trees used to make plywood are of four branches;

  • Gurjan Core
  • Hardwood Core - This is made with a hardwood core veneer, such as Eucalyptus, Oak, Teak, Mahogany, and is usually red.
  • Semi-Hardwood - This consists of different core materials.
  • Poplar core - This consists of the white core material.

Plywood has three components; core veneer, face veneer, and glue.

Core veneer has an odd number of veneers as it has a central veneer and crossband veneers that are alternately laminated to achieve the necessary thickness. The weight-bearing strength of veneer core plywood is excellent, as is its bending strength and screw-hold ability. Veneer core panels are the lightest of all the core types.

Face veneer refers to the better side of any plywood panel in which the outer plies are of different veneer grades. It is a favourite because of its ornamental features rather than its strength. It is spliced to a pattern and cut to the exact size.

When it comes to producing plywood sheets, different glues are employed as they serve various purposes. The most common are Urea Formaldehyde, Melamine, and Phenolic glue.

Grades of Plywood and their uses

Commercial Plywood (MR Grade IS:303) sheets have a long life because they are securely bonded with high-quality synthetic UF (Urea Formaldehyde) Resin. This is the most basic and economical grade of ply. Paneling, partitions, commercial furniture, retail, and affordable housing projects have all used this grade of plywood, as well as toy manufacturing, interior applications, speakers, various product fabrications, stage building, and high-end packaging.

Boiling Water Resistant Plywood (BWR Grade IS:303) is securely bonded with high-quality synthetic MF (Melamine Bonded Urea Formaldehyde) Resin. Resistant Plywood has common uses in paneling, partitioning, furniture making, carpentry, modular furniture, and cabinets for bedrooms, residences, and commercial purposes. It's used for automobile floors and high-end packaging, among other things, outside of the house.

Boiling Water Resistant Plywood (BWP Grade IS:710) is specially treated and bonded with marine grade BWP (Phenol Bonded) resin that can endure extreme weather conditions. Marine plywood is for both external and semi-exterior settings, such as bus and truck bodies, railway coaches, kitchen accessories, signboards, panelling dividers, bathrooms, and other such woodworking applications. Boats, docks, and other constructions near or on the water or in damp settings commonly use Marine Plywood.

Blockboard

Blockboards are plywood boards with a core made of hardwood blocks rather than veneer layers. The grain of the blocks runs at a straight angle to the grain of the next veneer.

Our Block Boards go through efficient and preventive chemical treatments, making these boards more durable due to their antifungal and borer-resistant properties. The Block Boards are sturdy and compact because of their high-density fiber.

These Block Boards are made at our cutting-edge manufacturing facility, resulting in excellent nail and screw gripping properties.

There are two grades of Blockboards; Commercial Grade Blockboard and Waterproof Blockboard.

We primarily use 100% Pinewood in making our blockboards. Pinewood is lightweight and has whiter grains compared to other hardwoods. We also use 100% Hardwood, which is less costly than Pinewood and made from timbre like mango wood. Lastly, we also use a Pine Wood Mix to make our blockboards; this is primarily Pinewood mixed with hardwood.

The standard thickness of blockboards are:

  1. 18 mm
  2. 25 mm