Panel Perspectives: Paged Plywood | 35
Above left: The Morag plywood factory Above right: Paged LabTech R&D centre at Pisz
new product was the transport industry, as customers are interested in how stronger and lighter products can save money and fuel, while also adding to their low carbon profile.
“It was really challenging developing the
“We knew at the beginning it would not be easy because conventional plywood is a very well know material with high mechanical properties. Many people were sceptical if it was even possible [to get improvements] and that if we managed a 5-10% benefit it would be a success.”
The process started five years ago in partnership with the Warsaw University of Applied Sciences (material engineering department). “We made a lot of simulations with
value compositions even before any lab tests. At the beginning we focused on the fibres. We looked at other wood species, various adhesives and additives, and incorporating different components inside – including non-wood components.” After much research, the team focused on natural rock fibres as a component to plywood. Important questions included how fibres should be orientated and what kind of additives to use because a good adhesion with wood was necessary and for stability reasons. Testing involved multiple small and then bigger samples of the hardwood veneer/rock fibre combinations. “We had to be sure of good mechanical properties and needed to have some
“When we make standard plywood, you
don’t test mechanical properties from just one or two panels for one test, but you need 40 or more samples due to the fact that
ROCKPLY BENEFITS The research team saw highly improved mechanical properties of the new product, compared to standard plywood. “The product is twice as strong as conventional plywood,” added Ms
thickness of the plywood. If you currently use 30mm plywood, you could use 15mm thick with this product. “Of course, this will also depend on the application and the customer’s specific design requirements.” The strength claims relate to the all- important bending strength properties. “We have smaller tolerances compared with standard plywood, and the mechanical performance is more similar from product to product. In standard plywood we have different values due to the the wood (natural material). Of course, plywood is much better than wood, but still is made from wood as a main material. With this product we have almost the same results in both directions.”
manufacturer with such a product material
combination, with its patent specifically covering the incorporation of rock fibre in the plywood.
attractive to any industries that would benefit from a lighter product. “Road transport is the obvious one, but also shipping container floors – the product can reduce the overall weight of
wood is a natural material, and you have some natural differences between results.” The long testing process resulted in
detailed statistics.
the container for the shipping industry,” he explained. He said the events industry would also see benefits – the lightness and reduced material thickness could reduce transportation costs, and ease, speed and safety of handling.
“It’s not just about the plywood industry itself, but it’s beyond,” said Magdalena
manager. “With this product we can easily become a
competitor to other solutions – other [non- wood] raw materials.
“The first target is talking to our current
customers, and also with distributors in Europe who have contact with multiple types of industries.”
partners in the UK and Europe.
“It is too early to say that markets are taking orders because we have to identify users and present the benefits of the material first. It’s a process. You can reduce the thickness of the panel with this product, which means some application designs will need to be amended.”
very big sales item in the company’s product portfolio and create a new standard for the sector. Specifically, flooring beds for heavy goods vehicles are a target. “We’re not talking just about diesel
vehicles but the new emerging market of electric vehicles. The weight for electric trucks is very important, as they’re already heavy because of the batteries, so any saving on the weight will be a benefit.”
side vehicle where 30mm ply is typically
www.wbpionline.com | February/March 2025 | WBPI
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