36 | Panel Perspectives: Hok Lai Plywood


RUBBERWOOD TO REPLACE BIRCH PLY?


WBPI visited London’s Port of Tilbury to interview Malaysian plywood manufacturer Hok Lai Timber, which was showcasing a new range of rubberwood core products to leading UK buyers. Stephen Powney reports


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n the UK’s bustling Port of Tilbury near London, a vast array of forest products is imported from Europe and across the world. Plywood is a major product category being


imported and distributed across the UK for a variety of applications by leading importer/ distributors.


Recently, the Malaysian manufacturer Hok Lai Timber (M) Sdn Bhd joined up with importer/distributor Plaut International Ltd to showcase the former’s rubberwood plywood core products at the port, inviting dozens of buyers to view the product. Part of the impetus for this initiative was the change recently seen in the international birch plywood market following the onset of the Ukraine – Russia conflict and the subsequent sanctions on Russian birch plywood products coming into Europe. Birch plywood has been a big product


category across Europe and the UK, with the product known for its strength, durability, and smooth surface finish, making it ideal


for various applications including furniture, cabinetry, and construction. Obviously, birch ply trade volumes have


taken a hit since the sanctions on Russian and Belasrusian products. Alternative products from reliable supply channels are being sought by users to fill this gap. Hok Lai’s solution is its rubberwood core “Birch Replacement” plywood, suitable due to its availability, cost-effectiveness, and quoted eco-friendly properties.


HOK LAI INVESTING IN PRODUCTION Hok Lai Timber (M) SDN BHD was first established in 1992 and was founded by the late Mr Per Eng Lee. Over the years, the company experienced a rapid growth from a small sawmill to one of the largest sawn timber and plywood suppliers and exporters in Malaysia. It also produces veneer and wood pellets. Mr Per’s son Per Chin Poh is the young managing director of the business at the


age of 34. In fact, the average age of the management team is just 33 – a fact which transfers into the company’s modern, forward-thinking approach to business. The company has invested significantly in its production processes and equipment in recent years to position itself as a manufacturer of high-quality plywood. Mr Per Chin Poh said Malaysia has


extensive rubberwood plantations, with the material being used a lot for furniture production. The wood is harvested from plantations after the end of their latex- producing cycle.


The abundance and sustainability of the


fast-growing raw material appealed to the Hok Lai team to innovate with its use in plywood production.


When some questioned the suitability of rubberwood for plywood, the company persevered, conducting tests and refining its manufacturing techniques, using the multi- layer technique to improve the strength and durability of plywood. Mr Per Chin Poh said the R&D has resulted in a birch replacement plywood that is being embraced by builders, architects and craftsmen on several international markets. “Plywood is a very traditional product, but we want to make it more modern,” he said. Mr Per Chin Poh says the plywood market


often sees a variance in the finishing and product quality, with different coloured face species observed within same pack orders. “But we want everything to be in a uniform colour and reduce the defects.” Hence, the container shipment at the


Above: Per Chin Poh, managing director of Hok Lai Plywood, at the product showcase WBPI | April/May 2024 | www.wbpionline.com


Port of Tilbury displayed consistency in both colour and veneer thickness and quality to show that plywood can be a modern design material like some other materials. This, he added, made it easy to sell to customers and reduced product disatisfaction risks down the supply chain, removing potential extra time and costs. Having good quality production processes, he added, also meant it was possible to avoid delamination issues experienced by some products on the market and provided a good solution for customers.


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