American hardwood plywood

This section provides information on the American hardwood plywood industry, the approach to manufacture, guidance on availability for export, and American hardwood industry representation. In the United States the term hardwood plywood is used to describe a composite board with wood veneered faces regardless of the core material. The dominant substrate material in the United States is veneer core. In many other countries worldwide, particleboard and MDF (“engineered” core) are the primary substrates.

HARDWOOD PLYWOOD INDUSTRY

The American domestic hardwood plywood industry should not be confused with the tropical hardwood plywood industry from which the USA imports considerable quantities. The American industry, represented by AHEC, produces hardwood plywood with veneer from native American hardwoods. It is made up of a relatively small number of companies, but most of them are significant in terms of size and turnover. This is mainly due to the process itself, which requires a high level of technology and a sizeable investment in specialised machinery. The industry is widespread in the USA with production plants in the east, west and south. Hardwood plywood is widely used for decorative panelling, cabinets, furniture and many other specialist applications.

PRODUCTION

Hardwood plywood can be made using either rotary or sliced hardwood veneers for the faces and backs. The core material can be a variety of materials including MDF, particleboard, veneers and solid wood. The choice of solid wood core material may be influenced by location. For example, hardwood plywood manufactured in the hardwood forests of the east coast is more likely to have a solid wood core made of tulipwood. This is because it is more cost efficient and more readily available than suitable softwood material. On the west coast, the reverse is true.

The majority of hardwood plywood is produced for consumption in the American domestic market. Due to the nature of the product, and the ability to choose from a range of face and core materials, hardwood plywood is usually produced to customer requirement. However, the larger producers offer standard products for certain applications, such as the retail DIY market.

As a composite wood product, plywood is flexible in terms of application. Not only is there a wide choice of face material to produce numerous aesthetic affects, but plywood can be manufactured to be water resistant or to contain a fire retardant, thus enhancing its performance for particular applications.

Hardwood plywood can be made in many sizes and thicknesses, depending on its intended use, but the standard panel is 4' wide by 8' long (1219mm x 2438mm). Other common sizes are 4' wide by 6' long (1219mm x 1829mm) and 4' wide by 10' long (1219mm x 3048mm). Plywood is also available cut or made to special sizes, according individual buyers’ specific requirements.

Grading

The plywood industry has developed voluntary industry grades and standards for hardwood plywood in conjunction with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). This standard – “American National Standard for Hardwood and Decorative Plywood ANSI/HPVA HP-1- 1994”, published and administered by the Hardwood Plywood & Veneer Association (HPVA), describes natural and other characteristics allowed in each veneer or ply. It should be noted that sliced hardwood veneer is only governed by these standard grades when it is a part of a plywood product.

EXPORT AVAILABILITY

The vast majority of hardwood plywood exported from the United States is produced to customer order. The availability of face veneers depends on the availability and suitability of the various US hardwood species. For information on the availability of sliced veneers please refer to the table on page 8 of this publication. The availability of hardwood species as rotary veneer differs from that of sliced veneer. The main rotary species in terms of volume production are red oak, white oak, maple and birch. Most species can be peeled although it is not very practical to peel hard species like hickory. The higher value species, such as cherry and walnut, where the growing resource is limited, are also hardly ever peeled. Logs suitable for high quality veneer applications are almost always sliced.

EXPORT DISTRIBUTION

American hardwood plywood can be obtained in export markets through specialised importers and distributors.