As one of the most common materials used in furniture manufacturing, interior design, and structural construction, plywood is also among the most frequently purchased. When purchasing plywood, buyers typically have to choose between domestic and imported products. Each type of plywood has distinct characteristics with respect to raw materials, construction quality, cost (conventional or laminate), and product durability.
Raw Materials and Wood Species
Within the context of raw materials, one of the major differences between domestic and imported plywood is the species of wood from which it is constructed.
Domestic plywood typically consists of hardwood species from the following types of trees:
- Gurjan
- Eucalyptus
- Poplar
- Other species of available hardwood
These hardwood veneers are strong, durable, and appropriate for making furniture, cabinetry, doors, and other kinds of interior constructions.
Imported plywood may be made with hardwood or softwood species, depending upon where they come from; examples are Birch, Pine, etc., depending upon what a given country produces. For example, Birch plywood that is imported from European countries generally has a very smooth finish and a very consistent thickness.
Manufacturing Technology
Most imported plywood is manufactured in large-scale automated factories that use extensive quality control and automated equipment to ensure that the thickness of each piece is consistent with one another and is consistently bonded. These methods of manufacturing have concentrated mostly on processes of precision and finishing.
Indian plywood manufacturers have made great strides in technology. Most modern manufacturers utilise advanced pressing machines, precision-calibrated sanding and high-quality adhesives to create plywood that meets international standards.
Strength and Durability
Different plywood options have different strengths.
The strength of Indian plywood derives from its core, comprised entirely of hardwood,d which allows it to be used for the manufacture and construction of structural furniture, wardrobes, cabinets, interior & exterior doors, and so on. Many premium Indian plywood products contain fungicide and/or are structurally treated against termites and wood borers, thereby increasing the overall service life of the product.
Imported plywood is generally manufactured to provide premium quality surface finishing and uniformity of layers (multiple sheets laminated together); however, there are significant differences with the durability of various types of imported plywood according to the type of wood the product is manufactured from.
In general, the types of imported plywood produced from softwood do not provide the same structural strength as types of hardwood plywood.
Moisture Resistance and Climate Suitability
The majority of Indian plywood is designed to be produced in accordance with and therefore also perform well in extreme local climate conditions. In particular, many of the products that are manufactured provide moisture-resistant or waterproof PVA adhesives to withstand extreme humidity.
On the other hand, while imported plywood may perform well in controlled interior environments, not all of the types of imported plywood are specifically made for use in tropical regions.
Conclusion
The choice a purchaser makes between Indian plywood and imported plywood is going to depend largely on the specific requirements of their project. Indian plywood is well known for its strength, affordability, and the ability to provide a plywood product that can withstand the local climatic conditions.
On the other hand, imported plywood may provide a superior quality surface finish and/or uniformity of layers for special-use types of applications. Being fully aware of all the differences between Indian plywood and imported plywood will allow the purchaser to select the appropriate plywood to suit their budget, durability criteria, and preference for design style.
