What's new?

Panel product manufacturers and suppliers have been extremely busy bringing forward new product developments and designs.

After extensive trend research, Kronospan has launched the Fresh collection – 15 new décors – to help customers in the retail, shopfitting and general surface design sectors stay ahead of the market.

The collection features new embossed graining to reproduce the natural tactile appeal of wood’s pores in a matt finish with gloss highlights. Décors include ultra-modern, avant-garde, traditional and what Kronospan calls “the first textile motifs” to reach the UK market.

Egger has added four softwood décors to its UK Industry Collection, designed for MFC doors. The Avola décors were a highlight at Egger’s recent in-house design exhibitions and feature a deep 3D character to mimic real wood. Egger has also revitalised its classic wood décors in its Modern Classics range, featuring new beech and walnut designs displaying more natural elements (knots) and greater interplay of colours.

Interzum award

Veneer processor Decospan’s Shinnoki collection won an Interzum award this year. The 16-pattern collection features an ultra matt PU finish. Meanwhile, in plywood, Weyerhaeuser’s Tropical Replacement Panel, a 100% eucalyptus plywood product with FSC/PEFC certification, is now being sold in the UK, and Robbins Timber has secured FSC certification for its best-selling board – Robbins Elite marine plywood, made from Gabon veneers, and aimed at fitting out, general construction work and boat building.

SmartPly Europe’s Site Protect OSB coated pre-finished hoarding features in the Construction Products Innovation and Achievement guide, within the site efficiency category, and was also the reason for Coillte Panel Products winning last month’s TTJ Excellence in Marketing Award.

Sonae has launched Mezzdek Class 0, an anti-slip 38mm P6 & P5 chipboard flooring product featuring a finished coating on top and Class 0 fire-retardant foil to the underside, tested in accordance with BS 476 Part 6 and BS 476 Part 7, for fire propagation and surface spread of flame respectively. Sonae’s new Safedek HD 18/22mm T&G flooring replaces the former Safedek product and features a stronger film.

Thicker products

Both Finsa Forest Products and Medite have launched thicker products. Finsa now offers 44mm and P6 grade chipboard to satisfy more market needs, including for high-spec furniture components, fire doors (44mm product) and mezzanine floors (38mm product).

Medite’s investments in fibre processing means it can make MDF panels with a 50% greater thickness than before. The new maximum 45mm size means a wider range of MDF mouldings can be produced, as well as potential for different furniture and interior design applications.