FROM FIBER TO FLOOR A wood panel is basically a simple product. It consists of a combination of wood fiber and adhesive. Wood panels are used in thousands of products in the construction industry, from flooring to interior fixtures and furniture. Laminating a wood panel with a decorative foil, paper or veneer increases its versatility enormously. The panel Furniture panels can be made of wood (wood chips, pulp or sawdust), paper (pulp or layers), bamboo, plaster or cork. For example, particle board, plywood, MDF and OSB are largely made of wood. They are used mainly in construction and to create floors, interiors and furniture. The inside of cupboards or other pieces of furniture is often white. This “core” is usually made of MDF or particle board finished on the outside with a protective surface. That decorative surface is nothing more than paper with a protective overlay of melamine resin. In theory, any random print can be used to enliven this decorative surface. The decorative surface We can give a furniture panel a decorative surface by laminating it with foil, paper or veneer or by applying a coat of paint or varnish. Particle board, for example, can be combined with décor paper. Before a decorative motif is printed on the paper, resin is added to make it stronger. In theory, any print is possible, from a wood print to a photograph. Current technologies can cope with high-resolution designs, matte and glossy surfaces, and smooth or rough texturing that has the feel of “real” wood. The décor paper is pressed onto the panel under high pressure and heat, and then finished off with a protective overlay. And there you have it… a laminate floor. High Pressure Laminate (or HPL as it is known) is exceptionally strong and durable. Its core is not made of wood but is made of paper whilst the decorative surface (containing melamine resin) makes HPL scratchproof, acid-proof and heat-resistant. In addition to all the available motifs, texturing can also be pressed onto the surface. HPL is mainly used in high-end flooring and furniture as well as in whiteboards. Outdoors, HPL is mainly used in fascia boards and dormer windows. Transparant overlay Decorative layer MDF Stability layer Sound-absorbing layer melamine 23
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