Product Feature: Panguaneta Birch-Faced Poplar Plywood

When it comes to selecting plywood for woodworking projects, making an informed decision is crucial. Birch Plywood is still a great choice for many, and is still widely available in the UK.  For almost 35 years, DHH has maintained strong relationships with suppliers across Europe – including Latvia, Poland, Estonia, and Finland.

DHH are constantly asked for B/BB Birch plywood, traditionally sourced from Russia and now illegal to import due to sanctions imposed in April 2022. As a responsible supplier, DHH Panel Products are committed to complying with the Responsible Purchasing Policy; and therefore only purchase products from legal and sustainable sources.

In order to continue to supply the gap created by the sanctions, DHH can offer customers a viable alternative. We offer customers’ our Panguaneta B/BB rotary cut Birch or Maple faced Poplar Plywood with a one piece face veneer. These products are great for customers that need a decorative, defect free face for their projects when BB/BB Birch faces are not quite good enough. These faces can be lacquered and coated in a similar way to B faced Birch and are a great alternative when seeking the same look.

This product really stands out as a safe and legal choice. Panguaneta Plywood , like DHH, have created a robust ‘Due Diligence System’ which enables them to closely monitor the forest of origin of the logs used to create these high quality veneers. Panguaneta Plywood and DHH work closely together to ensure the products are meeting the guidelines set out under EUTR and UKTR. Unfortunately, some companies still appear to risk prosecution by importing illegal products with B/BB faces from China and other countries where birch is not harvested. These products are most likely using Russian logs, and therefore are not a safe and legal choice.

For many specifiers and designers that were looking for B/BB or S+/BB Birch Plywood, Birch and Maple B/BB faced products are becoming the ‘Go-To’.

The Poplar species itself is a fast-growing species and has been developed for the plywood industry. It is grown in Northern Italy along the banks of the River Po. This means the Poplar Trees play a vital role in safe-guarding the natural habitats biodiversity. Panguaneta’s commitment to sustainability is evident through its EPD® certification. Its Birch and Maple Faced Plywood is PEFC™ certified. With an ultra-low emitting formaldehyde (ULEF) glue bond means it meets stringent environmental standards.

The outer faces feature quality decorative Birch veneers with aesthetic appeal that allows for a clearer B face with BB reverse. One of the other big positives for the panels is they have a void-free core that is also available in multi veneer, so has an identical core make up to Birch plywood in ply numbers, so the plywood edge can also be revealed in the same way. These lightweight panels also have a glue bond which is ideal for laser cutting and have a stable moisture content between 8 and 13% which aids flatness.

The B/BB Birch faced plywood as well as the poplar throughout plywood is a highly stable panel with multi-veneered lightweight construction making it suitable and durable for many applications; from furniture production, to fit outs as well as general joinery projects. The lightweight feature of this panel makes it easy to carry and transport. This has made it a hit with the automotive, caravan, boat/yacht building industries where weight is a major consideration. The thinner panel is also popular with the craft industry who often require 3, 4 or 6mm laser plywood.

In summary, these B/BB Poplar core boards are lightweight, have a void free, multi veneer core and are ultimately a safe and legal choice for decorative faces.

Want to find out more about other Panguaneta Products? Visit the Panguaneta Website