10 Different Types of Industrial Timber with Properties

    different types of industrial timber

    Industrial timber is a type of wood that is particularly used in industrial applications such as construction and manufacturing. This can be natural timber or manufactured products such as engineered timber, veneer, and plywood. Industrial timber is generally superior in quality to regular wood and is created to be strong and durable. Industrial timber products can be manufactured in various sizes and shapes.

    If you are looking to know everything about the different types of industrial timber and their properties, you’re at the right place. Here you go.

    Types of Industrial Timber

    Some of the most popular examples of industrial timber are – plywood, veneer, chipboard, fiberboard, hardboard, blockboard, chipboard, impreg timber, compreg timber, and Glulam.

    1. Veneer
    Veneers

    Veneers are very thin layers of solid wood that are obtained by processing wood logs through a rotary cutter such that the sharp knife or cutter cuts the wood into thin sheets.

    Veneers are real wood and are used in a large variety of projects where a wood-like appearance or finish is needed. For example, the entire object can be made of engineered wood or any other material and the top is covered with veneers to give it the appearance of a solid wood item.

    Veneers are also used to build plywood and other engineered wood products.

    1. Plywood
    Plywood

    Ply is a term used to refer to a thin layer of wood. It can also be a veneer. Plywood is obtained by adding and glueing multiple thin layers of wood onto each other to obtain a strong, solid, wood-like material that can be even stronger and more durable than real wood depending on the quality and type of veneer used.

    Layers in plywood are joined together using a strong adhesive and under specific temperature and pressure conditions to obtain a strong and stable product. Plywoods can be of many types with distinct properties and qualities based on the underlying materials used to make them.

    Plywood is used extensively in construction, furniture making, ceilings, doors, windows, panelling walls, and much more.

    1. Fiberboard
    Fiberboard

    Fiberboard is a type of engineered wood that is manufactured by combining wood fibers using glue or another adhesive under specific pressure/heat conditions.

    Fiberboards are among the least expensive and strong industrial timbers. They are commonly used in the construction of wall panels, flush doors, lightweight objects such as doors and windows, partitions, ceilings, flooring, and more. Soundproof fiberboards are also quite popular these days.

    Low-density fiberboard (LDF), medium-density fiberboard (MDF), and high-density fiberboard are the three most common types based on density.

    1. Hardboard
    Hardboard

    Hardboards are made from wood pulp, which is wood fiber reduced to pulp.

    Wood pulp is formed into sheets and compressed under specific pressure conditions to form hard, solid boards. Hard boards are made such that the top surface is smooth while the bottom surface is rough.

    Depending on the density and thickness availability, hardboards can be of three types – medium, normal and tempered, of which the tempered hardboard is the strongest and hardest.

    1. Blockboard
    Blockboard

    Block board is a type of engineered timber that is made by using wood strips or small, leftover strips of wood. These wood strips are glued together to form a sheet of solid board, which is then covered with veneers on both sides. Blockboards are often used as a cheaper alternative to plywood in construction and furniture making. They are also used for partitions, doors, panelling, railway carriages, and marine applications.

    The width of the blockboard core is usually in the range of 7mm to 25mm. Blockboards with a core less than 7 mm are generally called lamin boards.

    1. Chipboard
    Chipboard

    Chipboard or particle board is a special kind of manufactured wood product that is obtained by combining resin-soaked wood particles or rice husk under specific pressure conditions to form wooden sheets that are moderately strong and durable. This is one of the cheapest types of industrial timber.

    1. Impreg timber
    Impreg Timber

    This is a type of timber that is obtained by covering thin layers of wood or veneer completely or partly with resin to fill up the voids and make the wood impregnable. The classic sunmica ply is a good example. Both sides of the timber are covered with impregnable material (resin solution such as phenol formaldehyde) to make the product resistant to water, moisture, sun, and weathering conditions. Impreg timber is made to look beautiful and is also strong and durable. It is used for many applications such as furniture, interior items, decorative products, wood moulds, and more.

    1. Compreg timber
    compreg timber

    Compreg timber is similar to Impreg timber and made in the same way, but it is also treated under specific pressure conditions to further increase its strength and durability. In other words, impreg timber treated under pressure conditions can be called compreg timber.

    1. Glulam
    Glulam

    Glulam is a type of plywood that is also laminated to improve its appearance and make it resistant to moisture and other things. It is kind of a combination of regular plywood and impreg timber.

    Glulam is obtained by attaching solid wood veneers with each other using glue to form wood boards, which are then laminated with high-quality resins to form a protective layer of lamination.

    This type of timber is completely waterproof and is also resistant to insect attacks and other things. It can be used both for outdoor and indoor projects and is particularly used for heavy-duty applications such as the construction of long-span roofs and for building swimming pools.

    1. Flush Door Shutters
    Flush Door shutters

    Flush door shutter is a popular and lightweight timber used these days. It is an engineered timber that is manufactured by applying layers of plywood or MDF on both sides of a wooden frame filled with cardboard material to form a lightweight but strong board that is also resistant to moisture. Flush doors are laminated or painted over to give them whatever design is needed. They are available in a variety of options in terms of thickness and design.

    In place of cardboard material, sometimes blockboard or any other wood material might be used to fill the core of flush shutters or they are also sometimes left hollow.

    White Knight Consulting is a highly trusted, one-stop destination for high-quality wood, timber products and wood consulting services at great prices. We deal in as many as 40 varieties of hardwoods and provide a wide range of timber-related services, including professional wood consulting to those who need help selecting the right wood for a project. Contact us today to discuss your timber requirements.

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