Environmental Advantages
Bamboo is a wonderful alternative to wood materials in that it grows rapidly and is adaptable to many different climates. Fast growing bamboo is a grass that can be cut off near the ground and will re-grow from the same roots. It reaches full maturity in four years, and the living roots systems shore up soil and prevent the destructive effects of erosion caused by traditional lumbering. Unlike traditional hardwoods, bamboo does not require replanting when harvested. Plyboo® bamboo is grown in managed forests in China. Harvesting is done by hand, minimizing the impact on the local environment. By working with bamboo and understanding its growth patterns, bamboo farmers are able to maximize timber production while maintaining healthy forests.

The core of Plyboo® bamboo plywood is made of strips cut from the wall of the bamboo plant. These strips are processed to remove the starch content and then treated with boric acid solution to protect the material. Plyboo® panels come in two colors, amber and natural. The amber color is derived from a heat treatment process that gives it a darker tone. This lighter color is the natural color of the bamboo, but the material is also put through a bleaching process to achieve a consistent tone. All of the strips are kiln dried, and then sanded before lamination.

The strips of bamboo are laminated together and set perpendicular to the face veneers, using a hot press process and low VOC adhesive. The face veneers are laminated in the same way.

Applications:
We've used Plyboo® in our furniture pieces for years and find the quality and consistency of the boards to be excellent. Plyboo® has many applications, including furniture, cabinetry, bar tops, countertops, and architectural paneling. Plyboo® can be cut and laminated using conventional equipment and adhesives. It will sand and finish like other sheet good products. Pre-sanded to150 grit, the plywood boards are easy to work, cutting and gluing like many of the customary hardwoods, but in a 4x8 sheet! Sharp carbide blades are recommended as Plyboo® is harder than oak. Plyboo® takes stain well, but pigment stain tends to obscure the unique striations and grain found only in bamboo. We've used raw linseed oil with great results on the Amber color in our custom furniture pieces. Water-based polyurethane or a non-yellowing clear coat allows the Natural style bamboo to retain the unique light blond shade.

For more information on Plyboo® products and applications, please visit www.plyboo.com or contact us.