Fiberboard is a type of engineered wood product that is made out of wood fibers. Types of fiberboard (in order of increasing density) include particle board, medium-density fiberboard, and hardboard. Fiberboard, particularly medium-density fiberboard (MDF), is heavily used in the furniture industry.
Fiberboard is also used in the auto industry to create free-form shapes such as dashboards, rear parcel shelves, and inner door shells. Fiberboard has many benefits and is used in residential and commercial construction. Different uses and applications include: sound proofing/deadening,structural sheathing,low-slope roofing, and Sound deadening flooring underlayment.MDF is generally cheaper than plywood.
MDF does not contain knots or rings, making it more uniform than natural woods during cutting and in service.However, MDF is not entirely isotropic, since the fibres are pressed tightly together through the sheet. Typical MDF has a hard, flat, smooth surface that makes it ideal for veneering, as there is no underlying grain to telegraph through the thin veneer as with plywood. A so-called "Premium" MDF is available that features more uniform density throughout the thickness of the panel.
MDF may be glued, doweled or laminated. Typical fasteners are T-nuts and pan-head machine screws. Smooth-shank nails do not hold well, and neither do fine-pitch screws, especially in the edge. Special screws are available with a coarse thread pitch, but sheet-metal screws also work well. Like natural wood, MDF may split when woodscrews are installed without pilot holes.
Indian particle board and plywood industry dates back to the First World War. It has come a long way having grown nearly six-fold since its inception. The large producers account for 15% of the total production, producing some 38 mnsqm of plywood and blockboards.There are several SSI units and other informal sector units contributing around 60% of the total production.
The Indian market for particle board and plywood is estimated in value terms, at over Rs. 37 bn. Of the total market, particle board including medium density fiberboard (MDF) accounts for nearly a quarter of the market. Nearly 85% of the particle board is supplied by the organized sector. Western India has emerged as the leader in the particle board segment.
India organized furniture industry is estimated at around USD 8 bn and expected to grow at a CAGR of over 25% annually. As a whole it is a good project for new entrepreneurs to invest.
Few Indian Major Players are as under
• Bajaj Eco-Tec Products Ltd.
• Best Board Ltd.
• Century Plyboards (India) Ltd.
• Greenply Industries Ltd.
• Mangalam Timber Products Ltd.
• Nuchem Ltd.
• Shirdi Industries Ltd.
