We all are aware today that trees and forests are critical in preserving the environment as they capture carbon di oxide and help stabilize global climate, are fast becoming a scarce resource. Needless to mention, the kind of natural disasters and catastrophes that await the coming generations due to the continuing deforestation of the earth.

If you do have a need for wood based panels, we suggest, look for renewable, sustainable materials like engineered wood panels certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) as they are the best alternatives to non-eco-friendly conventional wood based panels,  an  FSC certification will give you the reassurance that the supplier is employing good practices and responsible forest management, by ensuring that the  raw material  supplied has been sourced responsibly and will not disturb the delicate ecological balance of our planet.

While  it is  understandable that in India we are more comfortable using conventional wood based panels; but there is an urgent need for us to become more conscious about  the  harmful effects of cutting down trees, which is directly affecting  our environment and climate. Eco-friendly alternatives like Medium Density Fiberboards (commonly known as MDF) which are manufactured using renewable agro-forestry resources have been widely accepted and used worldwide as the way for the future.

Finally, do also consider the cost of natural timber based panels, which is quite high in comparison to the durable yet more economical MDF, which is also easy and stylish to use and provides a win-win alternative  to discerning  users. Unlike ply, MDF can be shaped, cut and routed to taste .

For more info Green Panelmax MDF Board Certifications kindly refer www.greenpanelmax.com/Certifications

Having a great sense of your likes and dislikes is a great starting point, but there’s so much more to a well-designed room than simply filling it with your favorite things.

When most people think about hiring an interior designer, they zeroed in on aesthetics and some other cosmetic changes. But that’s just scratching the surface of what a designer can add to your home. These pros go beyond cosmetic concerns to ensure that a space feels harmonious end to end, from its floor plan and architectural envelopes to the last nail head.

An Interior designer envisions plans and fits spaces in a way that makes them both beautiful and functional. He or she balances aesthetic considerations with structural planning to reflect the customer’s lifestyle, set the desired mood, complement the home’s architectural features, and ensure that less glamorous details (like electrical outlets and air vents) fit into the scheme.

You may have a clear vision for your home, but an interior designer can help you bring it to life while making sure it satisfies your nitty-gritty considerations.

Interior designers have various fee structures. They might charge an hourly rate (anywhere from Rs. 1000 to Rs. 5000); a flat fee or a percentage of total project costs. Some designers also take an approach known as cost-plus — they purchase materials, furnishings and more at a discount and then charge you the retail price, keeping the difference as their fee.

Finding the right pro for your house is also a challenge but friends with fabulous houses can be a good starting point. You can also visit show houses and home tours to see which spaces strike your fancy.  Once you have a list of interior designers you’d like to check out, head to the computer and see the works of designers and contact them. When talking to designers, look for synonymy between their previous work and the design you want.

You have trouble articulating your desired look? So always keep handy pictures of rooms you love which can instantly give the designer a sense of what you crave. If you’re remodeling or building from scratch, include the designer in the planning stages with your architect and contractor. This way, the pros involved will all be on the same page and can iron out any potential discrepancies particularly those that involve the bones of a home, such as doorways, ceiling beams or interior columns.

Last, but not the least, Keep an open mind. If the designer gives a suggestion that you instantly dislike, don’t say no without giving the idea some time to sink in. Chances are that when you ask your designer why he or she chose it, and when you take a little time to live with it, you’ll appreciate the reason it works.

                Burberry store at Emporio Mall, New Delhi. Design by Ar. Deepak Prem.

Q: Are you using MDF in your projects? What has been your experience of using MDF in the retail projects?

We have been using MDF for a very, very long time, in fact for over almost 12- 13 years when brands like Nuwud and Duratuff were the only ones available in MDF. The sole reason we used MDF was for Interior fixtures as we found that the problem of Borer and Termite, which was common in Ply, was relatively much less in MDF. We also used to struggle with the non-availability of  pre-laminated boards as in carpentry,  laminate pressing  on ply  itself is a laborious job,  whereas the same would probably take a mere 20 minutes  in a  factory. This led us to use MDF and later the easy availability of   OSL/BSL laminated MDF added to the major convenience.

Q. Which segments are you using MDF in mainly?

We are mainly into doing Retail interiors. Retail is a very big sector and has been growing since last 10 years continuously.  The main component that goes into retail stores are mainly fixtures, like wall & floor fixtures, all types of furniture, entire display systems etc.  Practically all of these are made with MDF. In fact, we are working with a number of international brands where sometimes we get fixtures from their vendors across the world.  We realized that all these were always made with MDF and never with ply at all.  Even the fixtures imported by us from Italy or China are made with MDF only- so internationally there has been a complete switch over to MDF now. We have also developed are own MDF fixtures now. However, we do not use imported MDF to make these since consistency  in availability is required, which is not possible in imported MDF.

 Q. Why is their a preference for MDF in high-end retail stores specially?

We prefer MDF mainly because of its surface smoothness and the kind of finish we get using it. For instance, doing a high gloss finish with a paint coat is very easy on MDF ; whereas if we use plywood, one would have to do a Patti first and then sand it again and again, to get uniformity. Because of its inherent smoothness of MDF, one just needs to do a patti and then paint on it, which saves a lot of time in the end finishing.  There are no absolutely no issues of lack of durability or loose joints if the construction is done in a proper manner.

Q. How has your experience working with MDF, specifically green Panelmax MDF, been in retail interiors?

We have been mainly designing a number of luxury brand stores like Burberry, Titan/ Tanishq, Helios etc.  We are using Green Panelmax MDF in creating extremely large exterior /backdrop facades, fixtures in fact all the walls like shelves, back walls, wardrobes, display units etc. There is a simple principle in retail that if there is a wall, no POP is done on it since it has to be very precise.  Basically, all the walls have complete MDF backing and then we put a finished layer of gypsum over it to hide the joints.  You can imagine the  amount of MDF would be required in a retail showroom !

Design Works by Ar. Deepak Prem. Jimmy Choo store at Emporio Mall, New Delhi

High end Luxury Retail outlets are quite challenging as the interiors are given importance in terms of richness, aesthetics and the image value.  While being very stylish, the interiors cannot be too loud or overpowering, as they  are just a backdrop for the high-end brand .  A lot of money is being spent just to ensure that the store quality and design maintains the value of the brand it carries. Burberry, Boutiga, Jimmy Choo, Wills Lifestyle and Tanishq are some of the high-end stores which we have done recently where we have used Green Panelmax MDF exclusively and are quite happy with the product.

Our suggestion as an interior design outfit is that Greenply should add more value -added exclusive products like CNC routed/designed  MDF boards, in their range, which would be of great value as there is a growing demand for high quality, self designed MDF boards in  the interiors segment.

As part of its goal to  promote the use of  eco-friendly MDF panels as a  viable alternative to   plywood users in the economically priced  furniture segments, Greenply’s Engineered Panel Division,   which launched its range of Green Panelmax  MDF boards  last year, has taken upon itself the onus of educating furniture makers and carpenters  about the correct usage of Green Panelmax  MDF  panels . The promotional activity designed on the lines of a road show, was initiated as a pilot in the state of UP recently and will be extended eventually to semi rural and tier 2/3 cities and towns, pan India. The objective is to create awareness   about the product and its usage and convince the key TG of furniture makers and carpenters about the better profits, savings in time and ease of use which Green Panelmax MDF offers them.

The 2 day pilot activity (5^th and 6^th of Jul 2012) held in smaller towns on the outskirts of Delhi, was innovatively and interestingly packaged to provide both entertainment and education to the TG. A film,  with a creative story plot,   captivated the audience and was  followed by a another short training film on the technical  aspects of  using MDF and a practical demonstration and a Q&A session carried out by the Greenply technical team,  to solve any misconceptions and doubts. Adding excitement to the proceedings was a lucky draw, with the winner being given a surprise gift at the end of the event. The pilot activity was co-ordinated jointly, by the Sales and Branding team.

Yogesh Arora, Country Head, EPD said that, “There are regular issues in the supply of the unbranded, economically priced plywood which is currently being used by furniture makers, in this segment. These primarily relate to the quality of the material, irregular supplies and erratic pricing during peak seasons. With the launch of Green Panelmax MDF, we would like them to know that they can get the same furniture made, using a quality, trusted branded product  like Green Panelmax MDF,   using less time and effort,  economically,  thereby increasing their margins and productivity.”  The furniture makers, on their side, showed keen interest by asking questions and clarifying their doubts on MDF.

Greenply is strongly committed to providing proper training and education to carpenters on the use of MDF, which as per the worldwide trend, is  now slowly yet surely,  becoming one of the most viable eco -friendly alternative to more expensively priced plywood & block board panels in India today.

The designers of a newly-opened restaurant, called the Bow & Truss, provide a great example of the unlimited ways in which MDF can be used. The centerpiece of this new outlet is their brilliantly patterned bar, which has been made with MDF. The design was manually done with a router, painted and then placed on sanded plexiglass backed with LED lights.

MDF boards have an additional feature of being latex-free which makes them ideal for surface finishes such as painting and polishing.  Their super smooth surface makes painting on them very easy while giving an amazingly uniform finish. Hence it provides designers with the flexibility to transform spaces in a way that no other material would.

Another interesting idea was implemented by the designers when they resourcefully used fibreboard to cover the unattractive steel fences around the area. “Melian’s [one of the designers] addition of boards and a coat of black paint to the upper portion helped to change the scale of the fence and make it feel less imposing. Lower horizontal wood strips then help the barrier blend with the rest of the restaurant’s design.”

Furthermore, MDF was used to give patterns to the concrete tiles and walls which really add to the character of the restaurant.

Thus we can see how certain properties of MDF such as its homogenous construction and latex free nature allow it to be used easily in the creation of quality interiors that are beautiful yet cost-effective.

So let your creativity run wild with MDF and infuse new life into your surrounding spaces today!

Specifically looking at India, it is plagued with environmental problems. The air, water and soil are quickly getting polluted. Furthermore biodiversity is being lost as forests are being cut down. The people worst affected by this are the poor who are at the mercy of Mother Nature.  Hence, there is an urgent need for us to start taking India’s environmental degradation seriously. In line with the concept of a “green” economy, the rapidly expanding  building and interior industry  which has started to prefer  more  eco-friendly  , sustainable  building  and infrastructure materials  like MDF and other such  engineered alternatives  to plywood panels.

Greenply ‘s Green Panelmax MDF attempts to be an eco-friendly product while catering to the needs of manufacturers of different goods. These boards are produced from 100% renewable and sustainable wood resources sourced from agro-forestry plantation trees that have a life cycle of 3-4 years and cause no depletion of forest cover area. The furniture made from these panels is durable and trendy and is becoming acceptable, not in urban scenarios but also in the rural interiors, where they are being considered a good alternative to cheap quality  plywood commonly used  for making economical furniture.

This is only one example of how we can go “green” but given the pace of economic growth these are the kinds of innovations we need for sustainable development in India in the coming times.

Credits: Ms. Priyanjali Jain

A dark horse is someone who emerges to prominence; being previously little known. MDF is one such product which is rapidly becoming the choice of material for manufacturers in various industries despite being surrounded by misperceptions. The applications range from kings-size bed boxes and display boards to small handicrafts and photo frames. The versatility of this product can be attributed to it being relatively easy to cut. Certain non linear designs are only possible on MDF, not on Plywood. The general feedback from carpenters and manufacturers is that they do not have any major issues working with MDF. Many large OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) have completely replaced Plywood with MDF for furniture and interiors as they have managed to acquire the mechanisms needed to do so. Even individual carpenters are slowly replacing Plywood with MDF due to the better price margins that the latter provides. For instance, the usage of Plywood was common at the bottom and at the back of bed boxes but this is now widely being replaced.

However there are some challenges for MDF. The main one being consumer misperception about the product. Many carpenters explained that a lot of customers believe that MDF lacks durability and hence do not want to use it. They call it “gatta” (meaning paper or cardboard). According to MDF using carpenters, this misperception is often fuelled by carpenters that use plywood. Interestingly, several manufacturers who use MDF regularly also habitually call it “gatta”. MDF seems to have become synonymous with this word. Hence looking forward the challenge is to break this perception.

On the brighter side, people are getting convinced about MDF as they gain more knowledge about it. This is especially the case in larger cities where people are more inclined to buy ready to install furniture from MDF-using OEMs. They have begun to understand that MDF is a quality product. Also as individual carpenters acquire new mechanisms to work with MDF there will be a shift away from plywood. Currently, they prefer hammering over drilling but this limits the usage of MDF. Once they adopt new practices, the usage of MDF will increase further. Innovations mean newer application and mechanisms will be found. These will all increase the demand for MDF in the future.

Credits: Ms. Priyanjali Jain

Veneered MDF panels add an authentic “natural wood finish” look to Interiors and furniture. These panels are especially suited for large projects as they are easy to use, save time and are cost effective. Like any other natural wood-based veneers,   Veneered MDF panels can also be polished in matt, gloss or any other desired finish, to add that final touch of class.

Greenply has recently launched Green Panelmax Veneered MDF which offers the dual advantage of a durable and eco-friendly substrate of MDF,   with a flawlessly smooth decorative top which reflects the natural   beauty and elegance of fine wood and is available in a choice of natural designs.  The Natural Teak Veneers range offers MDF panels which are overlaid with genuine Burma Teak Veneers with their distinctive rich, golden hue and grains. These are available in panel sizes of 8’x4’, 6’x4’, 6’x3’, 6’x2.5’ and One-Side Teak (OST) /Both-Side Teak (BST) and OST (Premium)/ BST (Premium) ranges

Also available are a range of  32  Creative veneers which offer  contemporary, wood based patterned veneers overlaid on MDF panels and are ideal for interiors where complete uniformity of design is required.  The creative designs in this range can be flawlessly replicated for achieving a completely uniform look in the interiors.  Creative veneers are available in panel’s size 8’X4’ and in One-Side Decorative (OSD) and Both-Side Decorative (BSD) ranges.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC™),  an international non-profit, multi-stakeholder organization established in 1993  to promote the responsible management of the world’s high conservation value forests, has stepped in to provide internationally recognized standard–setting, trade mark assurance and accreditation services to companies, organizations and communities interested in responsible forestry.  FSC™ is widely regarded as one of the most important initiatives of the last decade to promote responsible forest management.

An FSC™ certification label provides a credible link between responsible production and consumption of forest products, enabling consumers and businesses to make purchasing decisions that benefit people and the environment as well as providing ongoing business value. An FSC™ logo on a company’s product or communication spells a guarantee that it comes from responsible sources – environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable. Today the FSC™ label can be found on products ranging from   timber and non-timber products to furniture and paper to medicine and jewellery.

The demand for FSC™ certified wood products generated by the green building movement and the LEED system is gaining strength as more and more architects and interior designers specify FSC products in their building projects. The use of FSC™ certified materials is presently one of the most widespread environmental strategies employed worldwide by contractors, mills, manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers to demonstrate environmental performance across the supply chain. FSC certified furniture, flooring, moulding, windows, doors and many other wood products are thus providing ways of creating desired interiors while supporting the sustainable management of forests around the world.

Greenply Industries Ltd, which has always been at the forefront of demonstrating socially and environmentally responsible practices in the market place, is certified for Forest Stewardship Council™ Chain-of-Custody and Controlled Wood certifications for its manufacturing facility located at Pantnagar, Uttarakhand. The Greenply products certified are plywood, block board, flush door, particle board, medium density fibre board (MDF), decorative plywood, Pre-laminated MDF board and Veneered MDF Board The certification process has been carried out and awarded by the prestigious Rainforest Alliance Smartwood Program.

In a stepping stone move Greenply Industries Limited, India’s largest interiors infrastructure company, has now become one of the first integrated wood based panel manufacturing company from India to become a part of an elite group of FSC certified wood-based panel  manufacturers worldwide. This certification allows Greenply to manufacture and sell FSC certified products in the domestic and international markets. And it provides customers the reassurance that the wood-based panels used by them have been sourced responsibly and will not disturb the delicate ecological balance of our planet.

Earth is not disposable; Please embrace our eco-friendly revolution !!

A team from Greenply Industries recently met up with the Purchase Manager of Pico, a leading brand activation company and a global brand strategy partner to many fortune 500 companies, to take his feedback on the experience of using Green Panelmax MDF.

What’s your experience of using Green Panelmax MDF?

We have been using Green MDF for long time now; the quality is good, we get exact thickness and so far haven’t found any problem. We are so happy and confident about the product that now we are using it in interiors for one of our prestigious client, ARP India. For further projects too, we would be using Green MDF only.

We are also offering Pre-laminated MDF; was the offering beneficial to you?

Pre-laminated MDF is a great product which has helped us a lot in saving costs and time substantially.  As you may be aware, we are one of the biggest in exhibition fabrication industry and do lot of stall fabrication for fortune 500 companies.  We have started using Pre-laminated MDF boards now in making platforms, as an alternative to creating the same using Plywood and then putting a carpet over it. With Pre-laminated MDF board we get an exact thickness, enabling us in meeting the specifications, time saving in building it and cost effectiveness, as we don’t have to put a carpet over it,   giving a beautiful and elegant finish.

Do you think MDF can successfully replace Ply?

MDF fulfills 80% of our requirement, we use ply in some exceptional cases where it is been specified as per the design. We have started to push MDF even further and are using 3000 sheets of only MDF in our latest project. We are in consensus of replacing plywood completely as we have faced few complaints like the upper layer comes out in high moisture conditions, the top and bottom end of the ply bends quite often among others.

What made GPM stand out from competitors? What made you purchase and repurchase our product?

I would say, consistent supply of boards is a big advantage for us as we require boards in huge quantity; Exact Thickness and Size as we work on design specification so any deviation can create problems for us, smooth finish that looks appealing to the eyes and also makes our stall stand out, and most importantly it’s coming from a trusted name in the industry; Greenply Industries Limited.