Material Composition/ Manufacturing Process

• Presswood products are generally made from renewable or recyclable materials. These materials include wood shavings, waste wood (sawmill and pulping), post-construction timber, malt pulp, agriculture fiber, such as rice wheat stalks, and other recycled wood fibers, such as old timber pallets. After the material elements are chipped to specified sizes, powerful magnets draw out any metallic elements from the composite materials. The remaining wood chips are washed and dried, then mixed with a powdered resin serving as glue. The mixture goes into molds and undergoes heat press treatment to improve moisture-barring capacity and resilience.
  
  

Characteristics

• Presswood products possess durability and strength comparable to solid timber or wood products, but at relatively higher levels because of the additional treatments they undergo, such as high-temperature pressing. The added resin makes it resistant to fungi, moisture and insects. Presswood products are stackable, making storage almost effortless. They are relatively lightweight and allow easy transportability of products in complete safety. They do not require supplementary heat treatments prior to export. Their recycled origin makes them environmentally friendly and renewable. Components used in their manufacture have been cited as biodegradable.
  
  

Uses

• Presswood products are mainly used in application packaging. This means that manufacturers are able to customize the presswood materials according to desired applications of clients. Common industries that work in partnerships with presswood makers are telecommunications, alternative energy, automobile and other sectors. A popular application is the returnable segments (pallet collars) for various industries.
  
  

Disadvantages

• Some factors can affect the integrity of presswood in the transportation of products. Some of these include vibration and shocks occurring within the manufacturing sites and during transfers from warehouse to distribution areas, accidental dropping, stacking and transport compression leading to looseness and creeping, extreme moisture and temperature at storage and transportation stages. If burned, the resin additive can also cause air pollution.